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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).
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
From my perspective, having to implement any hacks is unacceptable. I expect basic functionality to be provided by MS. As has been said, this isn't just an issue with displays connected by KVMs. An OS that can't properly use a display doesn't have basic functionality, as far as I'm concerned.
People, don't forget to click the button at the top to ask Microsoft for this to be answered.
It was suggested above that this was a digital rights management-related issue. The manufacturer of my device has told me that Microsoft has added the "active DDC" as a digital rights management tool. From what they told me, it is to keep people from playing downloaded movies on computers other than the one they downloaded the movie on. If this "feature" has been deliberately installed by Microsoft, then a fix seems unlikely.
I don't download movies, I don't even have an internet connection on the relevant computers. I do not intend spending my money to buy more equipment because Microsoft wants to stop me from doing something I don't do in the first place. I find it completely unacceptable. Business users would presumably feel the same way - they won't be downloading movies, but they'll want to use a display.
When it comes to rights management, MS have always gone the extra mile to ensure that their solution is as annoying to the user as possible. And it's clearly not going to change anytime soon. So once again, we're left to finding ways to pirate or OS or trick it somehow... so that in the end it works as it should! As I said weeks ago, our best hope stills seems to lie in the fact that a talented coder could find himself frustrated by the same problem as us. If someone comes up with a nice hack, I'll be the first to try it... 'cause this OS is starting to drive me mad! :+(
WAKEY WAKEY MICROSOFT.
ARE YOU ACTUALLY GOING TO BOTHER DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS OR DO YOU JUST LIKE P!SS!NG OFF YOUR CUSTOMERS?
It was suggested above that this was a digital rights management-related issue. The manufacturer of my device has told me that Microsoft has added the "active DDC" as a digital rights management tool. From what they told me, it is to keep people from playing downloaded movies on computers other than the one they downloaded the movie on. If this "feature" has been deliberately installed by Microsoft, then a fix seems unlikely.
I don't download movies, I don't even have an internet connection on the relevant computers. I do not intend spending my money to buy more equipment because Microsoft wants to stop me from doing something I don't do in the first place. I find it completely unacceptable. Business users would presumably feel the same way - they won't be downloading movies, but they'll want to use a display.
I have been having a similar problem. I have various XP/Vista computers plugged into my 4-port KVM, and I put Windows 7 on one of these. Now whenever I switch to it, my monitor simply says "No signal". Every other computer works fine.
I happen to be poor, and use whatever junk computers I can get my hands on. This KVM was another cost cutting measure, to not require multiple displays and keyboards. I bought a cheap computer, and it had the windows 7 free upgrade offer. I took advantage of it with much glee.
I now cannot use my main computer with my other 3.
I hope this issue can get resolved, because as a student, it is really interfering with my life.
Also, I'm doing this on VGA, forgot to add.
