# Wanted: Virtual Desktop software with multi-monitor support **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 1, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-virtual-desktop-software-with-multi-monitor-support/573006 "2011-03-01T02:02:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-virtual-desktop-software-with-multi-monitor-support/573006/1 "2011-03-01T02:02:03Z")
I’ve been using sDesk as a virtual desktop manager on Windows XP for a long time. It has a few features I’m used to - I can configure the number of desktops (I use a 4x2 setup), and I can set my desired keys for switching (ctrl+alt+arrow). And I can tell it to stop at an edge instead of cycling through the screens. I’ve recently come into possession of a second monitor at work. I’d like to use it, but sDesk just sees it as “one more than the main monitor”. So if I have desktop 1 on the main monitor, the second one will have desktop 2. If I switch to desktop 2, then second monitor will have desktop 3. I’d like to be able to keep one monitor stable, and run a virtual desktop manager on the other. I haven’t found anything that claims to support this very well. So…dopers…anyone know how to make this happen? Thanks -D/a ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-virtual-desktop-software-with-multi-monitor-support/573006/2 "2011-03-01T02:12:57Z")
Check out [Finestra](http://vdm.codeplex.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-virtual-desktop-software-with-multi-monitor-support/573006/3 "2011-03-01T03:08:40Z")
> [@yoyodyne](#): > > Check out [Finestra](http://vdm.codeplex.com/). I’ll give it a whirl tomorrow at the office. I just installed it on my home machine, and it’s got some fundamental differences from what I’m used to - it doesn’t let me control the “geometry” of the screens - my 8 screens ended up as two rows of three and one row of 2. And the “preview” doesn’t work the way sDesk and many of the classical X-Window managers do. Of course, I didn’t mention any of that in my OP. 🙂 I’ll give it a try and see how well it handles the second monitor..and then decide if it’s enough to be worth re-learning my habits. Thanks! Anyone else? -D/a ---
**Author:** ![Fray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fray)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-virtual-desktop-software-with-multi-monitor-support/573006/4 "2011-03-02T05:05:55Z")
Try to use [Actual Window Manger](http://actualtools.com/windowmanager). This great tool incledes a virtual desktops tool and the [best multiple monitor software](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_multi-monitor_software) - Actual Multiple Monitors. ---
**Author:** ![voxpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e56c9b/32.png) [@voxpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voxpop)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-virtual-desktop-software-with-multi-monitor-support/573006/5 "2011-03-02T14:29:17Z")
[http://www.goscreen.info](http://www.goscreen.info) [http://www.goscreen.info/gs/howto.html#command-mng-multimon](http://www.goscreen.info/gs/howto.html#command-mng-multimon) ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-virtual-desktop-software-with-multi-monitor-support/573006/6 "2011-03-03T17:36:17Z")
Perhaps the Microsoft Virtual Desktop Manager PowerToy might do what you want [http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx](http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx) ---
**Author:** ![Fray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fray)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-virtual-desktop-software-with-multi-monitor-support/573006/7 "2011-05-05T07:20:01Z")
I found a solution 🙂 Check the article “[Independent Virtual Desktops on Each Display in a Multiple Monitors System](http://www.actualtools.com/articles/detail.php?ID=1286)” ---
**Author:** ![ChocoBilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@ChocoBilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChocoBilly)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-virtual-desktop-software-with-multi-monitor-support/573006/8 "2011-05-05T20:36:37Z")
Sysinternals formerly independent and now part of Microsoft has a simple free one that works and is the least intrusive. Look for Desktops v1.02. I run it on a 3 monitor setup. These folks have been the masters of free system utilities for Windows for years. > **[Sysinternals - Sysinternals](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/)** > > Library, learning resources, downloads, support, and community. Evaluate and find out how to install, deploy, and maintain Windows with Sysinternals utilities. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-virtual-desktop-software-with-multi-monitor-support/573006/9 "2011-05-06T02:34:56Z")
> [@Fray](#): > > I found a solution 🙂 That’s the same thing you posted before. And these are your only posts… ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-virtual-desktop-software-with-multi-monitor-support/573006/10 "2011-05-08T22:28:11Z")
> [@ChocoBilly](#): > > Sysinternals formerly independent and now part of Microsoft has a simple free one that works and is the least intrusive. Look for Desktops v1.02. I run it on a 3 monitor setup. These folks have been the masters of free system utilities for Windows for years. > > [Sysinternals - Sysinternals | Microsoft Learn](http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals) Sorry I didn’t reply sooner..been out of the country on vacation, happily with no internet access. But don’t panic! There’s a thread coming.. 🙂 I’ll check this solution out tomorrow at the office. -D/a ---
**Author:** ![Fray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fray)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-virtual-desktop-software-with-multi-monitor-support/573006/11 "2011-05-11T05:47:23Z")
> [@yoyodyne](#): > > That’s the same thing you posted before. And these are your only posts… ha ha 🙂 it’s because I’m a bot, and spammer, but not because a prog cool and useful =)