Multiple Instances of Windows 10

SoAdCrAzY · 29 Jun 2019 at 18:57

This is a question for the future:

Is it possible to have a separate instance of windows for both of my dual monitors? This is so that my partner can watch whatever on Kodi on the one screen and I can play a game on the other.

I understand that this can be possible but I'm unsure if the remote control can be used for Kodi whilst I play on my XBox controller simultaneously.

This could be done by just getting a separate TV but I'm just wondering if it can be done this way.

Thanks.

demonix · 30 Jun 2019 at 15:05

Not without a lot of work, extra components and software that has to be paid for.

Linus tech tips has done stuff like this before so you might be better off watching those videos before you decide to have a go yourself.

Rroff · 30 Jun 2019 at 15:11

As above it just isn't really worth it with the limitations and you will be buying hardware/software to make it work anyway so might as well buy another device or TV that can do it standalone.

SoAdCrAzY · 30 Jun 2019 at 16:44

Okay thanks for the replies. I'll research further into it.

Hades · 1 Jul 2019 at 00:09

I haven't tried this but in theory you could run one of the Windows instances in a virtual machine such as Virtualbox and then pass through a USB device for keyboard and mouse. I'm not sure whether the keyboard and mouse would also control the host Windows at the same time (it might do).

But it's going to be far easier to just buy a cheap HDMI device such as a a Roku and install Kodi on that.

Cromulent · 2 Jul 2019 at 03:02

Hades said:
I haven't tried this but in theory you could run one of the Windows instances in a virtual machine such as Virtualbox and then pass through a USB device for keyboard and mouse. I'm not sure whether the keyboard and mouse would also control the host Windows at the same time (it might do).

But it's going to be far easier to just buy a cheap HDMI device such as a a Roku and install Kodi on that.

This would be the best option. You can have multiple virtual machines all doing different tasks and running at the same time. The only problem is because each virtual machine has to run its own operating system on top of the host operating system is does become quite RAM hungry.

Rroff · 2 Jul 2019 at 03:22

Hades said:
I haven't tried this but in theory you could run one of the Windows instances in a virtual machine such as Virtualbox and then pass through a USB device for keyboard and mouse. I'm not sure whether the keyboard and mouse would also control the host Windows at the same time (it might do).

But it's going to be far easier to just buy a cheap HDMI device such as a a Roku and install Kodi on that.

Might find issues, even with a separate USB pass-through for input, where at times the host OS might not cooperate in terms of which application - a fullscreen game or whatever versus the virtual machine instance has focus.

It would be much much simpler to buy a cheap device like a Roku, etc.

Nikumba · 3 Jul 2019 at 11:27

Get something like firetv stick, bung Kodi on it, plug that into 2nd monitor and use that source for her to watch Kodi

PiKe · 3 Jul 2019 at 11:30

I would use Unraid and pass-through a GPU for the gaming and a separate one for the kodi instance.

You could even pass through entire USB controllers for each instance.

Similar to this but only one gaming VM