Is there anyway I can set up an extra Monitor as a virtual machine?

[kreativedesines]

Hey guys, I just had a quick question on the possibility of setting up a kind of like virtual machine for an additional monitor in my room. You see, I am Renovating my room, and in the process, I am going to be building a custom queen sized bunk bed :shock: And on the top bunk, we are putting a 32" LED, and i was wondering if there was anyway to set up that screen as a virtual machine, with its own keyboard and mouse. I have a Logitech G19 and gaming mouse that I primarily Use, but i have an extra wireless Logitech keyboard, that i use for typing essays and such. So basically i want to be able to use the wireless keyboard on the top bunk, so that, lets say, if im playing games on my main screen, someone else can be watching movies or surfing the web on the bunk bed screen. Any Ideas? I know that i can extend the desktop, and just drag over a movie to the other screen, something along those lines, but in that case they wouldn't have their own mouse, it would be dependent on mine.
Thanks In Advance,
Kreative Desines
My Rig:
-Amd Phenom II x6 1045t
-Amd HD6870
-8gb Patriot Viper DDR3 2133Mhz
-Asus M4N68T-M V2

 

[logicearth]

You need a second computer to do that.

 

[Night Hawk]

Hello kreativedesines Welcome to the Seven Forums!

I think you will find you would need to build an extra case to work with the cordless keyboard and mouse setup there in order to be independent. With two keyboard and two mice one set wireless both will still be working with the same program on the same desktop and conflict when two users were both on at the same time. Even when having a VM open on one screen the clash of controllers would be evident unless you can isolate the access of each keyboard and mouse by how things are configured.

That's where one option is available to see two separate sets of cotrollers used by two people on two separate OSs calls up the need for VMWare. This requires configuring the Guest OS to use one keyboard and one mouse while the Host OS has control over the main OS with the other keyboard and mouse. An older Vista reference found at Tom's Hardware provides some insight on this type of setup. Two Users on One Computer: TUTORIAL! [Simplified]

There are a few other similar guides to find on other sites as well. Another program called Userful Multiseat that allows upto 20 users on one pc but sees a network set up as part of the process rather then running a VM for a guest OS install.

You wouldn't be the first to ask about how this is done however. You may want to look over another thread on a similar idea seen at http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...-simultaneous-users-one-windows-computer.html

 

[Britton30]

Small businesses do this all the time, in a way. They might have one PC (server) and some others (work stations), but all use the server at once. you may try a post in our networking section to see if someone has a solution.

 

[FuturDreamz]

If you're trying to do it with a single computer, that would require making the main OS acknowledge the other screen, which will cause complications when gaming.

Generally it would be easier to buy a second computer. I could put together some ideas that you could use.
What requirements do you need? when you say "watching movies" does that mean DVDs and Blurays?
Does the monitor use vga?

 

[strollin]

Look into an Android based mini-PC that is not much bigger than a USB thumb drive that plugs into a an HDMI port on a TV and gives you a working PC. Add a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard and you're good to go. It will also double as an HTPC to play movies and stuff thru the TV.

Here's an example: Amazon.com: Android 4.0 Mini PC: Computers & Accessories

 

[Britton30]

Raspberry Pi too maybe. Amazon.com: Raspberry Pi: Electronics

 

[Night Hawk]

It depends what type of games as well as the OS you are planning to run them on. Android and other portables wouldn't be running Guild Wars or some other 1st person shooter that requires a good video card and some memory. For simply browsing the web and checking the main you wouldn't need to worry too much for a fast check of your inbox on the other hand.

if im playing games on my main screen, someone else can be watching movies or surfing the web on the bunk bed screen.

That kind of sums up the lack of need for anything demanding as far as basic viewing while lying around on the bunk bed. A micro atx mini tower with the basics can still provide enough to watch flicks and tend to some surfer without issues. The links posted earlier however tend to outline what you would need for a one pc setup supporting multiple users.

 

[strollin]

...

if im playing games on my main screen, someone else can be watching movies or surfing the web on the bunk bed screen.

That kind of sums up the lack of need for anything demanding as far as basic viewing while lying around on the bunk bed. A micro atx mini tower with the basics can still provide enough to watch flicks and tend to some surfer without issues. ...

