Question

Strange goings-on with a USB KVM...

Asked by: Peborgh

I have three PCs connected through a Starview 4 port Micro KVM Switch.

I find that sometimes a computer connected will not sense the mouse and keyboard after the switch has been off that computer for a time. Also sometimes the computer changes resolution - that at least is the symptom! One other time I got the blue screen of death. This has only started happening since I used the KVM.

I have selected no stand-by powering off on all USBs on all all computers. the PCs affected are Win XP.

Anyone else had any of these experiences or has any exlanations or get-arounds?

Many thanks.

This Question has been solved and asker verified All Experts Exchange premium technology solutions are available to subscription members.

Subscribe now for full access to Experts Exchange and get

Instant Access to this Solution

  • Plus...
  • 30 Day FREE access, no risk, no obligation
  • Collaborate with the world's top tech experts
  • Unlimited access to our exclusive solution database
  • Never be left without tech help again

Subscribe Now

Asked On
2009-05-15 at 07:54:22ID24412351
Tags

KVM Switches

Topics

Peripherals

,

Mice / Keyboards

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
7

Trusted by hundreds of thousands everyday for fast, accurate and reliable tech support.

  • "The time we save is the biggest benefit of Experts Exchange to Warner Bros. What could take multiple guys 2 hours or more each to find is accessed in around 15 minutes on Experts Exchange." Mike Kapnisakis, Warner Bros.
  • "Our team likes having a resource that is more secure than just using Google and most experts using this service really know their stuff. It's nice to look here first versus using Google." Dayna Sellner, Lockheed Martin
  • "Anytime that I've been stumped with a problem, 9 out of 10 times Experts Exchange has either the accepted solution or an open discussion of the potential solution to the problem." Kenny Red, eBay Inc.

See what Experts Exchange can do for you.

Got a question?

We've got the answer.

Experts Exchange has been collecting answers to technology questions since 1996…3 million and counting! If you have a question, chances are we already have your answer.

Screenshot of Experts Exchange Knowledgebase

Need individual assistance?

Our experts are ready to help.

If you can't find the exact answer you're looking for, ask our exclusive community of 50,000 experts. You’ll get a personalized answer from a trusted professional.

Screenshot of Experts Exchange Knowledgebase

Want to learn from the best?

Read articles from industry experts.

Thousands of free tech tips, tricks, how-to’s and tutorials are available in our peer reviewed articles section. See for yourself how smart our experts are, no login required.

Screenshot of an Article

Working on a long term project?

Store your work and research.

Save solutions to your questions, answers you’ve discovered through searching plus helpful articles in your personal knowledgebase for easy future access.

Screenshot of Experts Exchange Knowledgebase

Access the answers to your technology questions today.

Subscribe Now

30-day free trial. Register in 60 seconds.

What Makes Experts Exchange Unique?

Members of the expert community talk about why the experience at Experts Exchange is different than what you will find anywhere else.

Trusted by the world's most respected brands.

image of each brand's logo

Faithfully serving IT professionals since 1996.

Experts Exchange Logo

Try it out and discover for yourself.

Subscribe Now

30-day free trial. Register in 60 seconds.

Related Solutions

  1. KVM with USB KEYBOARD and USB Mouse emulation?
    Hi, I need a KVM with the following characteristics: CONTROL: Logitech wireless USB keyboard Logitech cordless mouse USB Monitor = VGA OUTPUT characteristics 2 VGA cables 2 USB cables one for each computer MY ACTUAL PROBLEM: I still have a KVM, a crap called BANDRIDGE, bu...

