Hi DigDug:
Short answer is yes, based on your video chip or video card's capability to support dual-monitor setup. Most discrete video cards made in the last 5 years have this capability built in. Discrete means they are cards that plug into a slot inside of your computer case, such as PCI, PCIe, PCI Express 3.0, etc. Non-discrete or embedded video chips are hardwired into the Motherboard of your desktop or laptop. Many modern laptops have embedded video chips that will support your ability to run dual-monitors.
Here's how to do it in Win8/8.1:
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Win10 has basically the same built-in capabilities, with the added feature of being able to manage multiple virtual desktops across multiple monitors as well as the standard multiple monitor feature built in to most video cards/chips as stated above.
Just be aware that older (older than 5 years old; c. 2010) laptops do not support multiple monitor modes, especially on the bargain basement laptops in the $200-$300 range. Of course that's due to them using super cheap embedded video chips which don't have this capability. Most beginning computer Users, kids or seniors aren't going to be hooking up dual monitors to their laptops, so they simply designed that capability out of those low-end laptops. Should you be using a laptop ( you didn't mention which you had a desktop or a laptop?), that cannot use Win8/8.1/10's built in capability for dual monitors, you most likely have one of these low-end video chips. The workaround there is to attempt to download and install the video chip manufacturer's latest driver utilties from their website (i.e.: NVIDIA, ATI/AMD, etc.) and see if their utility program will allow you to perform the dual monitor setup. Some will, and some won't. You will simply have to try it.
Should you have a desktop PC, the best way to do this is to simply purchase a video card that has dual-output capability built into the discrete card circuitry. Video cards that do this run from $70-$400; so you have to also figure out what else you want to do with that card, such as run CAD on one monitor, and play streaming videos or online games on the 2nd monitor. Here's an example of one of these video cards: Link Removed
Like I stated in my previous post, I still need to test this on my Win10 test machine. I have several extra LCD monitors to try it with, and I believe the discrete Video card will work with the built Win10 dual-monitor capability. When I get time, I will post that result back here.
Best of luck,
<<<BBJ>>>