For the stated uses of watching movies or surfing the web a micro atx mini tower would be much more expensive (and overkill) than something like the Android device I suggested. I could see going that route if the OP wanted the 2nd user to be able to play games while he played games on his main computer but that isn't what he asked about.

Raspberry Pi too maybe. Amazon.com: Raspberry Pi: Electronics

The Raspberry Pi would also work. I have both a Raspberry Pi and an Android mini-PC and like the mini-PC much better. IMO, the Raspberry Pi is too slow to do anything really useful except be a learning device for school kids (what it was designed for). I have one of the earlier ones with only 256M of RAM while the newer ones have 512M of RAM so it's possible the newer ones have better performance.

 

[FuturDreamz]

...

if im playing games on my main screen, someone else can be watching movies or surfing the web on the bunk bed screen.

That kind of sums up the lack of need for anything demanding as far as basic viewing while lying around on the bunk bed. A micro atx mini tower with the basics can still provide enough to watch flicks and tend to some surfer without issues. ...

For the stated uses of watching movies or surfing the web a micro atx mini tower would be much more expensive (and overkill) than something like the Android device I suggested. I could see going that route if the OP wanted the 2nd user to be able to play games while he played games on his main computer but that isn't what he asked about.

I think they primary thing is if he needs DVD/bluray playback or not. That would make the biggest difference in systems he can use.

 

[Night Hawk]

... That kind of sums up the lack of need for anything demanding as far as basic viewing while lying around on the bunk bed. A micro atx mini tower with the basics can still provide enough to watch flicks and tend to some surfer without issues. ...

For the stated uses of watching movies or surfing the web a micro atx mini tower would be much more expensive (and overkill) than something like the Android device I suggested. I could see going that route if the OP wanted the 2nd user to be able to play games while he played games on his main computer but that isn't what he asked about.

I think they primary thing is if he needs DVD/bluray playback or not. That would make the biggest difference in systems he can use.

Agreed! Simply jumping on an Android or Rasberry is simply holding a tablet or smart phone while up in the bunk and not anything feasible for a 32" display! Patching to the main desktop and use of one of the options pointed to earlier for adding additional users is mainly something businesses look at while you can still find different programs and methods to make it work.

As for a second case that doesn't always mean you go out and build a new high end build with all the thrills. A basic mini tower case here is already adequate for blue ray or other media by simply adding in a blu ray drive. The small case runs the 64bit 7 Pro with 4gb of ram and a 500gb hard drive and a low profile Radeon 6450 1gb card that will still handle a large display.

The cost was cheap(just over $300 total) compared to what was spent on the main case I run with dual displays and 16gb of ram as well as multiple drives. 4 HDs, 2 dvd drives, and even an old cd writer for vcd projects. For really cutting corners however there are some other options to see a second pc made available. How to build an 'All-in-One' PC | ZDNet

 

[strollin]

...
Agreed! Simply jumping on an Android or Rasberry is simply holding a tablet or smart phone while up in the bunk and not anything feasible for a 32" display! ...

I'm not sure what you are talking about here???? I can output hdmi from my smartphone that scales very nicely to my 46" inch display. Likewise with an Android mini-pc and nothing needs to be held in the hand like a tablet or a phone.

I don't know whether the OP needs/wants the ability to play Bluray DVDs or not since he didn't say and hasn't come back to the thread. Most people that I know of with an HTPC setup want to rip their DVDs and play them from a server/external drive (which is what I do with my mini-pc) as opposed to having the requirement of playing BlueRay DVDs.

 

[Night Hawk]

What the OP was asking about was seeing the basics set up with the 32" screen with a cordless keyboard and mouse combo to do the everyday things like surf the web and watch movies. That didn't specify where the movies are to be found however such as watching Infinity online which that ISP offers for calling up tv shows and movies or simply watching YouTube or other web based content.

The problem would running a media player full screen from the bunk bed while someone is playing a full screen pc title at the pc desk when running into cpu tasking and other resource issues since a larger load is also placed on the vpu power the main case has to offer and can end up clashing. The multiuser pc wares are geared more at the business server to workstation methology there where each user is sharing a common network group to access one main server set up.

