Desktop Windows Manager stopped working after restart, other problems

[blue4fun]

So, it started about a month ago when I updated my Intel video card driver. The screen went black after it had been installed and I couldn't do anything so I restarted my laptop. As soon as I logged in, a window came up saying Desktop Windows Manager stopped working and was closed. Because of this, the Aero theme did not work and I could not see thro In addition to that, my Windows Movie Maker would close every time I attempted to open it up and this did not happen prior to DWM closing. About a week or so ago, my computer did an update and both problems were fixed. Then yesterday, I was using camstudio and clicked the wrong thing and my screen started to flash. I restarted my computer and both problems came back. Also, Firefox won't open and will crash every time unless I open it in safe mode. I'm not sure what other information you need such as error logs, so I'm just giving you this. Any help or tips will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Ztruker]

How do you replace a video card on a laptop???

 

[blue4fun]

How do you replace a video card on a laptop???

I didn't. I updated the driver, but I didn't replace it.

 

[ThrashZone]

How exactly did you update the driver ?
Intel right click your desktop and click on graphics properties,
Go to Options and support and Help and support.
You should see a hyperlink to obtain graphics driver updates.
Also see this,
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-desktop/windows-7-aero-disabled-how-can-i-enable-it-again/aa760f0f-eec1-4a36-b212-c96130038d5c

Enable desktop manager,
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-desktop/aero-troubleshooter-says-desktop-window-manager/82f1eb92-d371-407c-8118-bee158c3ccae

 

[blue4fun]

How exactly did you update the driver ?

I went here https://downloadcenter.intel.com/default.aspx and let it scan my laptop, then I downloaded and installed what they gave me for my video card.
I have tried doing both of those suggestions, but neither of them worked.

 

[Ztruker]

How about a System Restore to before the last problem?

 

[blue4fun]

How about a System Restore to before the last problem?

I haven't tried that yet. I'm not sure where to restore from. There was a critical Windows Update on the day the problem came back earlier in the day. I assume I'm supposed to restore from that point, correct? The only other restore point is an Windows Modules Installer install 6 days before.

 

[Lee]

Restore to the point prior to updating the Video Card Driver. . .

 

[gregrocker]

Dell likely modified the Intel display driver so the best source for it is via Windows Updates after enabling Automatically get recommended drivers and updates for your hardware (Step 3). If not import it from the Dell Support Downloads webpage for your tag number.

If you can't start Win7 then try booting into Safe Mode to System Restore to before the problem began, or run it from System Recovery Options via F8 Boot menu, the Win7 DVD or System Repair Disk.

If these fail everything possible to start Win7 is included in Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start leading up to if necessary rescuiing your files to run Dell Windows 7 PC Restore or getting the superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which I would do anyway if you've not done one yet and still have the inferior factory install.

Dell provides an excellent hardware diagnostics you can run following this tutorial: Dell Diagnostics Utility - How to Run the. If it will run then the OEM Tools/Diagnostics partition on the HD is the only one I would save if/when you do the Clean Reinstall.

 

[blue4fun]

Restore to the point prior to updating the Video Card Driver. . .

Well, it was a while ago, and the restore points don't go back that far even when I checked the "Show more restore points" box. I realize now that I probably should've acted on this sooner, but it wasn't such a problem as it is now.

 

[Lee]

Restore to the point prior to updating the Video Card Driver. . .

Well, it was a while ago, and the restore points don't go back that far even when I checked the "Show more restore points" box. I realize now that I probably should've acted on this sooner, but it wasn't such a problem as it is now.

Then Restore to the point prior to installing the Critical Update to see if that fixes the problem.

 

[ThrashZone]

How exactly did you update the driver ?

I went here https://downloadcenter.intel.com/default.aspx and let it scan my laptop, then I downloaded and installed what they gave me for my video card.
.

The problem is Manufactures optimize drivers on the machines they sell,
So the best place to get them is at the manufactures website not the Intel site,
I did a fresh install which erased all of the junkware pre-installed so the Intel site would be the best place for me.

 

[blue4fun]

So, what I'm getting from everyone is that the problem was where I was getting my driver. Since I was getting it from the wrong place, the driver was not the right one for my video card. From reading everyone's posts, I understand that the solution is to do a system restore to the point before the Critical Update mentioned before and then do a clean install of the video card driver. Ailenware only provides Nvidia and ATI Tech. video card drivers, so I'm assuming I need to go to the Dell website for drivers. Is this correct?

EDIT: Well, my NVIDIA driver needs to be updated, too. The notification took me to the website and exact driver, so I think I don't need to worry about that. But, should I do a clean install with this driver too?

 

[gregrocker]

Why don't you System Restore to before the Intel driver was installed, then run all Important and Optional WIndows Updates, after enabling Automatically get recommended drivers and updates for your hardware (Step 3).

See if that provides the latest drivers.

Do you have Nvidia display chip onboard and an Intel video card? Which is being used? That's the one you want the driver for. The other one should be disabled in BIOS setup or Device Manager.

 

[blue4fun]

Why don't you System Restore to before the Intel driver was installed, then run all Important and Optional WIndows Updates, after enabling Automatically get recommended drivers and updates for your hardware (Step 3).

See if that provides the latest drivers.

Do you have Nvidia display chip onboard and an Intel video card? Which is being used? That's the one you want the driver for. The other one should be disabled in BIOS setup or Device Manager.

It doesn't show a restore point from before the driver was installed, even when the "Show more restore points" box was checked. Unless there's a way to go back farther in restore points, I think I can only restore to the Critical Update.

I'm not sure about that. The dxdiag report says I have an Intel video card, but the NVIDIA Control Panel and other NVIDIA files were factory installed and I have been getting updates whenever the driver need updates. I have no clue which is being used either.

 

[gregrocker]

Look in the Device Manager under Display drivers. What's listed?

You might have an Nvidia chipset but an Intel Display driver.

If the Critical Update is the only restore point and that's when the problem began, then System Restore and run all of your Windows Updates. Remember to enable Automatically get recommended drivers and updates for your hardware (Step 3).

 

[blue4fun]

Look in the Device Manager under Display drivers. What's listed?

You might have an Nvidia chipset but an Intel Display driver.

If the Critical Update is the only restore point and that's when the problem began, then System Restore and run all of your Windows Updates. Remember to enable Automatically get recommended drivers and updates for your hardware (Step 3).

Both Intel HD Graphics 4000 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M are listed. The Critical Update was on the day the problem came up again, but earlier in the day. If I restore there will it not fix the problem?

 

[gregrocker]

Have you operated with both of these Display devices all along? Isn't one an onboard chip and the other a card? Which is the one you wish to use? There should only be one, which is usually selected in BIOS setup.

 

[blue4fun]

Have you operated with both of these Display devices all along? Isn't one an onboard chip and the other a card? Which is the one you wish to use? There should only be one, which is usually selected in BIOS setup.

Sorry, I have no idea if I've operated with both of them or whether one's a chip or a card. I don't really care which one I use, but if had to choose, I'd choose the NVIDIA card. How do I get to the BIOS setup to see which one is selected?

 

[gregrocker]

Type Nvidia in Start Search box, Check if you have switchable graphics in the Nvidia Control Panel.

Otherwise on Dells with an onboard GPU chip where a video card has been added, there may be a setting in BIOS setup accessed by rebooting and tapping the key given on first screen, usually F1 or F2.