KVM switch + Windows 7 creates monitor switching nightmare

Anonymous
2009-10-29T16:44:18+00:00

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).

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-02-18T15:01:22+00:00

    My Dell 2009W monitor connected to an Aten CS64U KVM loses its display settings when switched over.  It is connected by VGA (not DVI as many others here).  Sometimes, the monitor is detected, sometimes it is not.  (I've posted my own question about it not booting with the proper display if it's not switched to - until I continued googling and found many more threads indicating that it is a more widespread problem.)  Unless it is fixed, I'll return the OS for a refund - an operating system that cannot be used with a display is unusable (and it's not the only thing that doesn't work reliably).  I am pretty fed up after seeing that there appears to have been no real response to this issue since (at least) October last year.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-02-18T13:47:08+00:00

    Hmmm...  $79 * 8 ports = $632

    More than 3 times what I paid for the 8 port switch to begin with...

    Not an acceptable solution...

    Joseph W. Leathlean

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-02-18T12:55:44+00:00

    Thanks for the info gobot.

    I ordered two for my dual screen setup.

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-02-18T05:12:49+00:00

    SOLUTION (kinda)

    Same issue here. An added concern is that I'm using a 30" Apple Cinema display @ 2560 x 1600

    I've got a Dr. Bott KVM, which supports the higher resolution, I spent a considerable amount of time researching KVM switches and am reluctant to buy a new one.

    So after googling around I found an interesting gadget by Gefen that can be inserted between the KVM and computer. The device stores the EDID information.

    Gefen DVI Detective

    * Store EDID information for displays

    * Keeps computer systems from deactivating inactive DVI ports

    * Custom Resolutions are available for specific devices

    * Use with Gefen DVI extenders to obviate the necessity for DDC CAT-5 lines in computer systems

    * Supports resolutions up to 1920x1200, 2K, and 3840x2400 (Dual Link)

    Here's the link to the product:

    http://www.gefen.com/kvm/dproduct.jsp?prod\_id=4714

    I just ordered one, so I don't know if it'll work. I'll post back here when the gadget arrives and I test it out.]

    UPDATE: OK, the DVI Detective arrived today... and it works! I can now finally use Windoze 7. Yay! I got things running within a few minutes.

    NOTE: The gadget was a little tricky to get going, as the instructions did not address a KVM. The thing to keep in mind is that the device reads the monitor's settings, as such, the device must be plugged directly into the monitor, not the KVM switch. The instructions did state this, but i was just thinking (thinking is always a bad idea) that the DVI detective should read through the KVM, which is wrong. Be sure to set up the DVI detective while it's plugged directly into the monitor. Du.

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  5. Anonymous
    2010-02-16T18:04:32+00:00

    Tried this VNC trick now and it seems it is setting the resolution now to the one I had set when being logged in via VNC.

    HOWEVER: max. resolution I can set there is 2048x1536 which is below the 2560x1600 I need. It is better as windows do not get moved/resized that much, but still a bit. Is there some way so that you can set 2560x1600 for the default monitor?

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