"Desktop Window Manager stopped working and was closed"

[Meatball0311]

I get this problem or error "Desktop Window Manager stopped working and was closed" every time I stay logged on but "switch users". When I come back to my user account, there are two messages on my taskbar that both say "Desktop Window Manager stopped working and was closed". I have uninstalled and reinstalled my Nvidia driver and updated to the latest driver version. I have even went to "task manager" and located the dwm.exe and made a dump file.

Any suggesstions to what or how I fix this.. Thank you.

 

[valtonray]

try doing a system repair. to relaunch the windows manager use run command explorer.exe

 

[Meatball0311]

how would I do a system repair? Sorry for the noob question, but for some reason I cant think of how to...

 

[krazymate]

try running run
and type in
dwm.exe

 

[Meatball0311]

Ok so I went into start and searched dwm.exe. I found the application, but when i clicked on it nothing. I right clicked on it to look at properties and nothing to repair... I had the problem yesterday again... do we think that this is a bug with Win7?

 

[krazymate]

no no dont search for the application
try going
start
all programs
accesories
run
then a box should come up in thee left hand corner yes ?
then type
dwm.exe
thhenn okayy
then the pc should tell itself to command that program to run
if not dude
ill look into it more for you let me no

 

[krazymate]

but if this dont work
try going into
run again or search it whichever one
and then type in
msconfig.exe
click on the services tab
and go through the list to try n find desktop winow manager
then check the box on the left !
give us a shout back iff anymore help !

 

[Meatball0311]

Thanks for you help. I went into start\All Programs\Accessories\Run and typed dwm.exe and nothing popped up. Then I went to start\All Programs\Accessories\Run and typed msconfig.exe and the box popped up so I clicked on the services tab. I found a service named "Desktop Windows Manager Session Manager" and it was already checked.

I think what the problem can be is the fact that I am using my own desktop background and color scheme and not an Aero Theme. Basically I have a picture that I right clicked on and "Set as desktop background" and then I set my own color scheme in the Personalization and Appearance section. I was told that if I went into the Appearance and Personalization\ Desktop Background and browsed for the picture on my computer and selected it as my background, that would solve my problem. I basically went in the Appearance and Personalization section and "Get more themes online" and found a theme that I liked and am using it now. Haven had the problem, but it is still early in me using it. So I will post more if anything new develops. Thanks for your help

 

[krazymate]

great !

ahh great !
im glad you solved the problem !!
any questions you need to ask dude im here for help okayy
thankss

 

[Meatball0311]

dude I am sorry to report that it came back. Even when I am using an Aero friendly background... it keeps saying that when there is a solution to the problem windows will let me know. i am about to take it back to where I got it so they can look at it.

 

[krazymate]

ahh not good mannn
its probably something to do with winodws 7 i wouldnt worry to much
dwm is only a small desktop application soo dw !

 

[krazymate]

let me know how it gets on !

 

[Neros]

same deal. dwm gives msg it stopped working. this time it has stopped for two or three weeks now. nothing brings it back. other times it would come back after I picked an aero standard desktop or ran the troubleshooter or the "deeper" trouble shooter. this time, nothing. nothing brings back aero. help please.
running Win 7 64 on a new Lenovo T500, fully loaded.
This started in December with this new Lenovo. Then calmed down - on and off for Jan and Feb. Now, nothing.

 

[wernerml]

very disappointing....

very disappointing.... SAME PROBLEM HERE!
I re-installed (formatted) my laptop 3 weaks ago, it has a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M, latest driver installed..
My Aero theme is modified by me, but just a little modification... (AND I HAD USED IT FOR LOTS OF MONTHS BEFORE, AND NEVER GOT THIS ERROR)
Now, almost EVERY TIME I LOGON WINDOWS, I GET THIS ERROR, AND HAVE TO RESET THE LAPTOP, UNTIL I MANAGE TO LOGON WINDOWS CORRECTLY...

disappointing...

I haven't found any information on the web to fix this...

BRAND NEW LAPTOP, BRAND NEW WINDOWS INSTALLATION, again ---> disappointing...

 

[ComputerGenex]

Reply

I found how to solve this
When your PC or laptop starts use
Ctrl+alt+delete
Click Start Task Manager
Go to Processes
Search Desktop Window Manager in Description
It's called dwm.exe in Image Name
Click on it and click End Process
If you don't see it click Show processes from all users.
After this your theme should turn in to Windows Vista Basic
But you will not get error message saying Desktop Windows Manager has stopped working.

 

[hellhound]

Desktop window manager has stoped working

Im haveing this problem when gameing,came on here saw big advert for Regcurepro,not being to good with computers thought Microsoft say will fix all so it must be good,did scan came up with lots of faults press fix and low and behold need to pay,so i do microsoft say it will fix all so it must work.well it didnt still got problem.Will now try some of the things u guys said and hope for the best

 

[Faann]

you can open the command prompt with elevated rights and type dwm.exe

 

[Jaynyc621]

I experienced the same problem immediately after my company installed Norton Endpoint encryption program on my machine.