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
    2009-12-01T02:31:03+00:00

    ATI Radeon 3100 Graphics through a Belkin Flip DVI to a Acer P241W

    I'm running VMware workstation 6.5 and if I leave it running full screen when I switch back it will  occupy a fraction of the screen. After a few times the background will disappear and eventually Windows 7 will become unresponsive even though VMware continues to work fine.  I also see the same behavior when I switch the monitor off but leave the KVM switch to Win7.

    Hardware is an AMD Phenom Quad core with 8Gb memory running Win7 Pro x64

    I'd been running the same config for months with RC and then  FCS over a VGA KVM without problems.

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-12-01T03:10:36+00:00

    KVM Pro - Obviously you haven't been reading this thread in it's entirety.  Replacing hardware is not an acceptable solution for the bulk of people here.  I had just purchased my KVM not 6 weeks before Windows 7 RC came out.  Why should I have to replace brand new hardware???  Why should IT departments across the global be forced into replacing working hardware just to take advantage of a new O/S (W2008R2 which is also affected).

    Not only that - many people have experienced issues that have nothing to do with KVM's.  Turning off a monitor and then turning it back on also triggers the system to attempt to 'refresh' the resolution. 

    The root problem is that this new functionality in Windows 7 is reaking havoc on a lot of systems - with and without KVM's - and there needs to be some method to turning it off...

    And to quote my earlier post:  "Microsoft's stance is that Windows 7 is suppose to fix all the issues that people had upgrading to Vista.  Well one of the biggest issues was backward's compatibility with older hardware.  Based on that - this answer should also not be acceptable to Microsoft"

    Joseph W. Leathlean

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  4. Anonymous
    2009-12-01T04:42:45+00:00

    I did read all the thread each one of them.  I understand that people who just upgraded or  purchased KVM switches which did not pass EDID information will feel very frustrated by the suggestion of changing their hardware again.  However, I did not just suggest change the KVM switch at a whole.  There are still solutions for just adding an EDID adapter in which users don't need to change their KVM switch at all.

    Talking about the OS development, if you do an in-depth research of history of OS, you will find that constantly checking the IO devices' status can be found also on many Linux versions and even with old versions of SUN OS.   I do believe that if the KVM manufacturers can provide some trade-in or upgrade of their old KVM, it will be the best solution for all of us.

    Even Toyota can recall millions of their best selling car, I think the users of KVM switches also have the right to request more stable and more transparent KVM switches.  Please read the Display Guidline for KVM Switch in Windows 7 - (http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/display/KVM-Win7.mspx) which point out what are the command design mistakes with most of the traditional KVM switches.

     I truly believe that transparent communication between OS and connected I/O devices make Windows 7 an advanced OS and a good OS.

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  5. Anonymous
    2009-12-01T04:54:41+00:00

    Here you go Kevin:

    1. KVM Switch Make/Model: IOGear 4-Port DVI KVMP Switch with Audio and Cables GCS1764
    2. Video Card Make/Model: ASUS EAH4670/DI/512M/A Radeon HD 4670 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready
    3. Monitor: HP w2408

    Also, the other system I connect to the KVM is a HP 6910p Laptop

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