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
    2009-12-18T23:06:52+00:00

    Found a solution for some, and some additional info:

    http://lemon.soju.co.uk/2009/12/03/windows-7-monitor-problem/

    If you want to disable TMM under Windows 7, here’s how. This didn’t work for me, but I know there’s a lot of people out there who want to disable TMM for KVM switches.

    1. Open Windows 7 registry editor by clicking Start, type regedit.
    2. Right click on regedit, click on Run as Administartor.
    3. Navigate to the location: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\TMM
    4. Click UseIViewHelper in the right pane.
    5. Set the value data to “0” {zero} to disable TMM feature in Windows 7.
    6. If you want to re-enable TMM feature, set the value data to “1”.
    7. Click OK and reboot you computer for the changes to take effect.

    ===============================

    Some reported to resolve this issue with the hdmiOn tool.

    http://thydzik.com/hdmion-a-solution-to-loss-of-dvi-video-epid-signal-on-hd-tvs/

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-12-18T15:02:57+00:00

    No KVM here: 2 monitors, if off, res and icon changes.

    I often start the computer and use remote desktop for first access. Always I have to fix the resolution when being in front of the machine.

    ================================

    This is the same stupid feature that was introduced with (rebooting from) SAFE MODE.

    It was further enhanced with Vista: which completely loses a 2nd monitor if not on at boot.

    And now has reached its pinnacle of annoyance.

    If this is a great feature why does W7 NOT auto detect the monitors when they are powered on?

    And what's up with moving the icons?

    Who are the idiots who thought this was a good idea?

    (Probably the same dudes who thought removing the ability to quickly search the current folder was an enhancement to searching.)

    I want to save the resolution and icon placement.

    I want to be able to DISABLE W7 auto-detecting monitors.

    I want the icons to be where I put them.

    And so on.

    J

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-12-17T03:39:03+00:00

    It looks like 3 issues here are related. They all appear to be issues with the way windows 7 (or drivers?) are handling display initialisation.

    30 people needing an answer http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7hardware/thread/84f41660-1933-4109-9b13-1ea8a1c27be7

    1 person needing an answer http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7hardware/thread/311ec910-9637-47b3-a27d-58be6d71cfb7/

    2 people needing an answer http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7performance/thread/7b6f050e-48d7-422b-aa37-48cf6e70e9c9

    It may help to draw some additional attention to threads showing this problem manifested in different ways.

    I'm using i7, gigabyte mb, gigabyte gtx275 graphics, corsair ram, 24" dell + 20" samsung display on my machine with win7.

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  4. Anonymous
    2009-12-17T03:06:48+00:00

    This actually works!!! I used remote desktop from my old xp laptop to my HTPC and this does work thanks very much.

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  5. Anonymous
    2009-12-16T19:37:10+00:00

    Me too.

    KVM: IOGear GCS932U

    Video: Nvidia 9800GT

    Monitor: HP LP2475w

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