Windows 7 automatically switching to basic (non-aero) theme. I need a way to disable that behaviour.

Anonymous

This is very similar to what is described here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939423

As well as here: http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistaperformance/thread/c7b869e1-5138-48a3-b09d-419f76e2f728

However, this is for Windows 7, not Vista.

Scenario:

On a 3 screen (1920x1080 each) setup ran on an ATI HD4890 (1gb RAM, running 2 screens) + HD 3450 (256mb RAM, running 1 screen), whenever anything graphic intensive is put onto the screen hosted by the HD3450, Windows will complain "The color scheme has been changed to Windows Basic - The current color scheme has exceeded its allowed memory so the color scheme has been automatically changed to improve performance. Click to see more information." and change my theme to Windows Basic.

However, it is to be noted that the 3450 is not being stressed at all (all the load is being put onto the 4890 according to GPU-Z).

It should not be a problem with system RAM (6gb, on Win7 x64) nor processing power (i7 920).

Is there a way to disable Windows automatically "improving performance" by switching my theme?

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Anonymous

Run menu > sysdm.cpl > Advanced Tab > performance > select adjust for best performance > make sure you do not allow Windows to choose for you because your computer does not know whats best --- Make sure Enable Aero Peek is checked

---- OR ---

Right click my computer > properties > Advanced System settings > performance > select adjust for best performance > make sure you do not allow Windows to choose for you because your computer does not know whats best --- Make sure Enable Aero Peek is checked

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Hi whsper,

Welcome to Microsoft Answers Community Forums.

The aero theme is basically enabled depending on video card.

Windows Display Driver Modelis the graphic driver architecture for video card drivers running Microsoft Windows versions beginning with Windows Vista.

WDDM driver model version 1.0 is that it does not support multiple drivers in a multi-adapter, multi-monitor setup, the latest version is 2.0 is introduced.

Windows will disable the Desktop Window Manager (DWM) that controls the transparent glass effect or other effects of the Aero theme. The DWM manages the desktop and the primary display settings in Windows.

I would suggest you to check with your manufacturer for latest drivers to support your hardware configuration.

Hope this information helped you.

Regards

Yaaser - Microsoft Support Engineer

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138 additional answers

Anonymous

2013-03-08T15:22:16+00:00

After dealing with this issue for over a year now on multiple workstations, i can confidently say that there is no solution to this issue other than to get rid of the second video card. I've tried every registry hack and trick i could find, but it just comes down to a problem with windows itself. There are certainly triggers to the behavior, like launching ie9, firefox 4, full screen flash or silverlight video on the secondary displays running on the secondary card. But the only way to get rid of it, is to close the app/video or move it to a display running on the primary card. once you do that, you can stop/start the usxms service and get aero back...at least until you trigger it again. It makes my 3k workstation feel like a $500 retail pos, there is just no good reason why this should be an issue.

MS, is there a real fix to this? What is the real problem? I've had dual ATI and NVidia adapters with the same result, so don't tell me this is a driver issue. Your second video card doesn't have jack **** to do with anything (well it could, but getting rid of it won't necessarily fix the problem). I'm sitting here on a laptop using only the built in display and it still disables aero when it thinks I need more performance...
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Anonymous

2013-03-08T15:18:09+00:00

Any time you can do away with dumbass microsoft themes you should consider yourself lucky. Why on earth would you want to slow your machine by running that silly ____?

...wow, you're an idiot. Have you actually looked at the memory use when you change from basic to to aero? It's not even a dent, it's completely and utterly insignificant. And the Aero theme isn't just all pretty-ness, it actually has some useful functionality. The pop up preview windows on the start bar, for one.
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Anonymous

2012-11-05T13:04:54+00:00

Run menu > sysdm.cpl > Advanced Tab > performance > select adjust for best performance > make sure you do not allow Windows to choose for you because your computer does not know whats best --- Make sure Enable Aero Peek is checked

---- OR ---

Right click my computer > properties > Advanced System settings > performance > select adjust for best performance > make sure you do not allow Windows to choose for you because your computer does not know whats best --- Make sure Enable Aero Peek is checked

Thanks, this has been an annoying issue, MS Support, tends to miss the point of what support is, "To resolve the issue", sould be the top priority, answer the question asked not Blame the user with garbage like, update your drivers, or add more RAM. or this is what one part of a program does therefore avoiding the question.

Your answer was to the point, and precisely answered what the OP was asking.
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