Detect Displays on Windows?

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

Posted 2010-11-17T09:47:57.323

Reputation: 262

What model/make KVM? – Tog – 2010-11-17T12:07:16.413

@Tog: It's one of these: http://www.aten.com/products/productItem.php?pid=20090605160622001&psid=20070130114323002&pcid=20070130111333003&layerid=subClass3

– Lizzan – 2010-11-17T12:22:56.967

What graphics card are you using? Also, is the other computer on the KVM using the proper resolution? – MBraedley – 2010-11-17T13:08:33.187

@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 – 2010-11-17T14:00:53.863

1There 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 – 2010-11-17T15:06:42.250

@Shinrai - Vista does indeed have the Detect button – Joe Taylor – 2010-11-17T16:17:05.280

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 – 2010-11-17T16:58:44.700

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 – 2010-11-18T06:35:48.610

Possible duplicate: http://superuser.com/questions/157256

– Hello71 – 2010-11-29T01:18:33.117

Answers

(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

Posted 2010-11-17T09:47:57.323

Reputation: 18 051

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 – 2010-11-17T19:04:52.423

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 – 2010-11-17T19:30:52.133

@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 – 2010-11-18T06:27:18.067

@Lizzan - Looks like my fears were correct. Hope somebody's able to find this for you. – Shinrai – 2010-11-18T15:15:22.910

@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 – 2010-11-30T06:49:02.657

@Lizzan - Sorry I couldn't do any better. I'm frankly surprised that nobody knows how to do this in Vista! – Shinrai – 2010-11-30T15:26:42.740

@Shinrai: No problems! I'm glad there's a solution for Win7 at least, I should probably ask for an OS update anyways...:-) – Lizzan – 2010-11-30T20:01:02.210

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.

saywell

Posted 2010-11-17T09:47:57.323

Reputation: 11

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

Posted 2010-11-17T09:47:57.323

Reputation: 8 515

1The 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 – 2010-11-17T10:15:52.863

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

Posted 2010-11-17T09:47:57.323

Reputation: 8 643

Is this on Vista? Could you please provide a screenshot, because I can't find the Detect button, only the Identify one. – Lizzan – 2010-11-24T05:07:09.887

What version of vista? You will have to wait until I get home tonight for a screen shot. – Supercereal – 2010-11-24T13:42:20.740

Vista Business, SP2 – Lizzan – 2010-11-25T06:50:45.520