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
    2009-12-04T20:49:44+00:00

    After 3 seperate chats with microsoft I am told a patch is very close to fix this.I am not using a KVM but suffer the open windows resized issue.Since I am using my 52 inch sharp aquos I cannot find a monitor driver and windows is using the generic.ATI control panel however sees it as sharp HDMI.

    Would I be correct in saying those using VGA do not have this problem?

    If so then I beleive this is a poor attempt at HDCP enforcement by Microsoft.

    The strange thing is the problem dissapeared for 2 days until I rebooted my PC.I tried to figure out what changed to cause the problem to dissapear but I could not track it down.It sure was nice knowing that it CAN be fixed....somehow.When it was fixed I DID NOT have the annoying device unplugged etc sounding.

    I sure hope this gets fixed soon.

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-12-07T22:59:31+00:00

    Thanks mortimusmaximus for contacting them about this.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it happens soon.

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-12-07T23:51:28+00:00

    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.

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  4. Anonymous
    2009-12-08T17:22:19+00:00

    Using DVI as well..

    and awaiting a patch as well...

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  5. Anonymous
    2009-12-09T19:50:31+00:00

    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.

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