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
    2010-02-07T21:08:16+00:00

    I've just switched to Win 7 on my main PC and started to switch to Win 7 on a secondary PC I use for a few Virtual machines I run.  I have a StarView 4 port VGA KVM (Model SV431).  My problem is a little different.  The Virtual machine host boots on a schedule and is not in focus via the KVM when bootup occurs.  Win 7 selects some resolution/frequency combination that my monitor will not even recognize and I get an "Out of range" error message from the monitor.  If I switch focus to the VM PC when it boots all is well and subsequent switching occurs normally with resolutions maintained.  I just tried connecting to the VM PC via RDP and I'm able to connect and see a full screen.  When I then switch via the KVM to the VM PC I still get an "Out of range" error from the monitor.

    WHY does Microsoft assume we are all are so ignorant that we can't manually set the screen resolution and frequency?  I understand the convenience for the many that have no KVM and just want it to work.  It does that pretty well.  For us that need to have more control over the settings and need them to stay the way we set them, we're screwed.  I'm still looking for a list of KVM models that work with Win 7.  The switch as I read it needs to pass on the EDID info to all attached PCs when queried.  If there's a list, I need it.  Otherwise Win 7 isn't going to work on my desktop enviroment.

    Unacceptable indeed.

    Here's my setup:

    KVM = StarView SV431

    Port 1 = GeForce 8600 GT

    Port 2 = Radion HD 3200

    Port 3 = ASUS Extreme AX300

    Port 4 = Unused

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-02-07T19:21:12+00:00

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-02-05T21:21:39+00:00

    I have two Win7 machines on my 2 port KVM.  One is Win 7 Pro the other is Win 7 RC (Ultimate).  Both are x64.  I only have the resolution problem on the new Win 7 Pro.  The RC has been running like a champ since i first installed it.  I've had the RC on the KVM since day one switching between Win XP SP3 and never had a problem.  When I put the new Win 7 Pro machine in the loop is when the problem started.

    It's more a nuisance than anything.  I found the easiest way to rectify when switching back is to just open up the Resolution section and click Detect.  That reverts it back to the correct resolution.  I would prefer not to have to do this though.

    The RC still works fine, it's the RTM machine that has the problem.  It's too bad the RC is going to run out soon and I'll be forced to the RTM version on both.

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-02-05T18:18:39+00:00

    Well, first off, not everybody buys ATI cards. ;) And yeah, if there was a simple fix we'd have heard about it by now...

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  5. Anonymous
    2010-02-05T10:46:48+00:00

    You got my hopes up there for a while pcguy. But no, that didn't work for me. I still get all open windows crammed in the upper left corner of one of my dual setup monitors after a switch.

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