KVM switch + Windows 7 creates monitor switching nightmare

Anonymous

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).

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401 answers

Anonymous

2010-11-10T15:06:51+00:00

Here you go Kevin: KVM: IOGear GCS632U Computer 1: Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster 204b Video Card: nVidea Geforce 210 Computer 2: Compaq Persario CQ62 Laptop Monitor: BT156GW01 (Built in laptop display) Video Card: AMD M880G with ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 Setup: Desktop with Dual Monitor Support with Windows XP, display extended to Samsung SyncMaster 204b Laptop with Dual Monitor, using Samsung SyncMaster 204b as Primary monitor. When switching, all windows moved to laptop monitor (which has lower resolution). When switching back, windows are moved back but maximized windows no longer maximized. The laptop is a DMZ machine so I do a lot of development remotely. When the laptop was an XP machine, everything stayed where I put it. Now things get jumbled around, moved, resized and it can create a lot of confusion when using Remote Desktop into 4 different machines. I know the KVM is cheap, but I figured if it helped others I would post my configuration too.
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Anonymous

2010-11-09T18:10:03+00:00

I'm havingt the same problem- new Asus motherboard, nVidia graphics. I didn't have the problem with my original 9600GT card, but when I just updated to a GT240 and the latest drivers, the problems started... Every time I switch away from my KVM (I have one LCD direct to the PC, and one CRT on the KVM) the KVM's CRT seems OK, but once I go back to the PC, the CRT's screen is 'reset' and all my windows go back up to the LCD, but the CRT retains it's resolution.

Microsoft, come on now. Let us disable EDID/hot-plug/whatever. Or maybe it's an Nvidia problem?

I think it is somewhat connected - Windows 7 display auto detection and nVidia drivers. I had old 8600GTS and I then switched to 9800. 8600 was a dual dvi card and everything worked well (hdmi output using dvi->hdmi plug). On 9800 it worked only with two monitors directly conected, without KVM (AV receiver). Then it refused to work properly for hdmi->AVR connection until latest 260.99 drivers. They suddenly solved the problem. No more screen swaps, resolution changes, etc. etc.
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Anonymous

2010-11-09T14:53:41+00:00

I'm havingt the same problem- new Asus motherboard, nVidia graphics. I didn't have the problem with my original 9600GT card, but when I just updated to a GT240 and the latest drivers, the problems started... Every time I switch away from my KVM (I have one LCD direct to the PC, and one CRT on the KVM) the KVM's CRT seems OK, but once I go back to the PC, the CRT's screen is 'reset' and all my windows go back up to the LCD, but the CRT retains it's resolution.

Microsoft, come on now. Let us disable EDID/hot-plug/whatever. Or maybe it's an Nvidia problem?
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Anonymous

2010-11-08T19:36:59+00:00

figured I would switch things up and use the 17 inch on the kvm that way I would be useing dvi on the primary and since we wouldn't be switching the primary monitors in and out windows would probably handle that better. In fact it was worse, upon switching back windows decided the 17 should become my primary display and it shut off the other monitor that had stayed plugged into it.

I am going to call corp and tell them to hold off on all upgrades accross our power user staff. I am having a harder time argueing against keeping our staff on Windows nowadays. This kind of thing is not helping my case.
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Anonymous

2010-11-08T17:58:21+00:00

Further, I have the newest vid drivers.

Is there a way to call that detect function via base command that I can put in a .bat or something?

Just having a way to get the display back without navigating the menus would be huge. I have a staff of 32 engineers I am keeping from upgrading till we have resolution so if there is a way to expedite this that would be great

(important note: when I switch to the other system I can still use the 2nd monitor on pc1, there are no problems till I switch back to pc1 with the pri display)
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