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
    2010-02-09T05:57:12+00:00

    Actually I did this on my LCD will work for VGA or DVI, just have to pull the correct pin.

    Word of Caution - LCD is no longer idiot proof after the modification (can be over ranged ect.)

    As long as you know the capabilities of your monitor, and have a extra video cable, it is a very viable solution (and for me it was free)

    Mike

    Isn't the EDID information transmitted using digital signaling when using DVI? I can't see a specific pin affecting this... or removing the pin in question would probably kill the main data path to the monitor as well. Then again, that's how I imagine things might work... but I don't know this for a fact.

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-02-08T01:31:21+00:00

    Actually I did this on my LCD will work for VGA or DVI, just have to pull the correct pin.

    Word of Caution - LCD is no longer idiot proof after the modification (can be over ranged ect.)

    As long as you know the capabilities of your monitor, and have a extra video cable, it is a very viable solution (and for me it was free)

    Mike

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  5. Anonymous
    2010-02-07T21:23:42+00:00

    Cheap easy solution !!

    http://nookkin.com/content/allowing-any-screen-resolution-on-vista.php

    Work Perfect :P

    Mike

    It does nothing for LCDs (who still uses CRTs these days?)... and forces you to use VGA to boot! I do graphic design, so there's no way I will ever use VGA again... my time of crappy analog image is long gone.

    We still need a REAL solution from Microsoft... or from someone who can properly hack Win7 so that it lets us disable EDID safely... and without voluntarily damaging our monitors if at all possible. LOL

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