KVM Mode connects, but all I get is a black screen

from Stardock Forums

Yesterday when I tried to use KVM mode to connect to connect to another computer that has a display, it connected, however, it would only display a black.  Could not see the screen, however, it was connected.  My laptop connects just fine via KVM mode to the same computer and displays the screen.

multiplicity
31,922 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top


Yesterday when I tried to use KVM mode to connect to connect to another computer that has a display, it connected, however, it would only display a black.  Could not see the screen, however, it was connected.  My laptop connects just fine via KVM mode to the same computer and displays the screen.
End of quote

Please see:

https://forums.stardock.com/489366/page/1/#3717862

----------------
Sean Drohan
Stardock Customer Service Manager

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting sdRohan, reply 1


Quoting ,
quoting post

Yesterday when I tried to use KVM mode to connect to connect to another computer that has a display, it connected, however, it would only display a black.  Could not see the screen, however, it was connected.  My laptop connects just fine via KVM mode to the same computer and displays the screen.



Please see:

https://forums.stardock.com/489366/page/1/#3717862

----------------
Sean Drohan
Stardock Customer Service Manager

End of sdRohan's quote

 

That did not fix the problem I am experiencing.

Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

When you connect, and you use Ctrl + ALT + Backspace, do you see anything then?

----------------
Sean Drohan
Stardock Customer Service Manager

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Sean--that seems to work for me. I had the same problem. What does it do exactly: Ctrl + ALT + Backspace?
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Having this problem and Ctrl + ALT + Backspace does nothing. 

The computer is currently headless, does that make a difference?

 

UPDATE: interesting bug, if I use Multiplicity to connect to a machine where it works and then try the one that doesn't it acts like it's connecting but actually connects to the last working one.

 

MACHINE A: Target that is showing blank screen

MACHINE B: Target that KVM mode connects to fine.

 

 

1. Connect to MACHINE A: Blank screen

2. Connect to MACHINE B: Working

3. Connect to MACHINE A: Shows MACHINE B but says it's connected to MACHINE A.

 

 

UPDATE 2: Another machine isn't working, my laptop.     The other 3 are working fine, just 2 aren't - no idea why.

UPDATE 3: I may have found a common denominator, the blank screen machines are both running Windows 10 19041.329 (aka 2004).   The working machines are running Windows 10 (1909) and Windows Server 2008 R2.   The client machine (the one I'm connecting from) is also running Windows 10 (2004).   So there may be an issue with Windows 10 (2004) and Multiplicity 3.44 KVM Pro Build 00090.

UPDATE 4: I was able to reproduce the blank screen by disconnecting the HDMI connection from one of my machines (Windows 10 Enterprise 1909).    What's the point of this if it can't deal with a 'headless' configuration?   

 

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having trouble.

Windows itself will sometimes not render anything if it notices that there is no monitor to do so.  This shortcircuits MP as it sends what sent to monitors by Windows.

A very effective, very cheap, way around this are HDMI dummy connectors:

https://www.newegg.com/p/pl?d=hdmi+dummy

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

I've ordered some HDMI dummies, hopefully that'll fix it, thanks.    I'm assuming Remote Desktop gets around it since there's dummy VGA driver in place, perhaps Multiplicity could do something similar?

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

(NOTE: The HDMI dongles work although now on my new laptop I'm getting a black screen AFTER login.  Before login it works fine.)

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Skolia, reply 8

(NOTE: The HDMI dongles work although now on my new laptop I'm getting a black screen AFTER login.  Before login it works fine.)
End of Skolia's quote

You are remoting into a new laptop?  Is the lid open when you do - please try if not.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager