Two machines in one?

Cheetah Designs · 8 Mar 2013 at 08:21

I have the following machine:

Intel Core i3-3225 3.30GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (55W) - Retail
Gigabyte Z77N-WIFI Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Mini ITX Motherboard
Samsung 128GB SSD 840 PRO SATA 6Gb/s Basic - (MZ-7PD128BW)
Samsung Green (MV-3V4G3D/US) 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C11 1600MHz 30nm Dual Channel Kit
Windows 8

I do everything on this machine, it is currently plugged into my TV as it acts as a HTPC most of the time but I also use it for development. When I need to develop, I use Chrome remote desktop to remote into it from my Samsung Chromebook, this arrangement is completely fine for me.

What I can't currently do, is both at the same time. Ie. use the TV and develop at the same time, or have the GF watching something whilst I develop.

What I was thinking to achieve this was to have a virtual machine running. Set it's priority so that any HTPC tasks get full priority so it doesn't affect the viewing ability and have all my development stuff on that virtual machine with Chrome remote desktop installed on that.

Now if I have the virtual machine running and am compiling something (which usually uses 100% CPU) do you think it will affect my viewing ability if I am running Netflix HD or Sky Go for instance? I take it that I won't see the mouse/keyboard moving on the screen as it will be moving in the virtual machine?

Antar Bolaeisk · 8 Mar 2013 at 09:42

You could try this if you're running Windows 8 Pro: http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/31829-Windows-8-Patcher

Cheetah Designs · 8 Mar 2013 at 09:50

Anychance you could give a quick lehmans explanation on why that would help me?

paradigm · 8 Mar 2013 at 09:53

Cheetah Designs said:
Anychance you could give a quick lehmans explanation on why that would help me?

It allows concurrent logons.

I.e when you connect over RDP, the console session isn't logged off. You would need to set up a 2nd user on the PC though.

This way, your GF could be logged on as her, with the TV playing, and you could be logged on as you over RDP with a completely different profile, and NOT displaying on the main screen.

Cheetah Designs · 8 Mar 2013 at 10:20

paradigm said:
It allows concurrent logons.

I.e when you connect over RDP, the console session isn't logged off. You would need to set up a 2nd user on the PC though.

This way, your GF could be logged on as her, with the TV playing, and you could be logged on as you over RDP with a completely different profile, and NOT displaying on the main screen.

Oh this sounds like what I want...am I able to set up priorities for accounts at all, or would it have to be on a per process level?

Why do you need a patch to do this?

EDIT: Oh hang on, how would chrome react, given it will be open on both user accounts?

Uhtred · 8 Mar 2013 at 10:34

Cheetah Designs said:
Why do you need a patch to do this?

MS don't let you do this due to Licensing. Concurrent logons is reserved for server OS and terminal services. The 'patch' is more of a hack imo (there used to be one for XP back in the day)

Cheetah Designs · 9 Mar 2013 at 13:12

Whilst I can get two concurrent sessions, because I need to use Chrome Remote desktop (as I am using a Chromebook), I can't seem to "login" as one particular user, it only does the whole machine which means I think I need to use a VM.