The KVM Switch Hack: Force Resolution to Non-PnP Monitor in Windows

I recently installed a KVM switch so I can work conveniently with my PC and laptop. The laptop had no problems, but the PC was a different story: since my graphics card only supports DVI, I had to use a DVI/VGA converter for the KVM. This converter didn’t transfer the EDID monitor data to the computer properly; this meant that my computer couldn’t identify my monitor (displaying it only as “Generic Non-PnP Monitor”), and that it would not let me set my resolution to the proper screen values of 1680×1050. I spent quite a while hunting for an answer and finally found the perfect solution online: it worked seamlessly.

1. Download Phoenix.zip and extract it to a working folder.
2. Run it and click the “Extract Registry EDID” toolbar button.
3. A list of monitors should appear.
4. Try to find the monitor that matches the monitor that is giving you problems.
5. Save the EDID to a .DAT file in your working folder.
6. Download moninfo.exe and install it.
7. Open the saved .DAT with MonInfo.
8. Select “Create INF…” from the file menu and save it to your working folder.
9. Open the Device Manager: click Start, type “devmgmt.msc”, and press Enter.
10. Select the monitor you want to change (in my case, it was “Generic Non-PNP Monitor”).
11. Right click and select Update Driver Software.
12. Click “Browse my computer for driver software”.
13. Click “Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.
14. Click Have Disk…
15. Browse to the INF file in your working folder.
16. Click next to override with your new INF.
17. Restart your computer and enjoy your new resolution!

Activate cmd in specific folder

Activating cmd is pretty quick through the Run command, but then you usually have to type in the path you want it to run in – time consuming if you have several different folders or a long path.

OR,

Shift-Rightclick on the folder you want cmd to run. An Open command window here option will appear, which doesn’t normally show up. Magic!