KVM switch + Windows 7 creates monitor switching nightmare

Anonymous
2009-10-29T16:44:18+00:00

I have a problem with Windows 7 and my KVM switch (Iogear model# gcs1764) which is makes switching via KVM an absolute nightmare.  The iogear KVM does not use drivers nor are any available on their website.

Here's what happens:

I switch from Win 7 (2 monitors) to XP (1 monitor) via KVM.  When I switch back to Win 7 (2 monitors) sometimes Win 7 will throw my desktop to the 2nd monitor (1st monitor goes blank) and opening up display settings only shows the 2nd monitor as existing.  It's as if the 1st monitor is now unplugged which it isn't.  At this point I have to go into display settings, click Detect, and then it re-detects my 1st monitor and "extends" my desktop back out over 2 monitors.  All windows have now been thrown to my 1st monitor and i have to rearrange all my work back across 2 monitors.  This is why KVM switching in Win 7 makes my work life a living nightmare.  This isn't all of it either...

When everything gets thrown to my first monitor, it takes any windows that were maximized and resizes them to about 1/4 my screen size.  Due to compatibility issues between Win 7 and SQL Server Management Studio, Management Studio has a redraw bug that doesn't "re-size" the query window correctly.  So even though I maximize the app, when I start typing in the query window my text disappears about 1/4 the way across the whole window.  The only way to fix this is to save all my work, close the app, and then re-open the app with all my work.  So basically every time I switch computers there's about a 1/5 chance I have rinse and repeat everything I just typed above.  Fun times.

So are there any future fixes planned for this?  I have tried everything and nothing fixes this problem.  I have all the latest Nvidia drivers (my card: Nvidia GTS 250).

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2009-11-19T17:34:17+00:00

    May as well add my experience...

    My setup is :

    Graphics : NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS

    Monitor   : Samsung Syncmaster 226BW

    KVM       : StarTech 2-port DVI switch SV211KDVIGB

    When I switch from my Win 7 machine to my XP machine, there's no problem. XP handles it fine.

    When I switch back to my Win 7 machine from my XP machine the monitor goes black and doesn't come back until I disconnect it from the KVM and reconnect it (or reboot the PC).

    Is this really the best MS can come up with - buy a new KVM?

    Price of OS   : £50

    Price of KVM : £100

    I'd rather toss the OS and go back to XP if that's the best solution on offer.

    This is clearly a widespread problem.

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-11-10T06:39:27+00:00

    Afzal - this response is much less than helpful and is a regurgitation of rubbish I have seen elsewhere.

    Apologies but if your only suggestion is 'buy new hardware' then I have an alternative suggestion - use OS X.

    Again I'd like to re-iterate that this problem _did not occur under Vista_ with _exactly_ the same hardware.

    @Truth Telling Fool - I found another super crummy but slightly less inconvenient workaround as well.  Minimise all windows to desktop (Windows-D) prior to switching on the KVM.  When you return to Windows 7 simply hit Windows-D to restore all windows (size and location) as they were before you dared to try and use your KVM.

    How great is Windows 7.  How much better is Microsoft Support.  Count them on one finger.

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-11-09T03:56:49+00:00

    I too now suffer from this annoying affliction as a result of upgrading (re-installing) 64-bit Windows 7 Enterprise from 32-bit Vista Business.  Exactly the same hardware (machine, screen, KVM) as I was running under Vista where the problem never occurred.  Now whenever I switch to my Win7 computer on the KVM my desktop windows are all resized to 1024x768 and shifted to the top-right of the screen.  Very frustrating.

    For the record here's my setup:

    • Gefen DVI KVM (EXT-DVIKVM-241)
    • nVidia GeForce 7900GT
    • Dell 24" LCD @ 1920x1200

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  4. Anonymous
    2009-10-30T15:39:47+00:00

    Hi mdorais,

    Thank you for visiting Microsoft Answers.

    It is a  problem found with those KVM switches which did not pass the console display's EDID and DDC information to all the systems connected to the KVM switch.

    That explains when you switch/select to other channel of connected system, the connected system simply cannot recognize what display had been connected, so end up with setback to system default (normally is 800 x 600).

    Windows 7 checks display and display card constantly different from what XP and other operating systems did.

    To solve this issue, just replace the KVM switch with those KVM switches supporting FULL TIME/ Active DDC function.

    Please check ConnectPRO new UR or PR serial KVM switches which support Active DDC function to all the ports.

    Visit this link for more information:

    http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/display/KVM-Win7.mspx

     Regards,

    Afzal-Microsoft Support.

    Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  5. Anonymous
    2009-11-16T18:05:35+00:00

    Another supporter for a REAL fix to this problem - and not one that requires me to change my KVM.

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