Windows 7: Windows switching to Basic theme?

Hi,

I have been using windows 7 for a few months now and it's been great without too many hassles.
Tonight I was on the internet and Windows switched the theme to Basic without me doing anything, I checked my cpu usage which was at 2-20%
and my RAM @ 1.30 GB which is all fairly normal.
I had two firefox windows open (10 tabs), Photoshop CS4, VLC and a couple of folders.
The only thing I could see which was unusual was that my GPU temps where around 59-62c (same temps I get while gaming)
Five minutes later it returned to Windows Aero and my GPU temps dropped.

Could this be something in the background updating itself? I have Windows update set to manual. Any need for concern?

I realize Windows will do this due to certain programs not being compatible, this was not the case and my system was not even close to running out of memory.

Any thoughts would be great, thanks.

Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
Core i5 750 stock
4 GB DDR3 1333
9600GT 1GB

You are correct in guessing that some programs can cause this. However, running out of memory has nothing to do with it. An Aero-incompatible program will cause Windows to revert back to the Basic Theme regardless of how much memory is available.

VLC is a video player, correct? (I'm guessing as I only use Windows Media Player). Maybe it has something to do with a codec?

I have had this occurance the first time I ran DVB-Viewer and considering I really hate the Aero theme I just use the Basic theme full time. So now i know it's an incompatibility with the theme. Thanks for that.

I dont think its VLC because i use it. And it works finely on mine...

Could you be over stressing your VGU?? Maybe try updating your GPU Drivers and Software... i have a old Catalyst suite before i updated and it kept causing mine to do tha same. Update it and see how it goes.

I did as you suggested - same thing. I needed to upgrade the drivers anyway. Windows told me to apparently LOL.

I am just guessing DVB-Viewer doesn't like the new theme or isn't compatible with it. VLC Player seems to be fine as well.

I've turned Aero off anyway, hate it. But was really seeing how I had Aero on and DVB-Viewr using the basic theme.

Thanks for the suggestion though. I'll probably muck around with it again on the weekend to see if i can fix the issue, maybe actually update DVB Viewer as well.