KVM switch + Windows 7 creates monitor switching nightmare

Probably just because of the MASSIVE amount of development and testing that takes place on this machine. I am constantly installing new hardware, developing drivers, supporting new hardware and so on. Honestly, I beat the **** out of this machine from a "Let's see what this new hardware does" stand point.

Not to mention there is a fair amount of lock-ups that happen when developing software. Having to rudely power down a machine also takes it toll.

I have the same good track record as you on my other machines. Its just this one used for development that needs it.

"...Formatting a PC at the end of each year..." Why? I have an 8 year old Win XP, a 5 year old Win Vista and a two year old Win 7. Never had issues... Never have I formatted and reinstalled. I do perform some routine maintenance and scrupulously applying ALL updates, including optional.

Not automatically.  But they need to make themselves experts in the hardware related to what they do code for.  I write software for cameras and industrial robots.  That means I had no choice but to become well versed in photographic and robotic technology.

Now back to the topic at hand.

The problem with the KVM was resolved by formatting my computer and re-installing Windows.

That's right... Nothing was done with the KVM, the cables or anything else.  Not one bit of hardware change.  But the OS was replaced with a fresh installation and now all of a sudden it works just fine with the KVM.

I think this points to the same conclusion reached 37 pages ago... There is an issue with how the OS builds up numerous old drivers eventually rendering the OS slow and unstable.  We've all seen it.  Take a printer in one USB port and plug it into another: Windows will download and install the driver again.  The OS holds numerous copies of the drivers because it feels it needs one for every port a device is connected to.  There are a couple tricks for making Device Manager show you all the unused drivers.  When I did this in the older installation there were 40+ copies of the ergonomic keyboard driver and well over a 100 copies of "HID keyboard" and "HID mouse".

Eventually the system just gets so bloated it can't figure out what to do: Every device has been plugged into every port at least once.  Then a new device comes along and it too is "Unidentified device".  Only this time it isn't the unrecognized USB barcode reader, its the unrecognized KVM.  But windows already has an entry in its driver database for "unidentified device" on that specific USB port and tries to react accordingly.

Formatting a PC at the end of each year is something I've taken to doing.  And once again, it has resolved issues that I never expected to be related to the OS.

Look,

Software experts aren't automatically hardware experts.

I am an Electrical Engineer.

Yes there's Windows7 added a few nasties, to me the bigges one is WinExplorer jumping folder list (leftside pane) when in "List View", ec, etc... too long to explain.

KVM is another amongst several problems.

But overall it's better than Vista obviously, and I cannot physically to go back to antique WinXp even oif it was Microsoft's pinnacle of achievemnt, their best product.  Too old for 2012.

So I learned.  KVM works here with certain hardware tricks.

You might be very smart, software engineer, but I am hardware EE, and somehow don't experience problems you describe.

See if more modern, advanced KVM with proper EDID detection helps. 

CHECK YOUR KVM SPECS - EDID SECTION.

New gear - same basic problem.

1 Windows 7 ultimate x 64

1 Macintosh OX

1 Micorosoft Ergonomic 4000 keyboard

1 IOgear GSC1104 KVM: 4 port DVI with 2 USB sharing and USB keyboard and mouse ports. PURCHASED NEW TODAY: NOT OLD GEAR.  Window7 compatible, so they claim.

The Macintosh has no problem seeing the MS Ergo 4000 and using the Intellitype control panel to use all the advanced media buttons etc.  So this tells me the KVM works like it is supposed to.  I can switch away from the Mac for half and hour then come back and it continues to work.

The Windows machine will work for 10 seconds while Win7 tries to identify the keyboard, trackball and KVM.  When it fails, that's it! Keyboard and trackball stop working.  I can repeat this behavior regardles of boot order of PCs or mode of opperation of the KVM, by completely uninstalling the failed driver installation, unidentified devices and so on, then rebooting Windows.

I find this to be a total joke and totally unacceptable.  Its not like I'm a rookie: I'm a software developer for the last decade for Pete's sake. C, C++, C#, WPF, ADO.NET   If my employer put out software that did this, we would be out of business.  At this point I'm ready to junk the damned genuine Windows machine and just install Visual Studion on my Macintosh via VMwareFusion.