Windows 7 Enterprise gray desktop after installation


  1. kr0wnage
    Posts : 11
    Windows 7 Enterprise
       New #1

    Windows 7 Enterprise gray desktop after installation


    Hi,

    I hope someone has seen this issue before. When I install Windows 7 Enterprise on a laptop, occasionally this happens, the desktop is a generic gray desktop and lacks the standard three symbols on the taskbard; IE, Media Player, and Libraries icons (IE needs to be manually set on Taskbar). Computers that end up with this weird installation have issues with some software such as Lotus Notes and just end up being quirky. I use the same installation disc that I always use, usually there are no issues and Windows 7 installs normally. We are trying to find out what is causing this weird install and if anyone knows a way to correct it if it happens. Yes we do know that you can change the Theme to resemble the normal desktop, but these computers still end up having quirky issues.

    Attached is a screenshot.

    thanks
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Windows 7 Enterprise gray desktop after installation-grayscale.png  
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  3. Bongo
    Posts : 12,120
    Win 7 Pro x64 / Win 10 Pro
       New #2

    Welcome to the Seven Forums

    Do the computers meet the aero requiremenys?
       Note
    You will not have the Transparency option if you have a Basic and High Contrast Theme instead of a Aero Theme.

    Aero Requirements to be Enabled in Windows 7
    NOTE: If Aero is not enabled, then Transparency will not work even when enabled.
    • 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor
    • 1 GB of system memory
    • A graphics card with support for DirectX 9 graphics with at least 128 MB of memory.
    • The graphics card must support Pixel Shader 2.0 and the Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM).
    • You must be have True Color (32 bit) set instead of High Color (16 bit).
    • Be sure to have the correct Windows 7 driver version installed for your graphics card/chip.
    • The desktop composition and Animate controls and elements inside windows options enabled in Visual Effects.
    • Refresh or update your WEI score.
    • The Desktop Window Manager Session Manager and Themes Services need to be set to Start and Automatic.



    Jerry
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  4. kr0wnage
    Posts : 11
    Windows 7 Enterprise
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    They do meet the Aero requirements. I could take and re-install Windows 7 and it would most likely work. The problem is, it can be time consuming to just re-install when this happens.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  6. Bongo
    Posts : 12,120
    Win 7 Pro x64 / Win 10 Pro
       New #4

    Does this happen right from the beginning of a install with no Aero? Or does it start out with Aero and then it turns gray?
    Have you tried reinstalling on one of the troubled computers to see if that corrects it or not?
    I am just trying to understand this is why I am asking.
    Jerry
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  7. kr0wnage
    Posts : 11
    Windows 7 Enterprise
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    It starts out right from the first login.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  8. Trevers1987
    Posts : 423
    Win7 64bit Ult
       New #6

    If I'm correct in saying this is a fresh install.
    I have just one question have you reinstalled your display drivers?
    If not it would be worth ago, you can do this one of two ways go to your computer manufacturer web site and download the latest driver for your particular model,
    or you can have windows updates check for recommended software/driver. Display drivers are normally optional updates so if you system as installed all critical update already it is worth looking at the optional one's.


    Best of luck Dan
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  10. Trevers1987
    Posts : 423
    Win7 64bit Ult
       New #7

    Also have you tryed the Windows Aero trouble shooter image below
    Just type Aero into the search area.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Windows 7 Enterprise gray desktop after installation-aero.jpg  
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 

  Related Discussions
i connected to a public wifi network today and right away 3 cmd promt boxes appeared saying system 32 and disappeared. afterwards, all of the pictures and documents on my desktop were highlighted. and now they have this gray box on the inside bottom left hand corner with a line going across...
Maybe this has something to do with the last round of updates. There are now transparent gray x's on the corners of the documents on my desktoop. They are on both .docx and Wordpad documents. I opened one of the documemts and it opened find but I cannot understand the purpose of these odd gray x's.
Hello all, I have been fighting this issue for days now and am really getting pissed I haven't fixed it yet. By the way I have been doing this type of computer troubleshooting and maintenance for years. Work Laptop Windows XP Pro (Wrokgroup) connected via wireless connection Home Desktop...
I'm running Windows 7 Enterprise 32 bit and I'm not sure what's going on, but sometimes my desktop would just freeze and I would have to log off or restart to have a responsive desktop again. when my desktop freezes, I can still move my mouse around fine. The only thing that doesn't work is things...
Upgraded from Vista to Windows 7 and found out I can't use Remote Desktop to my office (according to my computer guy the server is a windows server 2003 x64 r2). It worked fine prior to this and my computer name is approved for access on the server. I am able to open up the connection via IP...
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

 © Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 19:00.
Find Us