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
    2010-01-14T03:57:53+00:00

    I did post this comment in another thread on this board.  There are some strange behaviors going on with the thread, though. 

    In any event, I did try a Gefen DVI Detective and it works fine.  Cost $60, and is used to store and send the EDID from the monitor, so the computer thinks it is always attached, even when I switch via KVM or turn the monitor off.  The windows to not consolidate sideways to monitor 2 and the open windows do not resize.  Problem has gone away.  Not good for rollouts to our users, but my test machine is working once again.

    My thoughts are that this is copy protection so they can sell Windows 7 as a media player because it protects output similar to how my blue ray player works on our large screen at home.  A KVM would not store the serial number of the monitor, and that is what this device does.  We have not been able to find any KVM switch anywhere that works and so we have told our Microsoft rep if they want to buy these for all our machines via a credit on our volume license fees, we will continue to work towards rollouts.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-01-13T21:18:04+00:00

    Afraid it was definitely this thread. I still have the email notices.

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-01-13T21:08:14+00:00

    I read Driven2040's response above about copy protection and responded to it a couple of days ago.

    Why have both comments vanished and Driven240's comment reappeared?

    Could be because you are not looking at the thread in which you commented.  :-)

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-01-13T20:47:43+00:00

    My problem takes everyone's KVM problems and makes them worse. I currently have a workstation running Windows 7 64-bit and a Windows XP Professional 32-bit laptop connected to a Belkin SOHO VGA 4-port KVM. I get the same problems as described above with my workstation reverting back to 640X480(emulated resolution on the Belkin switch) on returning to it from the laptop. This is just more annoying than anything else is it resizes everything open at the time. My unique problem occurs when another user or myself from another location is using UltraVNC to connect to the workstation. This user then can only use the 640X480 default resolution with no options to change it. So following Microsoft's suggestion of updating my KVM switch would be of no use when I am not in the office and the monitors are powered off and I am trying to connect using UltraVNC. This currently the first workstation we have installed windows 7 on but other workstations in our company typically are not even connected to a KVM or any other input source and are just operated using UltraVNC by multiple users. Any ideas on any work arounds for these problems?

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  5. Anonymous
    2010-01-13T02:09:53+00:00

    I read Driven2040's response above about copy protection and responded to it a couple of days ago.

    Why have both comments vanished and Driven240's comment reappeared?

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