Member Avatar for ToiNKieZ

Is there a software that can run two instances of windows 7 or windows 8 seperated onto two monitors and running/connected only two one desktop computer. Im not talking about hyper v or extended display. Im looking for the monitors thats running differently from one another. Can anybody help me out with this one?

Also. Software or hardware that i need to be able to do this and use two keyboards and two mouse for each display.

Edited by ToiNKieZ
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asked for two truly independent Windows desktops on one tower; was skeptical and correctly pointed toward virtualization. There are three realistic, supported ways to get what was described — each has tradeoffs in cost, complexity and performance.

Multiseat (single PC, multiple “stations”): commercial multiseat software creates separate Windows seats so each monitor + keyboard + mouse behaves like its own workstation. Pros: native performance for common desktop tasks, no VM overhead. Cons: usually paid, driver/compatibility limits with some hardware, and Windows licensing still applies (one license per running Windows). Practical notes: assign each seat a distinct GPU output or USB controller where possible; if both keyboards control the same session, map devices per-seat in the multiseat tool or move a keyboard onto a different USB controller.

Virtual machines (host Windows + guest Windows fullscreen on monitor 2): this is the approach described, expanded here into a practical workflow:

  • Create a VM (Hyper‑V / VMware Workstation / VirtualBox) and install the second Windows instance.
  • Put the VM window on monitor 2 and switch it to fullscreen.
  • Attach the second keyboard/mouse to the VM using USB passthrough so the host doesn’t receive that input. If passthrough is insufficient for exclusive input or for 3D acceleration, assigning a separate USB controller or using PCI(e) passthrough for a GPU/USB card (requires host/hypervisor support) fixes isolation and performance.
  • Allocate enough CPU, RAM and disk to the VM and remember each Windows install needs its own valid license.
    Troubleshooting tips: if hotkeys like Alt+Tab steal focus, disable or change host hotkeys; if video is slow, enable 3D acceleration or consider GPU passthrough.

Other options: Windows Server with Remote Desktop Services (requires RDS CALs) or simply using two cheap physical PCs/thin clients are often the simplest, most robust solutions.

Bottom line: multiseat software or a VM with proper USB/GPU passthrough are the supported ways to get two independent displays and separate input on one machine; licensing and hardware (separate GPU/USB controller, IOMMU support) are the usual limiting factors.

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Member Avatar for Stuugie

I'm pretty certain that you can't run two instances at the same time on 2 different monitors. If you can, I haven't seen it.

Member Avatar for ToiNKieZ

A friend of mine just told me about this. He just saw it on a local computer shop.

Member Avatar for Stuugie

Well there you have it! :)

Member Avatar for Ritesh_4

if you want to run 2 instances of windows on same pc, then I believe one of them has to be a vm image running alongside, with the vm running in fullscreen mode on one of the 2 monitors connected, as I usually do this at home, with one monitor connected to VGA, and one connected to DVI ports, and running a vmware image of ubuntu in fullscreen mode on my second monitor, while keeping my windows on the first monitor... In vm you can then use the same keyboard and mouse connected to the desktop for interactions

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