KVM switch + Windows 7 creates monitor switching nightmare

Since you understand these issues, unless I am misunderstanding your answer, user_tim, perhaps then you could explain to us how that correlates to Windows resetting the resolution, and messing up Window sizes and icon placements, whenever a switch to a station that's off (or in my case, a non HDMI source) occurs?

Whatever the case may be, I found a solution that works for me a few pages back. Simply in the right place in the registry, replace all lower resolutions (e.g 720x480) with my actual resolution, 1920x1080. No EDID, HDCP "magic" involved, even though fully supported by my HDTV and video card.. 

Note that this is not actually a KVM, but an AVR setup, with two PCs and several other sources being switched via a combination of an HDMI switch and the AVR (w only 2 HDMI inputs)

To understand Microsoft stance on the new way they control your video you must understand the nuances of HDCP copy protection, EDID and other technologies. I think the KVM switch market was just a casualty of Microsoft desire to control end to end coverage.  Try looking for non Microsoft solutions for this issue. Maybe hardware EDID emulators or software that can emulate the EDID signal or maybe a Virtual Machine solution.

Continuing the saga and getting closer to page 40 of it, let's add another alternative: Remote Desktop Assistance. It works very good, can handle multiple connections and if the need of high definition graphics isn't there, it's a good complement to KVM switches. No delay time either when switching between machines (as in the XP times...).

I've recently been doing this with success, but it doesn't apply to all situations.

That said, running the other unit headless does provide an alternative.

The only caveats are

1. headless machine must be pro (or ultimate?) to allow for RDP without the need to send a help request
2. For those of us that are also doing machine imaging and initial installs its a no-go.

Obviously the OS needs to be up and running first.

3. Some prefer a KVM . . . :(

Continuing the saga and getting closer to page 40 of it, let's add another alternative: Remote Desktop Assistance. It works very good, can handle multiple connections and if the need of high definition graphics isn't there, it's a good complement to KVM switches. No delay time either when switching between machines (as in the XP times...).

This being the 387th reply to the anomaly brings me back to note it was started a very long time ago and ironically it appears the 2nd post as a reply from a Microsoft staff member stating basically for us all to go "buy a new KVM switch".

Now I am all for the latest and greatest hardware and software and often do get excited to purchase new technology. I am sure Microsoft and many others are experiencing to effects of a slow economy. So keeping market share will become harder and harder and new purchases are certainly less then in past.

So let's put this all in prospective.

1. The original poster to this subject got an answer immediately (in Microsoft time) an answer. "BUY A NEW KVM SWITCH" bottom line end of subject. Thank you Microsoft for your rapid and direct response.
2. Many have put in suggestions of registry tweaks, hardware additions with modifications and even some software that may trick the OS. All are valiant efforts to HELP Microsoft evade the solution or need to respond to the 385 other postings.
3. Many have actually pinpointed that a Microsoft update is directly related to the timing of this problem, bug, hiccup, glitch, sun spot flare created annoyance. So this means it could be narrowed down to what actually created the annoyance.

SIDE note: for an interesting perspective of what Microsoft developers think and joke about their own idiosyncrasies view this: http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/TechEd/NorthAmerica/2010/WCL315

Now this brings me to why I have revisited this post.....

I have been putting up with this annoyance as I just do not feel it is worth investing any further expense in hardware or registry tweaks to resolve this annoyance.

NEW PROBLEM!!!!

I was on one of my other systems connected to my IOGear KVM switch that has a single video output which I do daily and often in a days time. I was surfing the web on my Windows 8 system and then out of the blue the monitor connected as the primary to my Windows 7 system made the sound I get when the extended monitor goes out typically. Then the windows that should be displayed on the primary magically switch to the secondary monitor on it's own and then went blank (like sleep mode). When I switched back to the Windows 7 system on my KVM BOTH monitors went dark and then display there was no video signal to both. I cycled my KVM through all and returned to the Windows 7 system.

Now wait for it!

The displayed first showed up on the secondary monitor then immediately switched the windows back to the primary they where on originally and even more surprising the EXTENDED monitor reactivated on it's own and had all the same windows and display it had on previously!

Just in case someone actually reads this:

OS - Windows 7 Enterprise (x64) Service Pack 1 (build 7601)

MB - ELITEGROUP COMPUTER SYSTEM CO.,LTD. NFORCE6M-A 1.0

(BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD 6.00 PG 11/22/2007)

CPU - 2.80 gigahertz AMD Athlon 7850 Dual-Core

MEM - GSkill 8192 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Video - NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS

Primary Monitor - Acer X233HZ

Secondary Monitor - Acer X223W

KVM - IOGear GCS14 MiniView™ Compact KVM Switch Kit w/Cables

The saga continues................