Use digital pin,both as input and outpout,without always reconfiging the pinMode

the right answer, according to other forums as well, is what retrolefty suggested. interlocked relays.
what you guys suggest,which is hardly even a solution, (And i really hope that when you say that the arduino can operate switches, you mean relays), requires tha each window needs 4 relays instead of two.I am searching for the most straightforward solution, not the hardest and most ancient one. imagine if a modern car had to have 16 BEEF relays, JUST for the power windows.
microcontrollers are supposed to make life easier, not create problems...