Aero glass not working on Windows Server 2008 R2

[Sbilly90]

I know this is a windows 7 forum, but I couldn't find a good server specific forum and I'm hoping I can get some help. I recently installed server 2K8R2 on my pc and have got most aspects working like a desktop would. However, I'm having an issue getting Aero glass to work. I have gone through multiple guides by googling and have yet to get a solution.

Using Windows 2008 R2 as a workstation (and a lab) - Jay's notes on SQL - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

Using this guide as a reference I notice that it has additional options under "Performance Options" that I just don't have. Namely, all of the boxed options from the screenshot in the guide. At this time I have Aero installed and I've got most of its functionality other than glass and 3D task switcher. I have updated all of my drivers to the most recent and Windows Update doesn't have any updates left for me. The theme service is set to auto and is currently running and I have installed the desktop experience package and enabled it. Along my googling I found the troubleshooting tools as a suggestion to resolve the issue. Unfortunately, when I go to the troubleshooting option for visuals and graphics it says there are no troubleshooting packages installed.

When I was using Windows 7 I never had an issue making Aero glass work. Before anyone says why not just switch back to W7, I installed the server so I can use AD and make an internal DNS server. Any help would be appreciated.

System specs:
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 fully updated
Abit Fatality mobo
AMD X2-64 3800+ (2.0 ghz)
3 GB DDR
GeForce 8800 GT

If any additional information is required let me know and I can provide said info. I appreciate any help I can get.

 

[Butters]

Hi Sbilly90.
I guess you could try this Microsoft FixIt package. That's what I came up with after just a little bit of research.
Windows Aero Glass visual effects are not working or displayed
I'll keep looking into it for you, just see if that works for now.

 

[JonathanV]

By default, Windows Server 2008 R2 doesn't include Aero. Don't worry , you can still have Aero on your system. But make sure that your computer has passed Aero requirements.

Install Desktop Experience

1. Click Start, click Control Panel.
2. On Control Panel. Click Programs and Features (list view) or Uninstall a program under Programs category.
3. On the left pane, click Turn Windows features on or off.
4. If User Account Control tells you to enter administrator password, ask your computer administrator before continuing to Step 5. If no UAC prompt, skip to Step 5.
5. In the Features Summary section, click Add Features.
6. Select Desktop Experience check box. Click Install.
7. Restart your computer if needed.

Enable Themes service

1. Click Start, type services.msc. Press Enter.
2. Double click Themes.
3. Start the Themes service and set it as automatic.
4. Click OK.

Choose an Aero theme

1. Right click the empty desktop.
2. When the context menu appears, select Personalize.
3. Click a theme to apply Aero theme.

Now you're running Aero on Windows Server 2008 R2.

If you see Troubleshoot problems with transparency and other Aero effects link at the bottom. Means that your video driver doesn't support Aero and needs to be updated.