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

Anonymous
2009-11-15T23:07:02+00:00

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?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Music, photos, and video

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Anonymous
2011-02-14T09:27:12+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

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Anonymous
2009-11-16T20:35:40+00:00

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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  1. Anonymous
    2012-02-07T09:02:26+00:00

    Thanks for the ideas Gonow,

    Fix 1 doesn't help, but I have been using your Fix2 for awhile now (I found it on another forum).  It brings Aero back but it is quite annoying since Windows soon decides it knows what's best and kills it after 10-15min.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-02-07T07:31:57+00:00

    Hi, i have 2 fixes for this problem. This is my first post.

    Fix 1

    Go to Control Panel

    >> System

    >>Advanced System Settings

    >>Advanced

    >> "Settings" under Performance

     Change "Let Windows do what's best for my computer" to "Adjust for best appearance"

    Fix 2

    Type this into a notepad document:

    @echo off

    net stop "Desktop Window Manager Session Manager"

    net start "Desktop Window Manager Session Manager"

    Save it as "Enable Aero.bat" and change the type to All Files

    Run it and it will enable aero again!

    UPDATE: You need to run Fix 2 every time Windows 7 disables Aero.

    If this continues, DO A MALWARE SCAN!

    -Gonow32

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-01-31T04:30:13+00:00

    I have tried many combinations in the Visual Effects TAB, including all boxes checked, but to no avail.

    It would be quite humorous if installing Quicktime is the way to solve this (no Apple software is installed).

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