Multiple Monitors and Aero in Win7

Discussions about using Windows guests in VirtualBox.
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philbee10
Posts: 1
Joined: 21. Jul 2011, 04:02
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows 7, Windows XP, CentOS 5

Multiple Monitors and Aero in Win7

Post by philbee10 »

I have a Windows 7 host (Corei7, 8GB RAM, dual monitors) and guest (2 CPU, 2GB RAM, 256 MB video RAM). The guest is configured for dual monitor support. I have installed VB 4.1.0 and the 4.1.0 Guest Additions with the WDDM video driver. When I enable 3D acceleration and dual monitors for the guest, the guest is very slow to respond and if I resize one of the virtual monitors, both virtual monitors display black. Eventually the Windows desktop is displayed, but then the mouse does not work. If I disable 3D acceleration in the guest and enable dual monitors, the guest works fine. Also if I return to a single monitor and enable 3D acceleration all appears to be fine.

Guest monitor resolutions are 1920 x 976 and 1920 x 1016.

I looks like the guest needs more video RAM, is their anyway to give the guest more video RAM so that it will run Aero in dual monitor mode?
BillG
Volunteer
Posts: 5106
Joined: 19. Sep 2009, 04:44
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows 10,7 and earlier
Location: Sydney, Australia

Re: Multiple Monitors and Aero in Win7

Post by BillG »

I am not surprised. This is the first (experimental) release of the WDDM driver. I would not expect it to handle that sort of setup yet.
Bill
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