Solved Theme glitch: half aero, half classic

[paulius5]

Hello, entire 7F community,

I put this problem here because it relates not just to theme files, but is also about system files and/or advanced solutions. I know that this question (or at least its other variant) has been asked before, but I didn't manage to find the solution.

The problem is:
After failed boot with incompatible firewire card (tried WinXP drivers as legacy hardware driver, etc) I removed it and just to make sure that the PC would boot I've copied whole system32 from Win7 installation disk (X:\Windows) directly to original windir (C:\windows) using "xcopy /E /H /R /Y" thus attempting to fix somehow incorrect and not included in C:\windows IEEE 1394 driver in the process. The PC booted. But now I noticed that the taskbar was in classic style with aero top edge (see here) and any explorer window looks like this (notice the edges of the window and compare it to organize/system properties/etc bar).

Steps I have taken since then (in order):

• Ran chkdsk /f /r
• Ran sfc /scannow
• Done an in-place upgrade
• Set visuals to maximum quality (best appearance)
• Reinstalled GPU drivers
• Restarted themes and uxsms many times (aero/basic themes become grey until reboot)
• Ran Fixit troubleshooters

None of those helped.

I didn't set up system backup/recovery, so this option won't help me a bit.

 

[nommy the first]

Hello Paulius5, and welcome to the SevenForums,

Please patch your system with Universal Theme Patcher by following step one to six of this tutorial and reboot afterwards.
If the Aero theme still resembles the Windows Classic theme, please report back to us.


Good luck and keep us posted,
Nommy

 

[paulius5]

Updated, but no go. Any other solutions?

 

[nommy the first]

Hello Paulius5,

Here are a few things, please try the first one first, and if that doesn't work, try the second one, which will force Aero to be displayed.

• 1. Navigate to the Control Panel.
  2. Under System and Security, click on Find and fix problems.
  3. In the new window under Appearance and Personalization, click on
     
     Display Aero desktop effect.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

• 1. Open Notepad.exe.
  2. Copy and paste the text in the following code box into notepad:
     

     Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
     
     [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM]
     
     “UseMachineCheck”=dword:00000000
     “Blur”=dword:00000000
     “Animations”=dword:00000000

  3. Save it to the desktop as Aero.reg .
  4. Double click it and execute it.

Good luck and keep us posted,
Nommy

 

[sygnus21]

I think your issues partly stem from this....

just to make sure that the PC would boot I've copied whole system32 from Win7 installation disk (X:\Windows) directly to original windir (C:\windows) using "xcopy /E /H /R /Y" thus attempting to fix somehow incorrect and not included in C:\windows IEEE 1394 driver in the process.

I would attempt a repair reinstall and go from there - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

BTW Windows 7 does have native IEEE 1394 support; however, as you noted if you're trying to use an older card, that may be an issue. Seems a little weird though considering as I said, there is already support for 1394.

Anyway try the repair reinstall and go from there. The other issue could also be video drivers. Try reinstalling/updating those as well.

Let us know.

 

[paulius5]

nommy the first: Sadly, those two didn't work. The troubleshooter says that everything's OK, and registry hack didn't do anything at all.

sygnus21: repair install IS an in-place upgrade, since it's just upgrading Win7 to Win7.

 

[nommy the first]

Hmm, if that doesn't work then all I can think of are steps three, five, seven, eight, twelve and thirteen of this troubleshooting guide.

If none of those work, then you might want to preform a Clean Reinstall of Windows..


Good luck and keep us posted,
Nommy

 

[paulius5]

#3 - out

#5 - didn't find that

#7 - what should I see in that?

#8 will wait until next boot, but I doubt it's RAM related.

#12 - the only problem is Hamachi, harmless and unrelated with this issue.

#13 - no go.

 

[sygnus21]

nommy the first: Sadly, those two didn't work. The troubleshooter says that everything's OK, and registry hack didn't do anything at all.

sygnus21: repair install IS an in-place upgrade, since it's just upgrading Win7 to Win7.

You might see it that way but it actually isn't since nothing is being "upgraded". What's happening is missing/corrupt/deleted files are being installed, replaced, and/or repaired... not "upgraded"....

Do a Repair installation if:

• A System Restore did not help fix your Windows 7.
• There is no other easier option left that can fix your Windows 7.
• You DO NOT want to do a Clean reinstall of Windows 7.
• You DO want to preserve your user accounts, data, programs, and system drivers.

Source: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

Peace

 

[nommy the first]

#7 - what should I see in that?

Could be a registry issue.

I agree with Sygnus, if nothing works, try a repair install just to be sure.


Good luck and keep us posted,
Nommy

 

[paulius5]

sygnus21:

This will show you how to do a repair install (aka: in-place upgrade install) to fix your currently installed Windows 7 and preserve your user accounts, data, programs, and system drivers.

Though, it didn't show multiple settings compared to clean installation process.

Thanks to both for the effort in helping me, probably I'll just face the fact that it's unfixable without clean install and I'll just re-install Win7 (without formatting, though - no place to copy my important data, since I don't have external HDDs, etc, etc)

Anyways, since I'm ending this thread, I will go a little off-topic. So is there any possible way to make my VIA VT6306 IEEE1394 card work on this system?

 

[nommy the first]

no place to copy my important data, since I don't have external HDDs, etc, etc)

I'm sure that you already know, but it's best to make backups. If you don't want / can't purchase an HDD, you might want to look into cloud storage (DropBox for instance).

I wouldn't know about the cards..


Nommy

 

[sygnus21]

sygnus21:

This will show you how to do a repair install (aka: in-place upgrade install) to fix your currently installed Windows 7 and preserve your user accounts, data, programs, and system drivers.

Though, it didn't show multiple settings compared to clean installation process.

Thanks to both for the effort in helping me, probably I'll just face the fact that it's unfixable without clean install and I'll just re-install Win7 (without formatting, though - no place to copy my important data, since I don't have external HDDs, etc, etc)

Anyways, since I'm ending this thread, I will go a little off-topic. So is there any possible way to make my VIA VT6306 IEEE1394 card work on this system?

I think you're confusing yourself over this.

The repair install is a lot simpler, quicker, and less hassle. And it allows you to keep your current setting and programs in place. An OS reinstall would require you to reconfigure your settings, and reinstall all your programs.

Personally I'd try the repair install first. What's there to lose?

You call though.

Good luck.

And yes, nommy is right.... you should always backup your data. You never know what can happen.