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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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

2011-05-21T23:14:20+00:00

I have disabled aero, and started using Winstep Extreme, it has the aeropeek effect with its taskbar, even if the theme is set to basic.

and yes it is when an FF4 is opened. The problem is that I WORK ON THE COMPUTER !!!!!!

so it is very annoying.

My videocard is a very good one, with 2Gb memory, so it is not the reason behind it, or if it is then something is very messed up with win7.
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Anonymous

2011-05-28T05:31:48+00:00

Guys I have the same issue and I have been pulling my hair out to fix it.

I have a brand new built machine:

Core i7 920

6gb DDR3

Sapphire Radeon HD 5850

850W Corsair PSU

Gigabyte X58 UD3R Mobo

Whenever I watch youtube video or do anything video intensive the system freezes up and gives me the low memory switch to basic mode error. System runs like poop until a restart.

I have swapped GPU's and got the same issue, tested RAM, updated windows 7 fully, tried multiple browsers, downgraded catalyst drivers....you name it.

No fix.

I don't even have multiple GPU's or monitors, just a single Dell Ultrasharp 24" running at 1900 x 1200

Please give us a fix or explanation.
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Anonymous

2011-05-29T04:59:12+00:00

I'd just like to add that I too have this problem. Running a 4870x2 for my primary display and integrated 4290 for my second display. Any video/3d application running on my secondary display at a decent resolution will cause dwm.exe to constantly change its memory allocation starting at a low amount and growing in chunks until it exceeds 1gb and then it will reset to a small number.
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