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

2015-09-02T03:58:30+00:00

I can't even see: "Enable Aero Peek"
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Anonymous

2015-06-14T21:28:57+00:00

I've been following this thread for a couple years in hopes of a solution. The solution as I discovered was eliminating the it's not me it's them attitude. The fix in a nutshell is the older video cards are not designed to work with win7. I replaced both my video cards in both machines and viola no more issuers. Stop expecting Microsoft to fix the issues the video card manufactures are pretending isn't their fault. It's their debacle and their new cards are quietly applying the fix one by one as people are upgrading or replacing.
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Anonymous

2015-06-14T21:09:53+00:00

Run menu > sysdm.cpl > Advanced Tab > performance > Choose the option for BEST Appearance.

I had this problem also and have a high end gaming PC. I know I have the hardware to run all these fancy options and if you have a i7, you shouldnt need to worry about it either.

Im on a i7 4790k @ 4.00ghz with 16gb ram running 3x 27" Monitors, you can trim down some of the options but this is just the all in one option for the best visuals.
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