Windows 7: windows 7 to windows 3.1 ugh

I don't know where it's best to post this, but since it has to do with the way windows appear this section seems okay.



When I rebooted Windows, it started with an all white screen with black text saying what it usually says. Then it loads I think normally besides graphical anomalies. Explorer windows looks very square and crappy, and so do some other of the more simple programs that I run. Some programs still look sleek and sexy like Chrome and Google Talk. The picture tells the story pretty well really.

I have Windows set to auto-login, so I tried "Log Off" getting a nice pretty window. Logging back in returns the white screen and subsequent issues. I could use a restore point, but I'd prefer to avoid that since I did quite a bit. I batch installed some stuff with Ninite, let Windows Update do some work, and some other stuff since my previous reboot. <I should reboot more obv.> I'm hoping I could just reset something manually and all is well.
Clarity anyone?? thanks!

Looks like Windows Aero is off or has been disabled.
Aero is not working in Windows 7.Even The Windows Experience Index has not been computed
Aero Not Working! Used to Work on the PC...
How do I get Aero Glass to work?

Switching themes seems to fix the problem. It takes some a few seconds "please wait" switching from my unsaved custom theme to the Aero Themes. There's no waiting changing between those themes, but there's another "please wait" and a reversion to ugliness when I switch back to the original theme.

I guess this means Aero was removed from my original theme?? If so can I put it back easily? How could this have happened? I guess I'll just abandon the old theme...

Sometimes custom themes randomly do this without much explanation. Generally if you have the originally downloaded theme and restore it to the C:\Windows\Resources\Themes folder (or wherever it's supposed to be located for your specific theme) and it generally fixes the issue.