Computers connected by KVM doesn't give correct display if booted when monitor is not switched to computer being booted

Anonymous
2010-02-17T04:06:34+00:00

I have 2 computers connected by an Aten CS64U KVM switch.  The monitor is a Dell 2009W.  On Aten's website, the KVM switch is identified as suitable for Windows 7.  There don't seem to be any KVM switches on the Windows 7 compatibility centre site.

Sometimes the display reverts to 1024x768 and instead of the Dell monitor being selected in the display properties it has "Generic nonPnP monitor" instead.  I have to go into display properties and detect the monitor.  It definitely happens if the computer being booted is not the one switched to the monitor when it is being booted.

Is there a way of telling Windows 7 to always load the Dell monitor when it boots, or to detect monitors when switched to/connected, or to detect monitors periodically (or something else that would overcome this without me having to manually detect the monitor)?

If not, is there a shortcut way of detecting the monitor to save having to go to display properties to ask for the display to be detected?

I've got the latest driver from the Dell site for the monitor.

Thanks if anyone can help.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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.

0 comments

5 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2010-04-13T04:24:10+00:00

    Thanks for the reply.

    The most cost effective solution for me is to return windows 7 as it is defective.  I have no intention of replacing fully functioning hardware because of a ridiculous "feature" which renders the OS unusable.

    Was this answer helpful?

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2010-04-13T00:06:54+00:00

    It had been known and proofed that it is caused by the KVM switchnot the display card with Windows 7.

    The newest Windows 7 OS is working just like the old UNIX or Some Linux OS (and SUN OS), they all see devices connected to the OS system as "resources" files and checking their status most of the time. 

    The KVM switch you listed did not support "full-time" DDC/EDID  feeding on each/every channels (DDC/EDID is only provided to target/selected channel).  Please google "Full-time DDC" or "All-time DDC/EDID" and you'll find a lots of cases like your.  If you have one Windows 7 system connected to the switch, I suggest you to get a DDC/EDID emulator to put in between the Windows 7 system and the KVM switch.  If you have more than one Windows 7 systems connected to your KVM switch, it will be more cost effective to upgrade /trade-in your KVM switch.

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2010-02-18T03:34:05+00:00

    I've just been playing with it.  It seems to be that sometimes the monitor is auto-detected (the monitor brings up the "auto-detect" message) and sometimes it is not.  BUT even if the auto-detect message doesn't display, sometimes the screen has its normal resolution and sometimes it hasn't (it's not just related to coming out of sleep).  The setting of the AMD External Event Utility doesn't seem to affect it either way.  Sometimes it detects, sometimes it doesn't, which seems odd to me - what's doing the detecting if it's not the AMD External Event Utility?  Is it Windows 7, the switch, or perhaps even the monitor not responding?  (It worked fine in XP (and Vista too I think, but I didn't use that much, so I'm not sure).

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2010-02-18T02:40:13+00:00

    Thanks for the reply.

    1. Both ATI Radeon - one's an HD4550 (with the latest drivers/Catalyst Centre) and the other's an X1300 (with legacy drivers).  The newer card does it too, so it's not just because the other card is an older legacy product.
    2. I've only got one screen.  Two computers, one screen.
    3. Thank you for the suggestion.   I've tried that now.  It hasn't affected the computer booting as a generic PnP monitor, the one booting still wants to be the one switched to.  Because it's an intermittent problem (it doesn't happen every time the switch is used - just when the computers have been "sleeping")  I'll have to wait and see if it cures the screen losing it's settings at other times.  I'll report back later.

    I had a look through the services list.  I wonder whether this could have something to do with the Plug and Play service?

    Thanks.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2010-02-18T00:24:06+00:00

    Hi,

    1. What's the make and model of your graphics card?

    Try the two methods below and let me know if it was worth the try.

    1. Just go into the display\screen resolution (and with the KVM on another port- so you only have the one screen in blue) select the monitor number two and then change Multiple displays: to Extend theses displays. Then your screen will automatically come back with the KVM switch.
    2. After setting the resolution on the monitor, Stop and then disable a service called "AMD External Event Utility". This should stop the system from detecting your monitor dismounting every time you switch PCs with the KVM. This service can also be called "ATI External Event Utility" depending on one's card. Look for something like this under services if the manufacturer of your graphics card is not AMD.

    Erwin

    I am not 62; I am 16 with 46 years of experience..Think Positive..Think Differnet

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments