Aero just stopped working - and cannot restore

[danter]

The heading says it all. Aero just stopped working. I am using the onboard graphics of a Gigabyte Z68X-UD3H-B3 motherboard. I built this PC about 4 months ago and Aero has been working fine from day 1.

I have run Troubleshoot problems with transparency and Aero effects - tells me to contact the graphics manufacturer - then tells me it doesn't support Aero (which of course it must as it was working before).
I have activated and deactivated etc the Aero themes in display.
I have tried updating the driver - both via Intel and Gigabyte. The Gigabyte fails to complete installation and the Intel says it already has the most up to date driver (even though the new driver has a higher version number and it downloads and begins to install via Driver Update).
I have re-rerun the Windows Experience Index and it crashes out near the end stating "could not measure video playback performance'
I downloaded and installed uethemes - no change.
I have tried a System Restore (which eliminated the most recent Windows updates) - no change.

A little bit over it to be honest - I am thinking of just getting a Radeon 5670 graphics card to bypass the issue - but surely the onboard graphics should be made to work!?!?!

 

[danter]

..and I also deleted the driver and ran system repair off the installation CD. Nada.

 

[Patc101]

Give this a try

I lost aero after I updated my video drivers due to random system crashes. Too early to tell if this fixed that problem, but back to the aero issue, this worked for me and I dont have clue why.
Right click on screen and then "screen resolution"
Then click "Make text or other items smaller or larger"
Then set custom text size. Set this to 101% and it should work.
When I set mine back to 100% I lose transparency so its worth a shot.

Pat

 

[danter]

Thanks for he suggestion, but didn't work.
Think I will just install a dedicated graphics card.

 

[Sub Styler]

A discrete graphics card will enhance your system overall, but it sounds like an issue with your existing driver if the newer version wouldn't install.

Download the new version and extract it somewhere, then find it as I outlined in THIS POST then try updating it from the device manager.

 

[danter]

I have deleted the driver completely and then tried to reinstall the latest driver via windows. Alas, no joy.

It is getting to the point that it is taking up more time than it is worth - a new graphics card would be cheaper than the time I am spending on the issue!