Aside from the fact that we haven't hard back from the OP in weeks: The problem is that you're trying to set up a full-screen task on one screen while still being able to do stuff on the second screen. Windows is simply not designed to do that, not even Windows 8. You're either going to only control the virtual machine, or kick focus out of it when you se the main OS.
The 3rd party tools found work with Windows in seeing two users able to work with two sets of keyboards and mice by splitting the active desktop. That of course shifts one desktop to the secondary display in use. We're not talking about any VM but two active desktops instead of one. The SLIM app works on that basis.
As far as the OP he may be trying out one of the suggestions or hasn't gotten to it yet. It would be interesting to hear back from him to see how things went however. This topic is of interest since I may end up trying to set up something like this for a family I know.
With the KB/Mouse exclusive to the VM, you can continue to use them in the VM while the primary one goes to other tasks. I've done it [so far, only tests, never anything serious.] Both KB's have typed in two different windows at the same time [on two different screens, I can test on one if you wish.]
My setup is in a family environment, so there are passwords only because of the server. What I did was download XP's TweakUI, and set many of the folders the same as the host's. Favorites, Pics, music, DESKTOP all point to the same place, so moving/accessing files are easy, so nobody needs to go and add things to one because they put it on the other.
Almost forgot. My XP is running FULL SCREEN on the second, Win7's taskbar does not extend to the second screen, so the only real issue I have is the VM task sits on the Win7's side of the screen, AND it is possible the Win7 mouse can go off the edge of it's screen onto the XP desktop. When that happens, XP's mouse jumps over to that spot.
Last edited by JoesMorgue; 16 Mar 2013 at 06:07. Reason: Added stuff.
With a dual monitor situation you would grab an app like UltraMon or DisplayFusion to see the smart bar option which adds it's own extension to the main taskbar as well as adding a move button to all windows. Once you move a window over to the second display the button appears on the smart bar on that display rather then remaining on the main taskbar on the primary.
Now what the SLIM program is supposed to rather then create a VM is actually duplicate the active desktop of the host OS to see a clone appear on the second display but be configured for a second keyboard, mouse deal there for a second active user. That allows the first and second user to run what you would normally see run on the host side and not be limited by the constraints typically seen on a VM like one person running a full screen game or media player while the other user tends to other tasks.
With VMs here on both the Oracle VirtualBox and VM Wares's VM Player I never have been able to get any OS out full screen but am able to fill in more of the display by stretching the windowed OS as well as raising the VM's resolution settings up as far as they go.
OK, a couple of things.
1. I don't have a taskbar on my second screen, so there is no place to move it to.
B. I don't know what the SLIM program is, but since both my KBs are USB, I just told the VM to use the USB device on the VM exclusively, instead of giving me the option each time. I just had to install the Guest Additions, and everything behaves nicely.
3. I can run XP in a window, scaled [lets me run higher res. than my screen can handle, or in a smaller window], seamless [favored on my Mac] or fullscreen [how I run it on my 8-Core]. I think this is because of the above mentioned G.A.
The SLIM program is an open source gift for the Linux user there allowing you to run not only dual keyboards with dual mice but also supports dual video and sound cards each going to one user. That's a bit more advanced then the settings for any VM program since each user could be running a full screen app until the cpu time was overtasked a bit.
With dual expansion cards that would simply allow a pair of users to run full screen pc games as long as the cpu could handle the extra load. Each user is supported to almost a two pc in one case deal as far as the extended hardware support when using that program and you are still on the same OS at the same time. The SLIM project was started back in 2005 with the present home page seen at SLIM , multiple users on one computer
Now you see why I pointed the OP at this one. The only problem as you know is... No Windows version found so far!
I think one of the main reasons is that the other OS platform can be a bit more flexible supporting two hardware sets while you would run into Activation issues due to the hardware profiling seen in Windows! That would seem to be one of the main obstacles to contend with! Otherwise this would be a positive solution for what the OP was looking for as well as being able to see a more involved project as well.
Actually, I THINK I found a solution!Now you see why I pointed the OP at this one. The only problem as you know is... No Windows version found so far!
I think one of the main reasons is that the other OS platform can be a bit more flexible supporting two hardware sets while you would run into Activation issues due to the hardware profiling seen in Windows! That would seem to be one of the main obstacles to contend with! Otherwise this would be a positive solution for what the OP was looking for as well as being able to see a more involved project as well.
I have a USB Soundcard-Like device. When plugged in, Windows identifies it as a soundcard [no drivers, pure plug & play] of which I can take advantage of!
The device can be seen here: Amazon.com: XITEL HiFi-Link For PC and Mac: Electronics
Once plugged in, I can give XP exclusive access of the USB device [like doing multi-keyboards] and set it as the soundcard for XP.
Problem: Plugging in the device causes XP to lock up. On real machines, I have used it on XP and Windows 7 without issues or complaints
Last edited by JoesMorgue; 19 Mar 2013 at 10:04. Reason: Problem
I doubt the OP would be running anything XP since he is wanting to split up the 7 install into two users. At least now you will have an option for sound there however which works out for you.
I just have to wonder if the OP was able to get any further with the information posted so far since he hasn't replied back at all.
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