Windows 7 Aero randomly stopped working

carlos28355 · 13 Jul 2012

Just the other day my Aero stopped working. Ive been using Windows 7 and my graphics card since win7 was released. My graphics card is ati radeon 3450. i know its older but thats fine for me. money is tight so if so i want to avoid buying anything. im using Windows 7 x64. The MSFixit for Aero says that my graphics card does not support Aero. I know is false because its been working fine. I have directx 11 installed currently. I am all the way up to date on Windows updates. I have downloaded the latest driver for my card from ati's website. tried uninstalling and reinstalling it. Looked at my system restore points it shows nothing happened within a few days of my problem starting. im not sure what other info to give...thanks for your help!

koolkat77 · 13 Jul 2012

Hi carlos28355

click on the
type in search aero and it should show find and fix problems with transparency and other visual effects
run the troubleshooter and see if that fixes it

Keep us posted.

carlos28355 · 13 Jul 2012

thanks for response i have already done that (just did it again to make sure) and that troubleshooter says it couldnt identify the problem. Only when i run the msfixit for aero is when it says the card is not compatible...

* i have no other problems with graphics or really anything else to make me feel that the card is bad. Although im sure thats always a possibility it just seems that if it was there would probably be other issues too...I am a head tech at a computer repair shop (hey we can always use help) ha. so i do know my way around a computer and ive checked everything i can think of. I am trying to avoid a clean OS install i dont feel like going through that process right now (=

koolkat77 · 13 Jul 2012

Could you post a screen shot of how your desktop looks now? Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

carlos28355 · 13 Jul 2012

thanks again for response! here is the screen shot of desktop..also i have stopped EVERYTHING in start up (not services of course) another thing aside from Aero not working is my windows stickies arent displaying properly. the borders of the sticky are the correct color, yellow, green, blue or whatever but now where the text goes is all white...which happened at the same time the Aero thing started and those 2 things are the ONLY things that are wrong as far as i can tell...

koolkat77 · 13 Jul 2012

Follow these steps to enable Desktop Windows Manager:

1. Click the

(Start) in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen.
2. Type in: services into the Start Search textbox. If prompted by the UAC, provide a password or confirmation. Click Continue.
3. Scroll down until you locate the entry that is labeled: “Desktop Window Manager Session Manager”
4. Right-click on this service. Select Start from the context menu.
5. Right click once again on the entry. Select Properties from the context menu.
6. Go to the “General tab.” Change the Start up Type to "Enabled." Click OK.

Let us know if its working now.

carlos28355 · 13 Jul 2012

That service was already started. I tried stopping it and starting it again. i do not have "Enabled" in startup type..have auto delayed. auto. manual and disabled. it was and still is set to auto

koolkat77 · 13 Jul 2012

Do a SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker and reboot if it finds violations

carlos28355 · 13 Jul 2012

it found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them

koolkat77 · 13 Jul 2012

Run it two more times.