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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.
Its really odd but I have a GCS1764 with zero issues switching between Win7 machines, each which have different video cards. I do hear that disconnect/reconnect sound but it always stays at my default resolution of 1680x1050. The only oddity is the constant on/off of the screen when there is no computer/suspended video output on port 1. Odd
Edit: Now with a nice new 23" Samsung lcd that port 1 on/off occurence no longer exists. All is well.
For what it's worth, I had problems similar to the original poster with the same KVM switch (IOGEAR GCS1764). It was still under warranty, so I contacted IOGEAR about it. They said that they couldn't do this for everyone (whatever that may mean although this was a commercial application - YMMV), but they issued an RMA and replaced the switch with a new model GCS1104. I had to suffer with an old VGA switch for a couple weeks.
I tested the GCS1104 and it works fine with Win7, WinXP, and Linux. I noticed that the GCS1104 is the same price as the GCS1764, so the newer model is definitely a better choice for Win7 at this point.
Using DVI as well..
and awaiting a patch as well...
Would I be correct in saying those using VGA do not have this problem?
These problems do seem to be DVI related. I look forward to seeing a patch for these issues.
Thanks mortimusmaximus for contacting them about this. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it happens soon.
