New Windows 7 install but unable to enable Aero.

[mmurray1988]

I am performing a new install of Windows 7.

According to Device Manager and Windows updates, all my drivers are up to date, but I am still unable to use Aero.

Because I am using the onboard hardware and not a dedicated video card, am I able to use Aero with the current system?

Here are my system specs

CPU: Intel - Pentium G4560 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor
Motherboard: MSI - B250I PRO Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill - NT Series 8GB
Storage: Samsung - 850 EVO-Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Case: Thermaltake - Core V1 Snow Edition Mini ITX Tower Case
Power Supply: EVGA - 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply
Monitor: ASUS VS197D-P

I should also add this PC does not have a CD tray

Any help is appreciated

 

[FreeBooter]

You should download latest device driver from device manufacturer website because Microsoft does not always have the latest device driver.

After you've installed the driver, go to the control panel and and then to "Performance information and tools". After that click "Calculate Windows Experience Index" (if it's not calculated yet) or "Refresh Now" (if calculated, but outdated).

 

[mmurray1988]

You should download latest device driver from device manufacturer website because Microsoft does not always have the latest device driver.

After you've installed the driver, go to the control panel and and then to "Performance information and tools". After that click "Calculate Windows Experience Index" (if it's not calculated yet) or "Refresh Now" (if calculated, but outdated).

I also used Intel Driver and Support assistant to see if I had any drivers that needed updating but nothing comes up.

 

[Barman58]

As this is an on board graphics chip it will probably use shared memory from the 8GB Maximum of main system memory. This amount of ram is normally set somewhere in the BIOS, and is often set at a low level to maximise the RAM available to programs. Check your documentation on how to enter the BIOS, (normally tapping Del repeatedly during the initial boot before windows starts), and check your options for onboard peripherals, set the shared memory to 1GB to start and save and see if this is sufficient to allow AERO.

If not you can increase in 128MB steps until the Aero will work, remember that any memory you allocate to graphics will not be available to RAM. and as Graphics memory operates faster than Normal DDR memory It will never be as good as a separate card Some graphics subsystems will not support Aero whatever memory is allocated

 

[mmurray1988]

As this is an on board graphics chip it will probably use shared memory from the 8GB Maximum of main system memory. This amount of ram is normally set somewhere in the BIOS, and is often set at a low level to maximise the RAM available to programs. Check your documentation on how to enter the BIOS, (normally tapping Del repeatedly during the initial boot before windows starts), and check your options for onboard peripherals, set the shared memory to 1GB to start and save and see if this is sufficient to allow AERO.

If not you can increase in 128MB steps until the Aero will work, remember that any memory you allocate to graphics will not be available to RAM. and as Graphics memory operates faster than Normal DDR memory It will never be as good as a separate card Some graphics subsystems will not support Aero whatever memory is allocated

Thanks for the suggestion.

I allocated the max of 1024 but it still will not enable it.

 

[FreeBooter]

Are you selecting Aero Theme from Personalization window?

Click the Start button and type "aero". Then click on “Find and fix problems with transparency and other visual effects”.
The troubleshooter will then try to detect any problems, analyzing a number of components required to activate or turn on Aero, such as video memory, Desktop Windows Manager (DWM) service, color, themes, etc. and power setting. When finished reviewing your machine, the troubleshooter will attempt to fix error related to Aero.

 

[mmurray1988]

Are you selecting Aero Theme from Personalization window?

Click the Start button and type "aero". Then click on “Find and fix problems with transparency and other visual effects”.
The troubleshooter will then try to detect any problems, analyzing a number of components required to activate or turn on Aero, such as video memory, Desktop Windows Manager (DWM) service, color, themes, etc. and power setting. When finished reviewing your machine, the troubleshooter will attempt to fix error related to Aero.

Under problems found it reads "video card driver doesn't support aero effects".

Does this mean my current driver is still not up to date?

I have several computers many years older who support Aero after all.

 

[FreeBooter]

If your computer integrated graphic controller is "Intel HD Graphics 4000" you can download latest driver from below link.

Downloads for Intel® HD Graphics 4000

Downloads for Intel® HD Graphics 610

 

[mmurray1988]

If your computer integrated graphic controller is "Intel HD Graphics 4000" you can download latest driver from below link.

Downloads for Intel® HD Graphics 4000

Downloads for Intel® HD Graphics 610

You included 2 links. Which do I use?

 

[FreeBooter]

Downloads for Intel® HD Graphics 610

 

[mmurray1988]

Downloads for Intel® HD Graphics 610

I'm met with the error message "this computer does not meet the minimum requirements for installing the software"

 

[gldndragn]

try this one for win 7 64bit

Download Intel® Graphics Driver for Windows* [15.45]

if this does not work....there may not be win 7 drivers for that system ( I could be wrong)

 

[mmurray1988]

try this one for win 7 64bit

Download Intel® Graphics Driver for Windows* [15.45]

if this does not work....there may not be win 7 drivers for that system ( I could be wrong)

I received the same error message.

What do you mean there may not be W7 drivers?

 

[gldndragn]

you have a "Kaby lake" (intel 7th gen) processor.....it is rumored that there are NO windows 7 compatible graphics drivers for 6th and 7th generation cpu's

as such you might be out off luck as far as graphics drivers go

 

[mmurray1988]

you have a "Kaby lake" (intel 7th gen) processor.....it is rumored that there are NO windows 7 compatible graphics drivers for 6th and 7th generation cpu's

as such you might be out off luck as far as graphics drivers go

If I "upgraded" it to 10, would it run normally?

 

[MSClin]

Did you tried the Aero troubleshooter? Yes, it seems too simple (I know), but there's a reason why Windows has a special troubleshooter for this. I assume you know that you can find it in the Control Panel.

 

[mmurray1988]

Did you tried the Aero troubleshooter? Yes, it seems too simple (I know), but there's a reason why Windows has a special troubleshooter for this. I assume you know that you can find it in the Control Panel.

Yes

Under problems found it reads "video card driver doesn't support aero effects".

 

[gldndragn]

If I "upgraded" it to 10, would it run normally?

Yes....you would still have to download and install all system driver....but this would take care of the problem.

 

[mmurray1988]

Yes....you would still have to download and install all system driver....but this would take care of the problem.

So all of my hardware would be compatible with 10?

I'm not eager to convert.

 

[MSClin]

Okay. Are you sure you have the right driver for your video card? If you're not really sure or you can't install/find drivers, perhaps use a driver updating program? It would do everything for you (checking right driver and if it's up to date).

You can choose from both, I tested them and they work as intended.

DriverEasy - Driver Easy Free – 3,000,000+ Users Trusted Driver Updater
Driver Booster - Download Driver Booster - The best free Nvidia, AMD, Intel & Dell driver update software for Windows 7 & above.