Aero - Enable in Unsupported Editions of Windows 7

How to Enable Aero in Unsupported Editions of Windows 7


   Note
Your machine still needs to meet the minimum hardware requirements before it can run Aero.

For Home Basic users: Aero does not mean that transparency will be enabled. Only Aero taskbar thumbnails and maybe some other features will be enabled by this utility. There is no way to enable transparency on Windows Home Basic.




Here's How:
1. Download and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to determine whether your hardware meets the requirements.

2. Download Aero Enabler from this site.

3. Extract the compressed files to a convenient location, and run the AeroEnabler.exe file.

4. Check the Disable Hardware Check box, and click Enable Aero.
There you go, you're done!







 
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Hi john,

I haven't tried the app.

It appears to save making the registry changes yourself.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7 X64
    CPU
    i5 8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Hard Drives
    various
    PSU
    pure power 11 400w cm
    Case
    Coolermaster
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7x64
    CPU
    g5400
    Motherboard
    ga b365m ds3h
    Memory
    8gb ddr4 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450w
Hi john,

I haven't tried the app.

It appears to save making the registry changes yourself.
Do you know what registry entries are changed?
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Professional x64
CPU
Intel i7 2600K OC'd @ 4620 MHz
Motherboard
Asus P8Z68-V Pro
Memory
16GB GSkill Sniper 2133 Mhz (4x4GB)
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GeForce GTX 480 SuperClocked+
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
2x Acer S273HLbmii 27"
Screen Resolution
2 x 1920x1080
Hard Drives
64GB Crucial M4 SSD

Storage: Hitachi 1TB 5400RPM, Samsung 1.5TB 5400RPM
PSU
Corsair HW Series 750w (modular)
Case
Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced Blue Edition
Cooling
CM Hyper 212+ CPU cooler, 3x 230mm + 1x 140mm case fans
Keyboard
Logitech MK320 (wireless)
Mouse
Logitech MK320 (wireless)
Internet Speed
30 Mb/s : 2 Mb/s
what registry entries are applied?
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
aspire 5920
OS
Windows 8 Professional x64
CPU
core 2 duo T5550
Memory
4 GB
Graphics Card(s)
GMA X3100
Hard Drives
160 GB + 320 GB
Internet Speed
2 mbps
Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM

If the DWM registry key does not exist, right click, then select New -> Key and name it DWM.

Under DWM key, create a new DWORD (32-bit value) named UseMachineCheck, and set its value to 0.

Again, under DWM key create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named Blur, and set its value to 0.

Again, under DWM key, create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named Animations, and set its value to 0.

Restart the Desktop Window Manager Session Manager service in Services.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Too many to describe...
OS
Windows 7 x64 pro/ Windows 7 x86 Pro/ XP SP3 x86
Aero Enabler worked on this notebook of mine, but at a certain point the system began to be so slow that Windows itself recommended me to change to a 7 Basic theme, and this brought speed back. So I ask: what exactly do I need to upgrade to get Aero running without losing performance?
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7
Hello Paul,

The you can try increasing the video memory in the BIOS; that's the best you can do, without upgrading the laptop.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Professional x64
CPU
Intel i7 2600K OC'd @ 4620 MHz
Motherboard
Asus P8Z68-V Pro
Memory
16GB GSkill Sniper 2133 Mhz (4x4GB)
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GeForce GTX 480 SuperClocked+
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
2x Acer S273HLbmii 27"
Screen Resolution
2 x 1920x1080
Hard Drives
64GB Crucial M4 SSD

Storage: Hitachi 1TB 5400RPM, Samsung 1.5TB 5400RPM
PSU
Corsair HW Series 750w (modular)
Case
Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced Blue Edition
Cooling
CM Hyper 212+ CPU cooler, 3x 230mm + 1x 140mm case fans
Keyboard
Logitech MK320 (wireless)
Mouse
Logitech MK320 (wireless)
Internet Speed
30 Mb/s : 2 Mb/s
I also have Home Basic and I have partial Aero enabled (only Aero Peek). I did the registry changes and also ran the Windows Upgrade Advisor. It passed me through the test. But I checked Aeroenabler page and it clearly says there that it doesn't add glass transparency etc. So what does it really do? Apart from Aero peek that I already have?? What other features of Aero does it offer?
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Home Basic x64
CPU
i5 M480 2.67Ghz
Memory
4GB
Graphics Card(s)
Ati Mobility Radeon HD550v
Sound Card
IDT HD Audio
Screen Resolution
1366x768
Hard Drives
500GB
Hello,

This description might help:
NOTE for Home Basic users: Aero does not mean that transparency will be enabled. Only Aero taskbar thumbnails and maybe some other features will be enabled by this utility. There is no way to enable transparency on Windows Home Basic.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Professional x64
CPU
Intel i7 2600K OC'd @ 4620 MHz
Motherboard
Asus P8Z68-V Pro
Memory
16GB GSkill Sniper 2133 Mhz (4x4GB)
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GeForce GTX 480 SuperClocked+
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
2x Acer S273HLbmii 27"
Screen Resolution
2 x 1920x1080
Hard Drives
64GB Crucial M4 SSD

Storage: Hitachi 1TB 5400RPM, Samsung 1.5TB 5400RPM
PSU
Corsair HW Series 750w (modular)
Case
Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced Blue Edition
Cooling
CM Hyper 212+ CPU cooler, 3x 230mm + 1x 140mm case fans
Keyboard
Logitech MK320 (wireless)
Mouse
Logitech MK320 (wireless)
Internet Speed
30 Mb/s : 2 Mb/s
Home Basic users have Aero Peek (partial with Live Thumbnail Preview in Taskbar). Mouse hovering over Show Desktop button is not available.
Flip 3d is missing
Aero Shake is missing
Blur effect
Transparency
and of course Aero Themes

So for the ones I have noticed on my Home Basic (without Aero Enabler) are: (features according to Wikipedia article on Windows Aero)
Aero Peek (Live Thumbnail preview)
Aero Snap
Jump List
When hovering over the taskbar button for a running program, the button glows the dominant RGB color of its icon.
Progress bars can be used in the program's taskbar buttons. If a program is executing a process which takes significant time, its taskbar button will act as a progress bar by filling up with green as the operation progresses.

And probably a few more basic ones that might be slipping out of my head right now.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Home Basic x64
CPU
i5 M480 2.67Ghz
Memory
4GB
Graphics Card(s)
Ati Mobility Radeon HD550v
Sound Card
IDT HD Audio
Screen Resolution
1366x768
Hard Drives
500GB
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