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
    2010-03-04T02:31:29+00:00

    I'm using dual link DVI as my GTX 280 doesn't have a displayport output (Dell monitor does have displayport input however). "Good" to know tho, that switching to displayport won't help ether...

    dschidi,

    The GTX 280 card you using ,does it have two dual link DVI outputs for two monitors? Is it similar to this one:

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130493

    I am surpirsed DVI port does not work for you. Because, on the current card I have nvidia quadro fx 580, monitor connected to the DVI port works nicely even when powered on/off. Only the monitor connected to the displayport disappears from windows display settings,when powered off. I was actually considering  to get rma/replace current card with a replacement quadro series card,which has atleast two duallink DVI ports.

    Don't know why Microsoft OS behaves like this and why they downgraded multi monitor support in Wndows 7.

    --

    focus_user

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-03-04T02:35:17+00:00

    Anyone know if there is anyway to make a monitor (in a multi-monittor setup) go to sleep ? So, that instead of powering off the 2nd monitor, one could just issue the sleep command to the 2nd monitor. I checked the windows power management settings, it has sleep feature for all or none, so either all monitors go to sleep or none of them. Trying to see if there is anyway to make only one monitor go to sleep in windows 7.

    Appreciate any reply/solution.

    --

    focus_user

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-03-10T14:34:41+00:00

    I'm having all of the same problems that the users above are, so I'm not going to bother repeating them all. I just wanted to add another voice in the hope that MS finally releases a fix for this.

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-03-12T20:05:35+00:00

    I was having similiar issues with my old KVM.  Unfortunately, I don't have time to wait on a fix so I went with Microsoft's solution and purchased a new KVM.

    Just an FYI; I went with this guy:

    http://www.connectpro.com/prod\_kvm\_usb12pro.html

    It works flawlessly with Win7 and was only $75 on amazon.

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  5. Anonymous
    2010-03-15T22:20:48+00:00

    I was having similiar issues with my old KVM.  Unfortunately, I don't have time to wait on a fix so I went with Microsoft's solution and purchased a new KVM.

    Well, if I am to follow MS advice with my single monitor problem, I am never to turn the monitor off. That won't do it for me, so I'm still frustrated and waiting.... :(

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