If you plan on playing a pc game or running Windows Media Player(or other Windows orientated player) while up in the bunk you wouldn't use a hand held Rasberry or Andriod device. For basic web access on the other hand a VM configured for one keyboard/mouse would simply be displayed on the second 32" screen while other things are being run on the main display. Or you could simply connect and browser by way of a hand held or tablet which would then see a separate device in use.

For the most part I think the OP is looking for a cheap way to set things up without the expense of going out to buy anything or building a second case to begin with but simply run two of each as far as keyboard and mouse without the additional expense of those other options. The problem will prove just what it will actually take depending a few variables. Two people both running full screen pc games or media players would more likely run into resource as well as possible software issues.

 

[strollin]

Why do you keep mentioning using hand held devices? You do realize that neither a Raspberry Pi nor an Android mini-pc are hand held devices, don't you?.

 

[Night Hawk]

For one you didn't particular specify mini Android pc which looks more like a digital tv converter box with a WiFi dongle. http://miniandroidpc.com/ As for the Rasberry Pi guitar effects? Raspberry Pi | An ARM GNU/Linux box for $25. Take a byte! The name Android does tend to fit into the Google smart phone, Kindle Fire type catagory for the most part however.

I doubt the OP is looking to patch a guitar into tv but have a pc interface on the bunk bed as well as at the pc desk. The OP will still need to reply back here to clarify just what else he will be interested in seeing as options.

 

[strollin]

As I said, it's all moot since the OP seems to be totally absent from this thread but links were provided to both the mini-PC and the Raspberry Pi in previous posts and neither showed a hand held or anything to do with a guitar so don't know where you're getting that nonsense from.

Most responders have posted viable options but for some reason you are trying to purposely distort certain options by posting misleading, incorrect info.

The OP's request didn't indicate he wanted to spend any money but use existing items he already had to accomplish what he wanted. You offered the MOST EXPENSIVE option that would require the most effort to implement. The Android/Linux based solutions that were offered were the least expensive as well as plug and play.

The OP may not want a Linux or Android solution and would prefer a Windows solution, we don't know that. Why not let the reader of the thread decide that for him or herself instead of making assumptions as you have?

 

[DeaconFrost]

There used to be software that would accomplish just this, but as far as I know, it died out due to poor performance, and being completely unnecessary. There are far better ways of accomplishing what you want.

 

[Night Hawk]

As I said, it's all moot since the OP seems to be totally absent from this thread but links were provided to both the mini-PC and the Raspberry Pi in previous posts and neither showed a hand held or anything to do with a guitar so don't know where you're getting that nonsense from.

Most responders have posted viable options but for some reason you are trying to purposely distort certain options by posting misleading, incorrect info.

The OP's request didn't indicate he wanted to spend any money but use existing items he already had to accomplish what he wanted. You offered the MOST EXPENSIVE option that would require the most effort to implement. The Android/Linux based solutions that were offered were the least expensive as well as plug and play.

The OP may not want a Linux or Android solution and would prefer a Windows solution, we don't know that. Why not let the reader of the thread decide that for him or herself instead of making assumptions as you have?

Apparently you didn't read Post #13 too well.

What the OP was asking about was seeing the basics set up with the 32" screen with a cordless keyboard and mouse combo to do the everyday things like surf the web and watch movies. That didn't specify where the movies are to be found however such as watching Infinity online which that ISP offers for calling up tv shows and movies or simply watching YouTube or other web based content.

As indicated the OP is obviously looking for a low cost solution and why some links were provided at the top of the thread regardling how to go about setting things up for multiple users on one pc. I believe DeaconFrost is onto something there with the dying off of any softwares to find for this type of set up however due to advancements in other areas over time.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I want to say the name of the program was Synergy or something like that...but it didn't work very well, and sharing a desktop computer with simultaneous users isn't really a good option at all.

 

[strollin]

Here's a link to Synergy but it doesn't do what the op wanted either: Synergy. Not sure if this is the software DF was thinking of.

I still think a separate box of some kind would be required to do it as there isn't a way to attach 2 separate keyboards and 2 separate mice to a single machine that I'm aware of.

Remote Desktop Connection can allow 2 concurrent users, each using their own box but they would each be controlling the same desktop.