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
    2012-01-15T16:07:32+00:00

    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.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-01-12T22:09:23+00:00

    I believe the best permanent solution is to buy a Mac.

    Such a shame that you didn't actually read the posts of this thread.

    I'm not the only person that has a Mac.  QuadMac tower with 16gig RAM.  That's the *REASON* I wanted the KVM to work: Because I have more than one computer.

    It was the fact that I have a mac that helped me diagnose working KVM units.  I pointed out that every other computer: Mac, WinXP, desktop and laptop all worked - Only the Win7 machine had a problem with that KVM.

    If you read back a little, you'll find that my solution came from formating the Windows machine.  The long term build-up of redundant drivers was the cause.

    In other words: You don't have to be a prejudiced jughead about mac versus Windows.  There's plenty of work for both.  They each have their place.  The computers can play well together; which is a hint to their owners.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-01-12T21:55:09+00:00

    I believe the best permanent solution is to buy a Mac.

    Luckily its a belief and not a fact. Not that I hate Mac, but simply don't enjoy golden cages.

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-01-12T21:24:19+00:00

    I believe the best permanent solution is to buy a Mac.

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  5. Anonymous
    2012-01-03T18:50:33+00:00

    Hello Clint,

    Its a long thread but we have seen this with numerous combinations.  What has been determined is that this is (1) a documented function of windows, (2) some video drivers have the ability to override the windows functionality (presumably by caching and broadcasting the last known EDID), and (2) can not be directly contributed to a particular Windows configuration.

    3 is particular to your comment as this behavior has been reported on a number of machines including fresh installs.

    Notice that 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!!!!!

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