Aero Theme Problems

[JJBoondock]

Hello everyone,
Whenever I turn my pc on, the aero theme doesn't work properly. I check the themes and aero themes is selected, but it looks like windows 7 basic and when I change to another theme it changes background but windows 7 basic layout stays. I used the aero troubleshooter and it says desktop windows manager is disabled but when i check services, windows desktop sessions manager is running. When I restart the service, it flashes for a second and changes to aero theme but then back to windows 7 basic layout. dwm.exe is not running in task manager. Also, when i try to watch a video on youtube or anywhere else, the video lags. When I try to play games, they lag a lot also.

Whenever I restart my pc the aero theme is displayed fine and dwm.exe is displayed in task manager. Youtube videos work fine and all the games are fine also.

I am very confused by this.

I know this isn't the first aero theme problem on here but I have tried many different ways to fix this and all have failed.
My Windows is an OEM version
All help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[A Guy]

Welcome to Seven Forums JJBoondock. I would run the System File Checker first and make sure you don't have any violations. If it finds no issues, we will take a different path. Note that you will have to repatch if you are using 3rd party themes.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

A Guy

 

[JJBoondock]

Thank you for the reply. I tried SFC and it said there were no issues

 

[A Guy]

Did this just start after taking Windows updates? Do you have a System Restore Point from before this began? I have seen this issue caused by WU, Video Card Drivers, other out of date drivers, etc. The video playback issue may also point to drivers. If you have the SR point, I'd try that and if it fixes it, you'd need to install updates one at a time and test after each.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

A Guy

 

[JJBoondock]

It's been from when I installed Windows 7 and I've tried many different System Restore Points.

 

[A Guy]

Have you run the Windows Experience Index assessment?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/263-windows-experience-index-update-refresh-score.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/79177-windows-experience-index-reset.html

A Guy

 

[JJBoondock]

I have done it once but I will try it again and let you know the results.

 

[JJBoondock]

I ran it again it it went fine.

 

[A Guy]

If this has been happening since the install, and your video drivers are up to date, I'd suggest a repair install. It will leave all your programs and settings intact, and hopefully fix the Aero problem.

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

I'll point this out to the Gurus and see if anyone else has some ideas.

A Guy

 

[gregrocker]

Enable http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2803-device-installation-settings.html to Check for Updates, install all Important and Optional to make sure you have the drivers Win7 wants and are fully patched.

What display driver do you have installed currently? What display card/chip does your PC have? Where did you get its driver?

If you have a video card can you default to the mobo's display chip? Do you have another card to try?

After trying these steps while you wait for other suggestions work through the other http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/220165-troubleshooting-steps-windows-7-a.html starting with establishing a Clean Boot.

 

[JJBoondock]

Thanks for the help. I've tried a reinstall and made sure windows updates are installed and my graphics are up to date but I still have the problem

 

[gregrocker]

I gave you much more specific steps than that. I also asked you multiple specific questions to which you didn't even begin to reply. Why did you come here exactly if you ignore specific help we take the time to type out for you to try?

 

[JJBoondock]

Sorry I just didn't really understand the questions and forgot to add that. Is the display card my graphics card? If it is, I have the GeForce GTX 650 and I don't know how to default to the motherboard chip and I don't have another card.

 

[gregrocker]

If you make it here with two hands we assume you at least have the ability to ask back questions and make sure you perform each step.

Look in Device Manager under Display adapters. What is listed and when you click on the Driver tab for each listing what is the installed driver, version and date?

You can also enter BIOS setup by tapping the key given for that on first boot screen (often F1 or F2) then look at each tab thoroughly for any onboard Graphics or GPU settings. This may enable you to temporarily disable the card to choose the Onboard graphics to see if the problem persists.

 

[JJBoondock]

Sorry but I was starting with my reply and then my dad called me to help him so I replied quickly and forgot to ask. Anyway, under display adapters is Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 and the driver is Nvidia, the version is 9.18.13.4052 and the date is 02/07/2014. And I'll take a look at the BIOS setup now and get back to you in a bit. Thanks for your help

 

[gregrocker]

Most BIOS explain each setting when you highlight it.

 

[JJBoondock]

I looked through my BIOS and I cant find where to change to onboard graphics I only found Primary Graphics Adapter and the only options on that are PCI Express and PCI

 

[gregrocker]

In Device Manager Roll Back driver on Driver tab until you find one that works.

If not In Devices and Printers rightclick on the PC to set Device settings to Automatic. Then Check for Updates and install all important and Optional Updates. Does it provide a driver? Try that.

 

[JJBoondock]

This driver is the first one I installed so I can't roll back and I did as you said and no driver updates came up unfortunately.

 

[gregrocker]

Try a previous driver.

I'd want to know for sure which one Updates offers so its worth uninstalling this one to check. If you get Standard VGA its only a placeholder which may need upping the resolution to work through. Then Enable Auto Driver Updating (explained twice) and install all Updates. There may be a patch needed too

Have you reinstalled the card checking the slots are clean and card is perfectly seated?

If you can borrow another card it will tell you a lot.

Wait for other ideas.