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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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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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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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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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