if you search, I think there should be quite a few older threads on dual monitors...maybe. I posted a couple questions before, I know that.
since you're using a GeForce card, the drivers it came with should be enough. I'd download the latest ones though (I suppose that's a given). As it is, even w/o the 2nd monitor, you should have a program called nview in your task tray. Once you hook up the second monitor though, there should be an option to install the dualview drivers (I think you can have horizontal/vertical span, and cloning mode w/o extra installation, but for what you want to do, it sounds like dualview might be the thing...dunno, you'll figure it out). Nothing separate though. Pretty simple. Then the rest is up to you...