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Is there anyway to do something like Mac OS X's "Detect Displays" on Windows (Vista Business, SP2)?

I have two monitors connected to two computers, one of them through a KVM-switch. When Windows is started or unlocked while not the active computer on the switch, the screen resolution is set to 1024 x 768 on the switched screen. It is also reported as the largest size the screen can handle, so I can't just reset it to its native 1680 x 1050.

On my Mac, I can just use System Preferences -> Displays -> Detect Displays to make the OS pick up that it's actually a bigger screen, but I haven't been able to find something like this on Windows. Tips or suggestions?

Edit: If I reboot the PC while it is the active computer in the KVM switch, I can change the resolution to 1680 x 1050 without a problem. The issue is that the KVM switch is reporting a max resolution of 1024 x 768 and I can't get Windows to detect that there's another screen at the end of the cable without a reboot.

Lizzan
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  • What model/make KVM? – Tog Nov 17 '10 at 12:07
  • @Tog: It's one of these: http://www.aten.com/products/productItem.php?pid=20090605160622001&psid=20070130114323002&pcid=20070130111333003&layerid=subClass3 – Lizzan Nov 17 '10 at 12:22
  • What graphics card are you using? Also, is the other computer on the KVM using the proper resolution? – MBraedley Nov 17 '10 at 13:08
  • @MBraedley: The graphics card is an ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT. My Mac also changes the resolution to 1024 x 768 if I start it while it's not the active computer in the KVM, but I can just do a "Detect Displays" to have it pick up the right display again. – Lizzan Nov 17 '10 at 14:00
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    There is a great big honking 'Detect' button in the Display Properties in Windows 7. I thought Vista has this functionality but if the button isn't there I don't know what to tell you, as I don't have a Vista image handy I can poke around with. :/ – Shinrai Nov 17 '10 at 15:06
  • @Shinrai - Vista does indeed have the Detect button – Joe Taylor Nov 17 '10 at 16:17
  • Thanks, I'll see if I can find that button tomorrow when I'm back at work. In the meantime, why don't @Shinrai or @Joe Taylor write their comment as an answer so I can give you rep? – Lizzan Nov 17 '10 at 16:58
  • I did find the button on my Windows 7 virtual machine, but I haven't been able to find it on my Vista. Can anyone with access to Vista find this button and post a screenshot of it? – Lizzan Nov 18 '10 at 06:35
  • Possible duplicate: http://superuser.com/questions/157256 – Hello71 Nov 29 '10 at 01:18

4 Answers4

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(Moving comment to answer per @Lizzan's request, although I didn't quite think it warranted being an answer)

There is a great big honking 'Detect' button in the Display Properties in Windows 7. I know Vista has this functionality (at least, I recall being able to do it in XP as well so why would it be missing?)but if the button isn't there I don't know what to tell you, as I don't have a Vista image handy I can poke around with. :/

Shinrai
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  • Since my question was "Is there anyway to do something like Mac OS X's "Detect Displays" on Windows (Vista)?", and you say there's such a button, I'd say it counts as an answer! =) – Lizzan Nov 17 '10 at 19:04
  • It may NOT have the button though. See, I'm not sure. I can't think of any valid reason it WOULDN'T though... – Shinrai Nov 17 '10 at 19:30
  • @Shinrai: Could you possibly add a screenshot of where I can find this button - I have a Swedish OS and I'm not sure that I'm in the right place because I can't find the button you've mentioned. – Lizzan Nov 18 '10 at 06:27
  • I did find the button on my Windows 7 virtual machine, but I haven't been able to find it on my Vista. Can anyone with access to Vista find this button and post a screenshot of it? – Lizzan Nov 18 '10 at 06:35
  • @Lizzan - Looks like my fears were correct. Hope somebody's able to find this for you. – Shinrai Nov 18 '10 at 15:15
  • @Shinrai: Awarded you the bounty as you at least let me know there's supposed to be a solution, and showing it exists on Win7. Thanks for helping out! – Lizzan Nov 30 '10 at 06:49
  • @Lizzan - Sorry I couldn't do any better. I'm frankly surprised that nobody knows how to do this in Vista! – Shinrai Nov 30 '10 at 15:26
  • @Shinrai: No problems! I'm glad there's a solution for Win7 at least, I should probably ask for an OS update anyways...:-) – Lizzan Nov 30 '10 at 20:01
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On Windows 7 you can press [WindowsKey]-P and choose between single, clone and extend.

This also detects the monitor if it's currently not seen – useful when the second monitor is lost after a KVM switching etc.

slhck
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saywell
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If you can't change the resolution to be any higher, then it is probably a limitation of the graphics card. You can look your graphics card model number up online to see if it supports a resolution of 1680 x 1050.

James T
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    The graphics card supports the resolution fine, if I restart the computer while it is the active computer in the KVM-switch. I'll edit my question to add that. – Lizzan Nov 17 '10 at 10:15
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First right click you desktop, then click screen resolution. At the top right there is two buttons Detect and Identify this is probably what you are looking for.

Supercereal
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