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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.
I just spent over an hour in a chat with a microsoft tech.After all this and allowing him to control my pc remotely I still have the problem.I have an appointment to talk on the phone with someone supposedly more knowledgeable in a week from now.I will let you know if I find a fix.
By the way where the $%^& is the moderator that was here?
Well? we seem to be quite a few awaiting an answer to this problem. Please help us now.
May as well add my experience...
My setup is :
Graphics : NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS
Monitor : Samsung Syncmaster 226BW
KVM : StarTech 2-port DVI switch SV211KDVIGB
When I switch from my Win 7 machine to my XP machine, there's no problem. XP handles it fine.
When I switch back to my Win 7 machine from my XP machine the monitor goes black and doesn't come back until I disconnect it from the KVM and reconnect it (or reboot the PC).
Is this really the best MS can come up with - buy a new KVM?
Price of OS : £50
Price of KVM : £100
I'd rather toss the OS and go back to XP if that's the best solution on offer.
This is clearly a widespread problem.
After all of this, I'd simply like to know: is there a technical roadblock involved in allowing us to use the older KVM-switching mode? If there's some underlying architecture issue that can be explained, I'd be understanding. But it sounds like this problem is fairly common, becoming increasingly noticed, and I can't yet see a drawback to the older mode — from the opinions above and my own situation, it's quite disruptive to workflow!
If someone finds a registry hack or other effective fix, I'd gladly circulate it.
My problem is using the mouse with a Microsoft windows comfort 5000 keyboard. When I plug in the USB stick it will not properly install and tells me so. I borrowed a friends Logitech keyboard and it works fine so this has to do with the Microsoft hardware. Unfortunately, once you remove the keyboard from it's original packaging it pretty much destroys the packaging and can't be returned. I would think that MS would be able to fix the USB driver to handle a KVM switch like Logitech has.
Michael Gould
