Visual Settings Changing to Basic During Playback

Heya,

I've searched and searched but haven't found satisfactory information so I'm hoping to tap into the resources here, kindly.

System:

AMD 955BE
8GB Corsair Memory
HD5850 1GB GPU
OCZ 60G Agility SSD
Gigabyte GA-MA785GM-US2H Motherboard
Windows 7 Professional x64

I have multiple display setup (4 total on the machine). Three on the HD5850, and one from the motherboard's HD4200. Everything works fine, except one issue.

During DVD/AVI/Netflix playback, but only sometimes, Windows switches to Basic theme and turns off Aero visuals. I look at system resources and my memory is no where near being tapped out. 1GB on Video memory should be enough to handle basic playback, since only 128MB is actually needed for these sorts of stream/playback options. So why is Windows changing my visuals! It's very irritating. The system can more than handle playback of over 20 of these videos simultaneously without hanging. Yet Windows wants to change to basic theme.

Any idea how to stop windows from changing my theme/visuals? It only seems to happen if I playback videos. No other time at all. Maybe sometimes if I game in a window, but I can at least understand an intense game in a window causing Windows to scream for resources. But during basic playback of essentially low bit rate video? I'm stumped!

Looking forward to advise.

Very best,

I'll guess...
you are using MPC or the Homecinema version as one of your players
If so...
open the player
press 'o' on your keyboard (no quotes)
under the output options, choose a different renderer

Doh!

I should have stated the players used.

Primarily using VLC for DVD/AVI. Otherwise, Netflix uses SilverLight.

Very best,

Heya,

Anyone have any clue at all here?

Update: Same thing happens when I'm using Pandora in Firefox. Not even doing video playback. This makes no sense at all at this point. Need help.

Very best,

Heya,

Still no ideas?

Very best,

I'll take another go at it.

On the righthand side of the startmenu, rightclick 'Computer', choose Properties
click the blue link 'Windows Experience Index'
next screen, lower right, click the blue link 'Rerun the assessment'

Don't touch your computer until it completes.


And if that fails you . . .
it is my experience that disabling UAC can cause all sorts of weird issues
and if this is your case, re-enable it to the 'Default' for testing.