KVM switch + Windows 7 creates monitor switching nightmare

This is a ridiculous answer "Buy new hardware".  I have a single monitor (HP 2408) and a $200 KVM from IO Gear that is only about a year old.  When I switch between my devices the Windows 7 device reverts to 1024 x 768 and I can't override it.  I used to be able to just go to device manager in Vista and tell it to scan for hardware changes and then the screen resolution would allow me to switch the device back to 1920 x 1200.  Now I can't do that in Windows 7.  I really just want to know if there is a way to force Windows 7 to let me try a higher resolution that what it thinks is possible. Any way to do this?

All, I found a workaroundfor my situation.  It is a crummy workaround, but it works for me.  When I switch back to Windows 7 I reach back and pull the power cord on my KVM.  When I plug it back in Windows 7 picks up the change and switches the display resolution back to my full resolution.

Hi ,

Thank you for visiting Microsoft Answers.

The resolution you can use depends on the resolutions your monitor supports. CRT monitors generally display a resolution of 800 × 600 or 1024 × 768 pixels and can work well at different resolutions. LCD monitors, also called flat-panel displays, and laptop screens often support higher resolutions and work best at a specific resolution.

The larger the monitor, usually the higher the resolution it supports. Whether you can increase your screen resolution depends on the size and capability of your monitor and the type of video card you have.

Refer this link for more information on how to change the screen resolution in Windows 7:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Change-your-screen-resolution

Additional information about Display Guidelines for KVM Switches in Windows 7:

To optimize a better user experience with display devices that are connected to a KVM switch, this document discusses all applicable KVM scenarios, tests, and specifications. This information specifies how a KVM switch and the Windows 7 operating system can work together to enhance the user experience with display devices.

Please download the document and read it for better understanding.

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/display/KVM-Win7.mspx

Regards,

Afzal-Microsoft Support.

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Afzal - this response is much less than helpful and is a regurgitation of rubbish I have seen elsewhere.

Apologies but if your only suggestion is 'buy new hardware' then I have an alternative suggestion - use OS X.

Again I'd like to re-iterate that this problem _did not occur under Vista_ with _exactly_ the same hardware.

@Truth Telling Fool - I found another super crummy but slightly less inconvenient workaround as well.  Minimise all windows to desktop (Windows-D) prior to switching on the KVM.  When you return to Windows 7 simply hit Windows-D to restore all windows (size and location) as they were before you dared to try and use your KVM.

How great is Windows 7.  How much better is Microsoft Support.  Count them on one finger.

OK just quickly so I don't come across as a total Microsoft hater.

Windows 7 is by far superior to Vista and is a landmark release along the lines of XP.  Apart from this one minor issue I am more than impressed by it, and enjoy using it.

However - it's the little day-to-day things like this that end up leaving a real bad taste in the mouth and can really spoil everything, so I'd encourage Microsoft (and their driver partners as necessary) to fix issues like this so we're not all left hanging.