Solved The Dreaded Aero Peek Not Working!

[knight1fox3]

Hi All,

The thread title pretty much says it all. I've been reading thread after thread on this the past 2 days to figure out why the Aero Peek feature of Win7 has stopped working (and option greyed out) on my ACER laptop. Up to this point none of the "tried and true" solutions has worked for me. I suspect it has to do with the video card and/or driver. Aero was working fine just a few days ago and the only thing I can think of that changed was probably some various Windows updates were applied (no new software though). I know the laptop hardware can handle it. Config: Core i5, 8GB RAM, Radeon Mobility HD5850 1GB, Win7 HP 64-bit, OCZ Vertex 3 SSD. So based on everything I've read including this tutorial, here's what I've tried so far:

1. Enabled/Restarted Windows Desktop Manager and Theme services.
2. Updated my video card's driver (Radeon Mobility 5850) from AMD's website. Also tried removing then updating.
3. Re-ran the WEI test, got a 6.7 score on Graphics (6.7 overall).
4. Ran the troubleshoot/fix Aero windows utility, checked the Apply Repairs Automatically box. Which indicates it can't troubleshoot the problem.
5. In the Performance Options => Visual Effects. I noticed that "Enable desktop composition" and "Enable Aero Peek" selections are missing altogether. Same with "Save taskbar thumbnail previews". Probably a few others missing that I didn't list here.
6. Played with the resolution some, True Color 32-bit is enabled (1600x900 recommended res.).
7. Opened Task Manager, I ended some processes one by one (users only not system).
8. Downloaded the registry fix to Enable Aero. Added UserMachineCheck, Animations and Blur manually, all REG_DWORD type, all three got a value of 0.
9. Cannot try System Restore as I have this disabled since I am using a SSD.
10. Tried the Microsoft "Fix-It" utility for Aero Glass not working.
11. Tried creating another user profile (admin) and the problem persists in that account as well.

Some additional information. I first noticed the problem as the laptop was coming out of sleep mode. I've read that has caused video issues occasionally but a reboot typically fixes it. Which, in my case, obviously did not. Could it be something may have gotten mucked up in the BIOS? That is one thing I haven't been in to check. Though nothing should have changed there. Any other thoughts on this? I'm really at a loss here and would appreciate any feedback. Let me know if I need to provide any additional information. Thanks in advance.

 

[Brink]

Hello knight1fox,

Did you also check to make sure that the Desktop Window Manager Session Manager and Themes Services were set as Started and Automatic?

 

[knight1fox3]

Hello knight1fox,

Did you also check to make sure that the Desktop Window Manager Session Manager and Themes Services were set as Started and Automatic?

Yes, confirmed those services were started and in automatic mode. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Brink]

It looks like you pretty much checked everything.

I didn't see that you listed checking to make sure that you are using an "Aero" theme, so that's one more to check if you haven't already. If you are, then see if changing the theme to the "Windows Basic" theme, apply, then change back to an "Aero" theme and apply may help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/280-theme-change-save.html
​

 

[knight1fox3]

It looks like you pretty much checked everything.

I didn't see that you listed checking to make sure that you are using an "Aero" theme, so that's one more to check if you haven't already. If you are, then see if changing the theme to the "Windows Basic" theme, apply, then change back to an "Aero" theme and apply may help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/280-theme-change-save.html
​

I forgot to mention that. I am using an Aero theme (Win7) which I find odd. If Aero is not enabled, how then am I able to select an Aero theme? I have not tried switching to a basic theme and then back to an Aero theme. I don't have high hopes for that but you never know. I will report back with the results.

 

[Brink]

You would still be able to select and use an Aero theme. It's just that if Aero has been disabled, the Aero theme will just loose it's Aero features and will basically just act like a "Windows Basic" theme then.

Is your Windows currently activated? Aero is one of the features that can be disabled if Windows is not activated.

 

[knight1fox3]

Well here's where I am at today. I switched between an Aero theme and a Windows Basic theme. Still no actual Aero upon changing back to an Aero theme. To answer the activation question, yes I double-checked to make sure my copy of Windows was still activated and it was (this is an older machine). I figured I would also share some screen shots to aid in my troubleshooting efforts. Always easier to see what people on the other end are seeing.

The last image of the registry is what really has me confused. It seems all the right options in there have a "1" entry meaning enabled, correct? Like "EnableAeroPeek", "Composition", etc. So if these are enabled in the registry, how are they disabled/not shown in Windows? Or better yet, what is disabling Aero? This is a head-scratcher for me. Any other thoughts? Or questions about my config? Thanks again as always.

 

[Brink]

Just as a test, uninstall your current Intel VGA driver, and install the 15.28.4.2843 version from Gigabyte's site below to see if Aero may work afterwards. You may need to restart the PC after installing the drivers first.

GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket 1155 - GA-H67M-D2-B3 (rev. 1.0)

 

[knight1fox3]

Some interesting information. In device manager, I removed the current video driver. Rebooted. Then windows proceeded to install the next best (I assume) driver it had to load. I continued to remove and reboot until the "Standard VGA Graphics" driver was loaded. For kicks, I re-ran the Aero troubleshooter and it now indicates, the current video card may support Aero, but requires a WDDM compliant driver. Contact the manufacturer. Going to play around just a bit more before loading the driver you recommended. Unless you can think of anything else based on this new information.

EDIT: Tried installing that driver, and the message I receive is, "This computer does not meet the minimum requirements for installing the software."

EDIT 2: Intel driver 15.17.10.64.2189 (from ACER website) seemed to install but didn't change anything from the standard VGA.

 

[Brink]

At least we're pretty sure that it's your video driver at fault here now.

Go ahead and uninstall the driver again, then see what the Intel Driver Update Utility will automatically find for you.

 

[knight1fox3]

I tend to agree as well.

I will try the INF utility. On another side note, I tried installing the VGA driver from ACER's support site rather than AMD's. I installed driver 8.741.1.5000 but still no joy. Windows troubleshooter is back to saying it can't determine the problem. Tried switching between themes again too.

 

[knight1fox3]

Intel INF Utility Results:

Interesting.

 

[Brink]

I'd try installing all of them to see how it goes.

 

[knight1fox3]

Well I was never able to actually get the issue fixed but figured I would post back with my results. No matter what I tried, I couldn't seem to get Aero back. Was a very strange issue. However, as this system had been running since I bought it, I figured it was high time to clean it up with a format and fresh install of Win7. Once I had everything running again and all the necessary drivers loaded, Aero was working again. Go figure.

 

[Bongo]

Thanks for letting us know you are fixed, sometimes that's what is needed to fix aero.

Jerry

 

[Brink]

I'm happy to hear that you go it sorted knight1fox. Thank you for posting back with your results.

 

[polymar99]

I had a greyed out enable aero peek option and have seen this problem on many boards already.
Before messing with hardware, or wiping and reinstalling os like these guys above, try this option:

Here is all you need to do:

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

click Start---> Right click Computer---> Click on Properties
Click on the "Windows Experience Index" link then click "Re-run the assessment" to refresh your WEI Index score and try again.

After that, check the option for the taskbar- right click on "start" icon (bottom left)--> left click "properties"--> click on tab for "taskbar", and look at the status under Preview desktop with Aero Peek, the option for "Use Aero Peek to preview the desktop" should not be greyed out anymore. At least it wasn't for me, so you can now check/uncheck the box.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/838-aero-peek-turn-off.html

By the way, I'm running windows ultimate 7 64 bit.

This is an operating system glitch, software related I think.

 

[ortho85]

polymar99's suggestion worked for me, too. Thanks.

 

[Viej0]

thanks

Thanks a LOT polymar99, it worked. FINALLY!

Was my last try after a lot of forums, uninstalling/reinstalling different drivers, touching lot of switches, search and modify registry......... :huh:

 

[Mhz2015]

@polymar99

Thx m8. You solved the issue for me as well.