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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 posted the Catalyst Control Center comment above. It didn't work after reboot.
This is why Apple has gone from a non-player to being nearly twice the value of Microsoft in a decade. I don't like things about Apple's tight control. But their machines do generally work and work well. I won't be buying another Windows computer, phone or anything else other than an XBox.
I went in to regedit
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers\configuration
browse the entries below that, and I found a setting for the lower resolution that win7 was defaulting to. I manually changed it to the 1280X1024 and then whenever I switch back to the win7 machine from the winxp machine, the resolution remained at the higher setting.
no guarantees, and I suggest back up your reg file before messing with it! but it worked for me.
Thanks! This finally worked on at least one new system I am building and ran into this same old problem :)
This is lame! I have been reading the first 6 pages of this forum and then skipped to the last 3 to see that Microsoft did not do jack....I also have 2 monitors DVI as the main on and VGA(on KVM as second one) with extend display ON. When i connect another computer to the KVM(i install alot of desktops) and when i come back to my PC(win 7) my main monitor goes black and my 2nd monitor becomes primary and all my info goes on it. I then have to go to Screen rezolution and detect my main monitor again and rearange some of the windows i had open. Come on MS help the I.T. guys with this. Its a freaking stupid matter that affects us daily. I cant go to my boss and tell him: you know i have yo biy another KVM cause Microsoft doesn`t have the time to fix a bug that is irritating me to ****.
tried a windows 7 approved DVI KVM (IOGear GCS1104) switch, but whenever it was switched to another computer and came back to the win7 one, same thing as above - the DVI was no longer the primary monitor, windows 7 recognized only the VGA second monitor and the DVI would not even come on any longer. Tech support was clueless.
I gave up, sent the new KVM back, and bought a 23" monitor so I don't need two monitors. With the reg fix I mentioned, the resolution stays intact when switching. The only downside is the 10 second or so pause that the win7 machine takes every time I switch to it. But I gave up trying to do it any other way.
I've been tracking this for some time as I too suffer from this issue (KVM + 2 monitors).
For our newcomers . . .
There has been a lot of cross posting on video card drivers, etc.
For those tuning in, this issue is specifically related to EDID/ DDC information not being broadcasted to all connected systems by the switch.
Windows periodically polls for connected monitors, and the inactive system "forgets" its previous monitor connection through the KVM.
Driver related solutions merely provide a work around, this is not an ATI or NVidia specific issue.
Possible solution / Request for MS:
It is clear that MS will not provide a mechanism to alter the basic mechanics of the polling model.
Would there be the possibility of a "power toy" to emulate EDID responses in software? This may not be trivial is this is currently done by some card makers at the driver level. It would, however, provide a solution to affected users without re-architecting system functions or exposing protected API's.
I have placed a request for such a program at Microsoft's Sysinternals site, and encourage everyone to chime in on the thread.
Forum Home > Sysinternals Utilities > Utilities Suggestions ->
EDID Emulation for KVM/Win7 Compatability
Above was posted on Page 36, I continue to encourage all comers to up-vote this power toy request!
In the mean time, per my Page 37 Post:
Quote:
... zBar (which more by luck than design) also provides a mechanism to solve the problem. Again this program interacts with Windows 7's EDID polling mechanism.
To All Others:
I encourage everyone to see my previous post on Page 36.
I created a request for a PowerToy from sysinternals. If enough people vote for it . . .
Also please mark my page 36 post as helpful to hopefully increase visibility.
In the meantime zBar is an indirect solution. Many thanks to Tom Revell!!!!!
