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
    2010-02-05T10:17:45+00:00

    OK. I've found a solution for my particular scenario and it may help others so here it is.

    It seems I may be wrong and "KVM wobbly monitor syndrome" might have more to do with EDID than DDM. This means that it may not be an MS problem at all but rather (as some have suggested) a problem with ATI graphics cards.

    After setting my resolution, I stopped and then turned off a service called "AMD External Event Utility". This seems to have stopped the system from detecting my monitor dismounting every time I switch PCs with the KVM. This service can also be called "ATI External Event Utility" depending on one's card.

    I don't get any flickering resolution identity problems any more and the KVM now works just the way it did with XP. Hope this helps someone.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-02-05T10:46:48+00:00

    You got my hopes up there for a while pcguy. But no, that didn't work for me. I still get all open windows crammed in the upper left corner of one of my dual setup monitors after a switch.

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-02-05T18:18:39+00:00

    Well, first off, not everybody buys ATI cards. ;) And yeah, if there was a simple fix we'd have heard about it by now...

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-02-05T21:21:39+00:00

    I have two Win7 machines on my 2 port KVM.  One is Win 7 Pro the other is Win 7 RC (Ultimate).  Both are x64.  I only have the resolution problem on the new Win 7 Pro.  The RC has been running like a champ since i first installed it.  I've had the RC on the KVM since day one switching between Win XP SP3 and never had a problem.  When I put the new Win 7 Pro machine in the loop is when the problem started.

    It's more a nuisance than anything.  I found the easiest way to rectify when switching back is to just open up the Resolution section and click Detect.  That reverts it back to the correct resolution.  I would prefer not to have to do this though.

    The RC still works fine, it's the RTM machine that has the problem.  It's too bad the RC is going to run out soon and I'll be forced to the RTM version on both.

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  5. Anonymous
    2010-02-07T19:21:12+00:00

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