Windows 7: Enabling Aero Requires Restart

So, this issue has popped up recently where I can't seem to re-enable aero without restarting the whole system. It gets turned off for a number of reasons, from programs crashing (itunes) to the crappy Cyberlink Blu-Ray software turning it off, but where it used to come back on its own, or at least let me get at it from the personalization menu, it will only let me use windows basic.

Choosing an Aero theme in personalization does nothing but change the Window Color icon from the windows 7 basic to the custom color icon . Basic persists, and the new icon, though Aerotastic in appearance still to the windows basic color options.
So far I've tried:

updating the video card driver
updating windows
restarting themes from services.msc
restarting Desktop Window and Session Manager
Forcing it
logging off and back on
re-calculating the user experience index



But the only thing that will bring aero back is a complete restart. So, I'd be grateful to know if any of you have had a similar problem or any idea how to fix it

Thankies

oops forgot specs.

OS: Windows 7 x64 build 7100
Lenovo Thinkstation D20 model: 4155CTO
Processor: Intel Xeon x5550 @ 2.67 GHz 4 cores, 8 logical
RAM: 8gb
Storage:
Marvell 64xx/63xx SAS controller
Hitachi HDP725050GLA360 500Gb (x2)
GPU: ATI FirePro v7750 1 Gb
Display: Samsung syncMaster 2343 BWX @ 2048x1152
Optical discs: Pioneer BD-RW BDR-203

Good job, and effective for this thread only. Try this - if you have an issue in the future, you won't have to do it again, and anybody helping you will know exactly where to look.

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ah ha, will do,

thank you.