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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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                                          

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Was this answer helpful?

50+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

138 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2011-03-26T14:29:50+00:00

    Thanks for your answer! It works for me!

    Slight different solution: I have tried not to select Safe Mode, and keeps DirectX for Video setting, but with "Enable Direct3D video acceleration" unchecked. With this setting performance might be better than Safe Mode.

    BTW: actually I have to download and install Quicktime to find the preference, otherwise seems only Quicktime is installed and no such preference.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2011-03-06T23:54:33+00:00

    I FIXED IT!!!

    Okay so the problem is that QuickTime automatically sets its video rendering to DirectX and that means DWM.exe will just go ahead and disable Aero. This is how you fix it;

    1. Open up Quicktime
    2. Edit > Prefrences > QuickTime Preferences
    3. Advanced Tab
    4. Under Video in Advanced click Safe Mode

    DONE!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2011-03-02T15:42:39+00:00

    I have the same problem as well.  It happened as soon as I removed my two NVidia Ultra 8800's and added two ATi EAH6850's.

    This issue _never_ happened with the 8800 Ultra's.

    I have a 4 monitor setup - all digitally connected.

    i7 930 @ 2.80GHz

    12GB RAM

    Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (recently updated to SP1 but was happening before this update)

    I also note that the Windows Experience Index now always displays that it needs to be refreshed.  This is also new since putting in my two new ATi cards.

    Also, as pointed out in one of the above posts - dwm.exe spikes all over the place from 78KB to well over a GB of memory.  So much so that when I click on the balloon that comes up for performance options - the option goes away cause the dwm.exe is now down to within normal parameters.

    --update

    It seems to only happens on various applications.  ie. Firefox beta with things like flash being displayed.  VMWare when you have the appliance open with something that uses the video card - ie. RF Online.  As soon as I minimize VMWare (with the game still running), dwm.exe stays at a consistent 73,720K

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments