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

2010-07-16T01:46:47+00:00

No, it's not the monitor. It's the operating system searching for monitors instead of just loading a selected resolution.
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Anonymous

2010-07-16T01:14:27+00:00

Been months since I last saw this thread! I would suggest downloading Driver Sweeper from Guru3d's forums, removing all instances of ATI drivers, then downloading the latest driver package from ati.amd.com and making sure you include the Catalyst Control Center (CCC). The integrated drivers within Windows do not do ATI cards justice. I don't recommend them. Could it also be your monitors?

I am in no way affiliated with Microsoft. The information supplied by me is without warranty and stipulates no rights. Use the information I supply at your own risk.
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Anonymous

2010-07-16T00:51:19+00:00

I've always had an up-to-date ATI driver but I've still had the issue. It doesn't happen each time I switch, so I've sometimes been lulled into thinking that the OS works, but it still reverted to an inappropriate screen resolution later. I hope your optimism isn't misplaced, The_Enzo.
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Anonymous

2010-07-15T16:39:35+00:00

Well I got so fed up recently that I downloaded the AMD Catalyst Control Center and drivers for my Radeon 4670 card. I normally don't use this and use the native Win 7 drivers.

Strangely enough....been able to switch to other machines running different resolutions and come back and mine is stuck at 1920 x 1080 where it should be. No longer goes to 1400 x 1050. Maybe......this is an artefact from a previous install of CCC when I had it with my old monitor that ran at that res?? Anyway, so far so good, so it MIGHT help any others on here with AMD cards getting similar problems with res defaulting to strange settings on switching with KVM..... I'm hoping this has fixed my prob permanently...but I'm cautiously optimistic!
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Anonymous

2010-07-15T01:09:17+00:00

I can't believe this thread and the lack of support offered by Microsoft. I am a Software Engineer/Developer and I use KVM's both at home and at work and can't quite understand how previously when running Windows XP I was able to use the same hardware to switch from my extended desktop off my laptop to a single screen machine then switch back with there being no change in the either the display resolution or window size and location but Windows 7 cannot provide this same performance via a patch, registry fix or some other workaround. VERY POOR MICROSOFT!
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