Visual Effects Settings - Change

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    Visual Effects Settings - Change

    Visual Effects Settings - Change

    How to Change the Visual Effects Settings in Windows 7
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    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Change the Visual Effects Settings in Windows 7


       Information
    This will show you how to change the visual effect settings you want to use for the appearance and performance of Windows 7 on your computer.
       Note
    If you apply any changes in the Control Panel -> Ease of Access Center, your visual effects settings will automatically get reset back to default.

    You will notice that not all visual effects options are available in the Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic editions since they do not include the Aero feature.

    Visual Effects Settings - Change-starter_basic.jpg
       Tip
    The visual effect settings below are the most common ones to turn off (uncheck) to help improve performance.

    • Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing
    • Animations in the taskbar and Start Menu
    • Enable transparent glass
    • Fade or slide menus into view
    • Fade or slide ToolTips into view
    • Fade out menu items after clicking
    • Show shadows under windows
    • Slide open combo boxes




    OPTION ONE

    To Change Visual Effects Settings in System Properties


    1. Do either step 2, 3, or 4 below depending on how you would like to open Visual Effects.
    NOTE: Standard users will only be able to use step 4.

    2. Open the Start Menu.
    A) Right click on the Computer button and click on Properties.

    B) Go to step 3A.
    OR

    3. Open the Control Panel (icons vew), and click on the System icon.
    A) Click on the Advanced System settings link in the left blue pane, then close this window afterwards. (see screenshot below)
    Visual Effects Settings - Change-system.jpg
    B) Under the Advanced tab and Performance section, click on the Settings button. (see screenshot below)
    Visual Effects Settings - Change-system_properties.jpg
    C) Go to step 5.
    OR

    4. Open the Control Panel (icons vew), and click on the Performance Information and Tools icon.
    A) Click on the Advanced tools link in the left blue pane. (see screenshot below)
    Visual Effects Settings - Change-performance-info.jpg
    B) Click on the Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows link, then close this window afterwards. (see screenshot below)
    Visual Effects Settings - Change-advanced_tools.jpg
    5. You will now see the Visual Effects settings to select. Do step 6, 7, 8, or 9 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot below)

       Note
    You will notice that not all visual effects options are available in the Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic editions since they do not include the Aero feature.

    • Let Windows choose what's best for my computer - Windows will select the settings that it determines will run fine based on your system specs.
    • Adjust for best appearance - This will select all settings.
    • Adjust for best performance - This will unselect all settings.
    • Custom - This will allow you to select and unselect the settings you would like to. This will also be selected by default if you manually select or unselect settings.
    Visual Effects Settings - Change-visual_effects-1.jpgVisual Effects Settings - Change-visual_effects-2.jpg
    6. For Custom to Manually Select or Unselect Visual Effects
    A) Select (dot) the Custom option. (see screenshots above)

    B) Check the settings you want, uncheck the settings you do not want, and go to step 10 below.
    7. For Best Appearance
    A) Select (dot) the Adjust for best appearance option, and go to step 10 below. (see screenshots below step 5)
    NOTE: This will select all of the visual effect settings.
    8. For Best Performance
    A) Select (dot) the Adjust for best performance option, and go to step 10 below. (see screenshots below step 5)
    NOTE: This will unselect all of the visual effect settings.
    9. To Let Windows 7 Choose the Visual Effects
    A) Select (dot) the Let Windows choose what's best for my computer option, and go to step 10 below. (see screenshots below)
    NOTE: These screenshots are the usual items selected by Windows 7, but this will be based on what Windows 7 thinks will run best on your computer.
    Visual Effects Settings - Change-windows1.jpgVisual Effects Settings - Change-windows2.jpg
    10. Click on Apply and OK. (See screenshots above or below step 4)
    NOTE: If you did step 2 or 3, then you will also need to click on OK in the screenshot below step 3B.



    OPTION TWO

    To Change Visual Effects Settings Manually in Registry Editor



       Note
    If you like, you can click on a link below for these Visual Effects to see how to quickly change them in the Registry Editor instead.

    You will notice that the visual effects below with a * are not available in the Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic editions since they do not include the Aero feature.

    1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box, and press Enter.

    2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

    3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects


    Visual Effects Settings - Change-visual_effects_reg-.jpg
    4. In the right pane of VisualEffects, double click on the VisualFXSetting DWORD to modify it. (see screenshot above)

    5. Type in the value number below for the setting you want below, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
    Visual Effects Settings - Change-visual_effects_reg-b.jpg


    A) Type 0 (zero) for Let Windows choose what's best for my computer option, and go to step 8 below.

    B) Type 1 for Adjust for best appearance option, and go to step 8 below.

    C) Type 2 for Adjust for best Performance option, and go to step 8 below.

    D) Type 3 for Custom option, and go to step 6 below.
    6. Using the binary sets below, change the letters in them to turn on (1) or off (0) for each corresponding visual effect.
       Note
    The visual effects below will require more work to change them in the Registry Editor.

    We will have to use the 3 sets of binary values below for the letter(s) of the Visual Effects below that you want to turn on or off, then convert each binary set to hex for the first 3 hex entries in the registry. This will be explained in detail on how to do this in the steps below.

    Binary sets (3)
    1001ABC0 00D1EF10 00000GH1

    0=off and 1=on


    Visual Effects and their assigned letters
    (A) Smooth-scroll list boxes
    (B) Slide open combo boxes
    (C) Fade or slide menus into view
    (D) Show shadows under mouse pointer
    (E) Fade or slide ToolTips into view
    (F) Fade out menu items after clicking
    (G) Show shadows under windows
    (H) Use Visual styles on windows and buttons


    For example, to turn them all off, I would change all letters in the binary sets to 0 (number zero) like below.
    10010000 00010010 00000001
    For example, to turn only the H visual effect on, I would change the letters in the binary sets like below.
    10010000 00010010 00000011
    7. Use a binary to hex converter to convert each separate binary set one by one to hex.
    NOTE: Make note of these hex values when converted from the adjusted binary sets. They are what you will be using in regedit at step 9 below.
    Visual Effects Settings - Change-binary-hex.jpg
    NOTE: Press enter after entering the binary value to convert it.

    For example, from the example above to turn them all off, I would convert the 3 separate binary sets one by one to hex like below.
    Binary
    10010000 00010010 00000001

    converted to

    Hex
    90 12 1
    For example, from the example above to turn only the H visual effect on, I would convert the 3 separate binary sets one by one to hex like below.
    Binary
    10010000 00010010 00000011

    converted to

    Hex
    90 12 3
    8. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

    Visual Effects Settings - Change-reg-1.jpg
    9. In the right pane of Desktop, double click on UserPreferencesMask to modify it, and do step 10, 11, 12, or 13 below depending on what you set in step 5 above. (see screenshot above)

    10. If you typed 0 at step 5 for the Let Windows choose what's best for my computer option, then change the values to be the same as the ones in red below, click on OK, and go to step 14 below. (see screenshot below)
    9E 3E 07 80 12 00 00 00

    Visual Effects Settings - Change-0_and_1.jpg
    11. If you typed 1 at step 5 for the Adjust for best appearance option, then change the values to be the same as the ones in red below, click on OK, and go to step 14 below. (see screenshot below step 10)
    9E 3E 07 80 12 00 00 00
    12. If you typed 2 at step 5 for the Adjust for best performance option, then change the values to be the same as the ones in red below, click on OK, and go to step 14 below. (see screenshot below)
    90 12 01 80 10 00 00 00

    Visual Effects Settings - Change-2.jpg
    13. If you typed 3 at step 5 for the Custom option, then change the first 3 values (ex: 90 12 03) underlined in red below with the hex values you got from step 7, click on OK, and go to step 14 below. (see screenshot below)
    Visual Effects Settings - Change-reg-2.jpg
    14. Close regedit.

    15. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.
    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 113
    windows 7 ultimate final Office 2007,27 Quad IMAC vm 7 64 bit
       #1

    Been there done that


    All are checked. Set for all the bells and wistles.

    Thanks
    Last edited by Brink; 13 Jan 2009 at 01:29. Reason: removed off topic material
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 246
    Microsoft Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
       #2

    fireman604 said:
    All are checked. Set for all the bells and wistles. I need help getting out of AGP mode I think. I can not install correct driver. By memory it is WDDM 1? not current video driver. Thanks

    I keep everything on except for Animations, Fades and Slides. They hurt me the most in GPU.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 x64 | Windows XP Pro x86
       #3

    For anyone looking to change whether the popup / context menu animations are Fade or Slide (a dropdown that was available in XP), that tweak has been removed from the GUI in Windows 7.. another brilliant Microsoft change. This is particularly annoying since some remote desktop programs like LogMeIn change this setting.

    It must now be manually changed in the registry if you wish to swap between Win98-style slide, or XP's fade. To do this, save either of the following as a .reg file using Notepad, and then double-click it to merge it into the registry.


    For Win98 Slide effect:
    ___________________________________________
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
    "UserPreferencesMask"=hex:9e,28,07,80,12,00,00,00
    ____________________________________________


    For the Default XP Fade effect:
    ____________________________________________
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
    "UserPreferencesMask"=hex:9e,3e,07,80,12,00,00,00
    ____________________________________________


    You'll need to log off and log back on before changes will take place. If you're someone who likes the Win98-style slide (unlike myself), be aware that it wasn't really intended to be included in Windows 7. Most menus will just 'appear' since the slide animation is too fast, or the menu is too big. However, menus will show a drop shadow under them. Enjoy!
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 64bit
       #4

    Good Afternoon to all,

    Quick question on this subject. I have a W7 Pro64 install with an admin account and a user account that I use every day.

    When logged in as the user I change the preferences (giving Admin credentials to be able to open it), getting rid of animation and press save. When I restart and log back in, the visual effects are still set to Custom and some of the boxes are still unselected but minimize/maximise is re-selected as are shadows and most others.

    Why are my settings not being remembered after a restart.... rather annoying to say the least

    Thanks

    Jody
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 16
    Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
       #5

    j7ody,

    I was having the same problem with Windows not remembering the settings. The fix is to type SystemPropertiesPerformance in the Start menu's search bar, then choose your settings. The problem seems to be related to the UAC settings. I found the fix at this site Vista refuses to remember my aero visual effects settings - [H]ard|Forum

    Hope that helps!

    Cody
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 64bit
       #6

    Cody,

    You are a legend..... this has been bugging me for about a month. Thank you!

    Jody
    Last edited by Brink; 31 Dec 2009 at 12:32. Reason: removed unneeded language
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 50
    Windows 7 Pro
       #7

    Nice tutorial/guide (if you don't use Windows Classic).
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Hello Wguru,

    And if you do use Windows Classic, you can use the Advanced Appearance Settings (step 7 at link) instead to change those appearance settings. Plus, some in Folder Options. Not quite the same as the ones for Aero, but....
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 50
    Windows 7 Pro
       #9

    Thank you. Just mentioned it because I'm guessing if not the majority of 'us' prefer classic, quite a few do.

    Again, great site. Kudos for all the efforts.
      My Computer


 
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