Windows 7: No Aero after Nvidia 295 driver update, tried all conventional fixes

I've updated GeForce 560 Ti drivers from 285 to 295 last night and ever since then my Aero is disabled.

I've tried following with no success:

1) Auto repair in Theme menu: Found no errors, everything is fine

2) Microsoft FixIt, no errors as well

3) Driver rollback, no luck. Clean install of new drivers same thing.

4) Registry hack to force Aero, nothing

5) Desktop Window Manager Session Manager service is on

6) Manually replaced the files in Windows folder that have anything to do with Aero and Themes from my other Windows partition that works just fine. Again nothing.

7) Scanned for malware, no threat found


Did anyone have case like this? It is really frustrating.

I've found it best if I have a nVIDIA driver that works don't update it. Try the Driver sweeper link in my sig and use it to remove all things nVIDIA and the use your previous driver.

I've found all too often that the latest drivers are not always the best,

I'd be inclined to download an earlier version and install that.

NVIDIA Driver Downloads - Automatically Detect NVIDIA Products

Dear vladi,
Welcome and hi! Since you have done a rollback of the Driver in question,i will suggest the following:

1)Have you scanned with Superantispyware(portable or free) and Malwarebytes antimalware? If not pl. do.Which A-V have you used?

2) Try the "Last configuration that worked" OR revert back to the system restore point which must have been created by the System just b'fore you installed the new driver OR more importantly any new software or program that you installed prior to the new driver install.

3) Re-install the older driver that worked as suggested by Britton30 and Seavixen.
NOW HERE'S SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP YOU(very sorry for the bold type, no offence-it was only for emphasis).

4)A-- Select RPC service in msconfig
Start-> Run->msconfig->services tab->enable all Microsoft services

B)Back Up registry back
Click on File-> Export->Select somewhere where you can find it like My Documents->Click Save
c) . Click+ HKey_Local_Machine -> Click+ System-> Click+ CurrentControlSet->Click+ Services-> Click on RpcSs folder-> Right click on Start in the right pane-> Select modify-> change value to 2-> Click ok-> Exit Registry and restart you computer
Regards and best wishes,
sreedhav

As an afterthought, this MS article may come in handy:"Could not start the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Service. Error 1058" error message when you manually start the Remote Procedure Call service

regards,
sreedhav

I appreciate all your replies! I will give it a shot and I will let you know how did it go

1) I used Malwarebytes to scan for malware, latest version and latest database.

2) For some reason my System Restore was turned off, that's why i suspected it was some kind of malware

3) I will try number 3 now

3) Removed the driver using Britton30's tool. After a reboot Windows got into 8bit color mode with 640 resolution. Weird. Installed the now legacy driver 285 rebooted and still no Aero.

4) In my services tab I don't have RPC or Remote Procedure Call at all. If I get into Servces via Run Command it shows up and it says its automatic and it's started. There is also Remote Procedure Call Locator which was set to manual so I put it on Automatic and rebooted. Now in msconfig>services I have RPC Locator which says started

5) My value was already at 2


I appreciate your effort guys! I will try couple of more things as well. BTW my Windows 7 is 64bit if it matters at all.

The RPC Locater service isn't need for Aero. In the Start Search type Aero and click on the Find and Fix Problems with transparency and run the trouble shooter.
Also go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Personalization\Window Color and Appearance and make sure Enable transparency is checked.

have you tried stopping the DWM then restarting it.

Have you tried rerunning the Windows Experience Index after you installed the new driver?