Windows 7 moves/resizes windows on monitor power cycle

Anonymous
2010-10-08T22:13:48+00:00

I have a new W7 ultimate install on a new PC (AOpen DEX4501 w intel GM45 graphics). I have installed the latest Intel graphics drivers 8.15.10.2202, and all relevant windows updates.

It is connected via HDMI to a Grundig Misuro HD TV. My resolution is set to 1600x900, windows recommended resolution is 1920x1080 but this displays badly so I don't use it.

When Windows sleeps, or I turn off (then later on) the monitor, most windows are moved/resized to the upper left with the lower right at 1024x768.

Firefox, Excel(2003),Explorer windows resize/move, Outlook(2003) did not move/resize.

I have a Samurize (Gadget like) display on the right which someimes get relocated to the top left, but not this morning. The windows resize/move also happens when Samurize is not running.

I have found three other entries related to this;

They don't seem to have been resolved for a long time.

This is a Windows monitor power managment issue, can it be fixed please it is very annoying.

I won't be recommending W7 to others with such issues outstanding.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2010-10-09T02:55:58+00:00

I have found a work-around.

Using Sysinternals ProcessMonitor I found that Windows was accessing the following Registry path;

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers\Configuration

My system had three entries;

DELF003YY7707BR0MUL_30_07D7_6A^9A3774EB79DEE3E3E38496CC7DF4D936

QHD32000001_31_07D6_D5^63E1ABDD175E7871DCAEB710418A0F75

SIMULATED_8086_2A42_00000000_00020000_1010100^CDE365D1B3F0942F0CF38BFB8E127AB4

Under each is a tree called "00" two of the keys are

PrimSurfSize.cx

PrimSurfSize.cy

Under "00" was another branch also called "00" two of the keys are;

ActiveSize.cx

ActiveSize.cy

The first two of the configs (ie DELF00... & QHD3...) the above keys were 1440x900,

so they were not involved.

The third (SIMULATED...) were set to 1024x768.

I changed these to 1600x900 and the problem was solved.

Further I changed resolution (via control panel) to 1920x1080, the moving/resize issue returned,

but the lower right corner was set to 1600x900, ie the SIMULATED... settings.

So for some reason one of the configs does not get set correctly.

I don't know why there are three configs, I have only ever used one monitor.

Hope this helps someone out there...

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-04-03T12:51:10+00:00

    This is interesting because for me, it doesn't happen when the monitor turns off due to power saving or going to sleep. I also had this monitor before the new card and it never did this so I don't know if it could be on the monitor's end.

    Another wacky thing that started up since I got this new card (as long as I'm adding info for anyone else who comes along), in certain games (Skyrim specifically, but I think I also noticed this in Pillars of Eternity) there is screen tearing even though v-sync is on. This though may be completely unrelated.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-04-03T13:34:38+00:00

    On hdmi one can disable the power-signal from the monitor:

    http://superuser.com/questions/630555/turning-displayport-monitor-off-disables-monitor-completely

    There are also adapters for this.

    But I have displayport, have not found any adapters, and since I'm using 4K, i'm not sure if it is possible to do anything since it have higher signalrate.

    My monitor, samsung 28" 4K, reports poweroff when it goes to sleep, and thus windows resizes all windows.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-04-03T15:09:44+00:00

    I didn't notice mr_andrew's post before. I think he's spot on regarding the interaction of monitor and graphics devices.

    But even if, due to a misunderstanding, Windows believes the monitor was unplugged, why does it fall back on a particular fixed resolution, rather than just stick to the current resolution? And if we crank up that fixed resolution by tweaking the registry, why does Windows still push windows away from the right edge?

    As to the first question, maybe it falls back on VGA output. I think that really old monitors hooked up to VGA couldn't be identified at all. So maybe Windows, to the best of its knowledge, believes you switched to an unknown, undetectable monitor on the VGA port, at the maximum resolution such an antiquity is supposed to handle. So what if I hook up a real monitor on the VGA port, one that advertises a greater resolution, like the very monitor I have already hooked up through the DVI cable? Well, in my case, the problem seems to be solved! There is still an unplug sound, but windows near the right edge stay put.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-04-03T16:01:15+00:00

    The reason for all this, I think is mostly related to laptops, and usage on projectors, it need to fallback on some resolution that can be visible when you switch to an projector.

    The fact that this destroys the experience for normal users is on the other hand, totally unacceptable.

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