Free Tech Articles

  1. WARNING: 5 Reasons why you should NEVER fix a computer for free.
    It is in our nature to love the puzzle. We are obsessed. The lot of us. We love puzzles. We love the challenge. We thrive on finding the answer. We hate disarray. It bothers us deep in our soul. W...
  2. SCCM OSD Basic troubleshooting
    SCCM 2007 OSD is a fantastic way to deploy operating systems, however, like most things SCCM issues can sometimes be difficult to resolve due to the sheer volume of logs to sift through and the dispe...
  3. Migrate Small Business Server 2003 to Exchange 2010 and Windows 2008 R2
    This guide is intended to provide step by step instructions on how to migrate from Small Business Server 2003 to Windows 2008 R2 with Exchange 2010. For this migration to work you will need the fo...
  4. Create a Win7 Gadget
    This article shows you how to create a simple "Gadget" -- a sort of mini-application supported by Windows 7 and Vista. Gadgets can be dropped anywhere on the desktop to provide instant information, ...
  5. Outlook continually prompting for username and password
    There have been a lot of questions recently regarding Outlook prompting for a username and password whilst using Exchange 2007. There are a few reasons why this would happen and I will try to cover t...
  6. Backup Exchange 2010 Information Store using Windows Backup
    There seems to be quite a lot of confusion around the ability to backup Exchange 2010 using the built in Windows Backup feature. This stems from the omission of this feature prior to Exchange 2007 s...

Cloud Class Webinars

  1. Avoiding Bugs in Microsoft Access
    Alison Balter takes and in-depth look at avoiding bugs in Access. In this webinar you will learn about using the immediate window to debug your applications, invoking the debugger, using breakpoints to troubleshoot, stepping through code, setting the next statement to execute, ...
  2. Top 10 Best New Features in Visio 2010
    Scott Helmers gives live demonstrations of the top 10 new features in Visio 2010. This webinar will teach you how to create compelling diagrams by adding shapes to the page with a single click, linking the shapes in a diagram to data in Excel (or SQL Server, or SharePoint), ...
  3. IT Consultant Business Secrets Revealed
    Michael Munger, Experts Exchange tech pro and IT consultant, pulls back the curtain on his very successful businesses and answers question on every IT consultant and business owner should know about. He shares secrets on what he did to solve the 5 most common problems in IT, ...
  4. Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
    Quest CTO, Mike Billon, gives an overview of the steps involved in building a dunamic disaster recovery plan. Through case studies and an examination of software/hardware tooles for monitoring and testing, you'll gain a better understandin of where you are, where you want ...
  5. Organize Your Visio Diagrams with Containers and Lists
    Scott Helmers uses cross functional flowcharts, wireframe diagrams, data graphic legends and seating charts to teach you: how to ustilize all three new structured diagram components in Visio 2010, the best practices for organizeing shapes in previous version of Visio, how to organize ...
  6. How to Us Objects, Properties, Events and Methods in Microsoft Access
    Alison Dalter gives an in-depbth look at objects, properties, events and methods in Microsoft Access. In this webinar you will learn about using the object browser, referring to objects, working with properties and methods, working with object variables, understanding the ...

Join the Community

Give a Little. Get a Lot.

Join the community of experts here and help other tech pros by answering question in your area of expertise. You can earn FREE access to all Experts Exchange's premium features and resources.

Join the Community

Answers

 

by: ndaryPosted on 2009-05-17 at 03:42:38ID: 24405703

What model of the Starview KVM do you use? does it has a USB console or PS/2?
almost all USB KVM switches keyboard/mouse are been identified as a 'HID-compliant mouse/keyboard' by the operating system. when you loose keyboard/mouse check at the device manager that the 'HID-compliant mouse and keyboard' driver are there.. if there are not there then the computer does not see the KVM Switch USB keyboard/mouse anymore..

Regarding the resolution change, check if the Starview KVM has DDC support. If your KVM switch do not support DDC then what happens is when you switch from one computer to another port the PC may change his native resolution. (because the KVM Switch does not remember the DDC information on an offline port) on Windows XP & Above there is no option on the control panel to ignore DDC or disable plug and play monitor detection... you may want to search your display card manufacture for info on this or physically disable the DDC channel (pin 12 of your VGA port)  

Regarding the Blue screen ;)... did you wrote down the process that fail? this may help to find if its related to the issues above...

 

by: PeborghPosted on 2009-05-17 at 08:25:33ID: 24406518

OK, the KVM type is SV411KUSB.
What do you mean by USB console? - it works with USB kbd and mouse.
I did not install its softwareas I am happy to click thebuttons to select computer.
I cannot find any mention of DDC in the booklet that goes with the switch or on the box. However, the internet description pages tell me it supports DDC and DDC2!
The display drivers are up-to-date.
We can get back to the blue screen later - I would value comments on the above first.

Many thanks,

peter

 

by: ndaryPosted on 2009-05-18 at 00:06:22ID: 24409535

Hi Peter,

1. USB console mean USB Keyboard/Mouse you connect to the SV411K.. thanks for the info..
2. you need to install the USBKVMIn.exe utility on every Computer you connect to the KVM switch!.. and follow the instruction on the user guide.. this should help to improve the phenomena of loosing keyboard/mouse activity...  if you did not install the driver from the manufacture WinXP uses his built in 'HID-compliant mouse/keyboard'  drivers..  go to the "System Properties" => "Hardwar" => "Device Manager" and you can see that under 'Keyboards' & 'Mice and other pointing devices' the default WinXP drivers that the operating system is using to communication with the USB Keyboard/Mouse you connected to the KVM switch.  when you loosing the Keyboard or mouse control check to see if these drivers are still there and active.. (you can do this by connecting the monitor directly to the PC and switch back & forward from that KVM port)

2. The SV411KUSB user manual does not mention anything on DDC or EDID support.. so the SV411KUSB may pass the DDC info when you are connected to a computer and watching its screen.. but it may not emulate the DDC info when you switch to another computer..

Bottom line:

1. Install the manufacture software on each computer as recommended on the product manual
2. Try using another brand of Keyboard / Mouse.. there maybe compatibility issue for the KVM switch with this brand

it may be that you have a faulty KVM switch that need to be replaced/repaired.

3. Regarding the screen.. Disable the screen saver or the monitor power setting mode from the display properties so the screen will not be switched off when there is no computer activity..  this to prevent from the screen to switch off and back on when you switch to that computer.

I hope you find this information helpful

 

by: PeborghPosted on 2009-05-18 at 07:41:52ID: 24412540

Very helpful. It will be a couple of days before I can do this, but thanks. I will get back to you...

peter

 

by: PeborghPosted on 2009-05-27 at 06:26:12ID: 24482746

The repalcement KVM, along with installing the s/w and stopping screen saver appear to have achieved a fairly stable result.

Btw, the s/w works for switching PC in XP but not in Vista. I ahve arequest for help going on with Starview but am awaiting clarifications from them...

peter

 

by: ndaryPosted on 2009-05-27 at 06:55:29ID: 24483052

Hi Peter,

i am not familiar with a Vista tool for the SV411K, you need the help from the manufacture here...
good luck

 

by: PeborghPosted on 2009-06-16 at 02:51:03ID: 31581958

Do you want to know the answer from Starview when I get it?

20120131-EE-VQP-002

3 Ways to Join

30-Day Free Trial

The Experts

98% positive feedback on 31,087 answers since March 2000. angeliii is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for his work with MS SQL Server & Develoment.

He has also proven his knowledge of Visual Basic Programming, PHP Scripting and Oracle Databases.

The Experts

97% positive feedback on 10,752 answers since July 2000. lrmoore has more than 18 years experience in the networking industry.

The six-time Mircosoft MVPs specialties include firewalls, virtual private networking, and network management.

Testimonials

"...and excellent source for support... Kind of like having your very own IT dept." Electriciansnet

Testimonials

"I was apprehensive at signing up at first. However... it has already made my life as an IT administrator much easier." JaCrews

Testimonials

"WOW! You guys have great, active, and knowledgeable people on here." moore50

Business Clients

Business Clients

In the Press

"If you’ve got a question... Experts Exchange can supply an answer.”

In the Press

"...an invaluable aid for both IT professionals and those who require tech support."

In the Press

"where IT professionals provide quick answers on just about any topic"

Business Account Plans

Loading Advertisement...