I recently purchased an ATEN KVM CS-72E switch. I am using the switch to connect 2 computers to an LCD monitor.
This setup works most of the time, but it has a major bug, which I can't understand. For the monitor to recognise either of the computers correctly, I have to have the monitor showing the computer while it is starting up, or else I have problems. The particular problem varies according to the computer. It is a bit complicated, but I'll try to describe it as clearly as possible.
Scenario 1: I start Computer 1, while it is connected to the monitor via the KVM switch. I watch Computer 1 start up, and it works perfectly. Now, while I am working on Computer 1, I start Computer 2 and let it start up without viewing it on the monitor (ie, I do not switch the monitor over to it). Now, when I switch the monitor over to Computer 2 using the KVM switch, I get the message "Analog Out of Range". The only way I can get the monitor to see the computer is to reboot and watch it all the way through startup.
Scenario 2: I start Computer 2 watching it on the monitor via the KVM switch. It works perfectly. Now, while I am working on Computer 2, I start computer 1 and allow it to start up without viewing it on the monitor. I switch the monitor over to Computer 1 only after it has completed its Windows startup. I am able to see the desktop for Computer 1, but the monitor has lost its display settings. It is now displaying at 800 x 600 instead of 1280 x 1040. Once I correct the settings, everything works correctly.
Scenario 3: I start Computer 1, watching it on the monitor until windows startup is completed. I now switch the monitor over to Computer 2, turn it on and watch it through to the completion of Windows startup. Both computers can now be seen correctly and from then on I can switch back and forward between the 2 of them without problems.
Can anyone tell me if this is an inherent aspect of a KVM switch or an LCD monitor? Does an LCD monitor have to actually see the computer while it is starting up to be able to recognise it correctly?
I have tried contacting LG support and ATEN support, without luck so far. LG simply said that "Analog out of range" issues are due to a faulty graphics card and I should replace it. This doesn't make sense, as I never had any issues before I started using the KVM switch.
I haven't had any answer from ATEN.
My setup is:
Computer 1: Pentium 4, 3 gig processor, 2 gig RAM, Windows XP Pro SP2. nVidia Geforce FX 5700. It is on KVM switch 1.
Computer 2: AMD Athlon 1.6gig processor, 1gig RAM, Windows XP Home SP2. nVidia Geforce FX 5200. It is on KVM switch 2. This is the only computer which has shown the problem so far.
Monitor: LG Flatron L1954TQ
I do not have any power saving options activated on my computers. Everything is set to be on all of the time.
Both computers are set at 1280 x 1024 resolution (recommended for the monitor) and at 60 mhz refresh rate. I have also tried them both at 75 mhz.
Both computers have the monitor's drivers installed from the CD that came with it.
This setup works most of the time, but it has a major bug, which I can't understand. For the monitor to recognise either of the computers correctly, I have to have the monitor showing the computer while it is starting up, or else I have problems. The particular problem varies according to the computer. It is a bit complicated, but I'll try to describe it as clearly as possible.
Scenario 1: I start Computer 1, while it is connected to the monitor via the KVM switch. I watch Computer 1 start up, and it works perfectly. Now, while I am working on Computer 1, I start Computer 2 and let it start up without viewing it on the monitor (ie, I do not switch the monitor over to it). Now, when I switch the monitor over to Computer 2 using the KVM switch, I get the message "Analog Out of Range". The only way I can get the monitor to see the computer is to reboot and watch it all the way through startup.
Scenario 2: I start Computer 2 watching it on the monitor via the KVM switch. It works perfectly. Now, while I am working on Computer 2, I start computer 1 and allow it to start up without viewing it on the monitor. I switch the monitor over to Computer 1 only after it has completed its Windows startup. I am able to see the desktop for Computer 1, but the monitor has lost its display settings. It is now displaying at 800 x 600 instead of 1280 x 1040. Once I correct the settings, everything works correctly.
Scenario 3: I start Computer 1, watching it on the monitor until windows startup is completed. I now switch the monitor over to Computer 2, turn it on and watch it through to the completion of Windows startup. Both computers can now be seen correctly and from then on I can switch back and forward between the 2 of them without problems.
Can anyone tell me if this is an inherent aspect of a KVM switch or an LCD monitor? Does an LCD monitor have to actually see the computer while it is starting up to be able to recognise it correctly?
I have tried contacting LG support and ATEN support, without luck so far. LG simply said that "Analog out of range" issues are due to a faulty graphics card and I should replace it. This doesn't make sense, as I never had any issues before I started using the KVM switch.
I haven't had any answer from ATEN.
My setup is:
Computer 1: Pentium 4, 3 gig processor, 2 gig RAM, Windows XP Pro SP2. nVidia Geforce FX 5700. It is on KVM switch 1.
Computer 2: AMD Athlon 1.6gig processor, 1gig RAM, Windows XP Home SP2. nVidia Geforce FX 5200. It is on KVM switch 2. This is the only computer which has shown the problem so far.
Monitor: LG Flatron L1954TQ
I do not have any power saving options activated on my computers. Everything is set to be on all of the time.
Both computers are set at 1280 x 1024 resolution (recommended for the monitor) and at 60 mhz refresh rate. I have also tried them both at 75 mhz.
Both computers have the monitor's drivers installed from the CD that came with it.