Using an HDMI switch rearranged my desktop icons

f14tomcat said:

I can't remember the electrical term, but it's the difference in switches that are "smooth" and "interruptible".

Here's the technical name for that switch. . . .

And no. . . it is not "smooth". . . lol.

KCR said:

Here's the technical name for that switch. . . .

And no. . . it is not "smooth". . . lol.

For it to be "smooth" must it be powered by usb wall charger? This one gets its power from the HDMI source. So during switching, the hand-off may not be smooth. I would gladly replace it if I knew what kind to get. This "Tech Hole" (I should have guessed from the name!!) switch was less than $10, but it was one of the few that had two only inputs, and I only need two. Would a powered HDMI switch (or HDM KVM switch) be any better? I don't need to share the mouse and keyboard, just the monitor.

Hi there

I've got a Logik 4 port HDMI switch - no power source required - HDMI video card on computer(s) supplies sufficient and it works perfectly -- but I only use it for switching the video output -- note it also includes the audio if your HDMI video card has HDMI audio capabilities and you use correct HDMI cables.

Video is switched perfectly to the target video device -as it should be. Remember though if using a laptop and you switch from the lapiop screen to the external monitor via the HDMI switchbox your audio will be routed to monitor - take output from monitor to computer speakers if you want to use external speakers.

For Keyboard, mice and other USB devices any simple KVM switcher should work ( just get a cheap one - no video with usb in and ports for usb out (to different computers) -- if you want several devices on the usb in side just connect a multi-port usb hun as the input usb device. Works brilliantly as well.


I have 2 Linux NAS boxes which I usually run "headless" - when I want a video console then the HDMI switch solution is perfect together with the KVM for (wireless) keyboard and mouse (and other USB devices if required).

Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

Hi there

I've got a Logik 4 port HDMI switch - no power source required - HDMI video card on computer(s) supplies sufficient and it works perfectly -- but I only use it for switching the video output -- note it also includes the audio if your HDMI video card has HDMI audio capabilities and you use correct HDMI cables.

Video is switched perfectly to the target video device -as it should be. Remember though if using a laptop and you switch from the lapiop screen to the external monitor via the HDMI switchbox your audio will be routed to monitor - take output from monitor to computer speakers if you want to use external speakers.

Thanks for the information. I believe that my problem is specific to what happens on a dual display setup on Windows 10 when the HDMI input of one of the displays is switched. As I posted earlier in this thread, the behavior I'm seeing may be a feature introduced in Windows 10 (and a good one). When the first display's input is switched, the contents of the desktop (icons, open windows) move over to the second display. It's as if you switched to a single-display setup. But then when you switch back, the first display's contents are restored, but desktop icons may be rearranged. By using Fences 3.0 I have managed to avoid the rearrangemnt, since Fences are restored to their original locations and their contents are not rearranged.

perkinw said:

Thanks for the information. I believe that my problem is specific to what happens on a dual display setup on Windows 10 when the HDMI input of one of the displays is switched. As I posted earlier in this thread, the behavior I'm seeing may be a feature introduced in Windows 10 (and a good one). When the first display's input is switched, the contents of the desktop (icons, open windows) move over to the second display. It's as if you switched to a single-display setup. But then when you switch back, the first display's contents are restored, but desktop icons may be rearranged. By using Fences 3.0 I have managed to avoid the rearrangemnt, since Fences are restored to their original locations and their contents are not rearranged.

Hi there

That's a different problem of course when using a Dual display set up although if on Windows (or even Linux) you set the dual display to replicate on each of the screens rather than say have an "Extended screen" then the HDMI system I've outlined will behave perfectly using the HDMI switchbox.

For example a laptop connected to an external display via the HDMI switchbox will simply show the identical screen on its own screen when you switch the external screen to another computer -- you need to ensure that the laptop's screen resolution is the same as the external one of course.

Cheers
jimbo