Aero Problem

As default in power saver mode, Aero effects should turn off when unplugged. Some where along the lines of my factory defaults and now it got messed up even after restoring all power plans to default. I have attached 2 screen shots to give a better idea of what I mean by enable/disable when you are un/plugged.

Also originally all aero effects would be on when unplugged. Now I have fixed it where the Aero glass is off but the Thumbnail Preview is still on unplugged.

For interest sake to have the 1st part of my problem fixed (aero glass off when unplugged) you can do these steps:
- unplug device in power saver
- right click desktop go to personalization
- click window color and uncheck enable transparency
- save/close and plug your machine in
- go back to window color and check enable transparency again
- save/close and now youll notice the aero glass will be disabled when unplugged.

but I still cant fix it back where the taskbar thumbnail preview is off and it is shown as a list instead of a small window when unplugged. I know how to perma disable it in advanced system settings, but I dont see why it cant be normal and be automatic like before.

 

Right Click on Taskbar go to properties and uncheck the box that says Aero Peak, i had the opposite problem as you last night and couldnt enable preview.

 

aero isnt off in the second picture, its just a different color which saves a little power. if you dont want aero then just use the basic theme or install a custom one.

 

Aero Peak enables/disables mouse over show desktop ability. Thats not nothing to do with my problem.

And no its not a different colour. Aero transparency is disabled and I am trying to have it so it automatically disables that and taskbar previews as described and shown in the screen shots.

 

well aero is still enabled if you can see dwm.exe in task manager.
and automatically im not sure if you can actually do that without some mods or tweaking, but if i were you i would just use a modified windows 7 basic theme when on battery

 

you can never disable aero completely thats been long established in the XP vs Windows 7 battery life tests. Thats why I have said countless times and tried to be clear in saying 'aero glass' which is the transparency effect in all windows/the taskbar, AS WELL AS the taskbar previews, both of these effects take up unnecessary gui resources but I want them when I am plugged in (which is why I cant just use Basic). Yes this may have little to some impact on battery but I still dont understand how this changed on me as when I first received the notebook this was fine. As well you obviously havent read my post fully as I can tell from the suggestions you are providing, I know you are trying to help me but I would prefer no response if you have no real knowledge on this thanks.

 

Aero enabling/disabling has been broken on mine too. Sometimes it works, other times it gets stuck off after plugging back in. Haven't really bothered to track down the issue yet, but I go on and off the charger probably 12 - 20 times a day. I'll poke it a bit and let you know if I figure it out.

EDIT: Balls. It's working now.

 

you just have to close dwm.exe to turn off aero. but maybe a windows update may have changed it? but the only other thing i can think of is go to advanced system setting and disable visual effects. i have the same problem on mine too, but it really isnt gonna effect battery life. im pretty sure that switching from ac power to battery isnt gonna disable these things for you.

just found a program that can help, its called vista battery saver. it also works in windows 7

http://vistabattery.codeplex.com/

 

Thank you at least. That was an answer I was looking for. At least I know its a common issue...

 

Might give some of these suggestions a try. Again, mine's working right now, but it gets stuck once or twice a day and I haven't really bothered to look into it yet.

http://superuser.com/questions/63574/windows-7-aero-theme-when-on-battery

 

just fixed it on mine....

You need to change the visual settings in Windows to "Let Windows choose what's best for my computer".

Start -> Right Click Computer -> Properties -> Advanced System Settings -> Advanced (tab) -> Performance: Settings -> Check "Let Windows choose what's best for my computer"

REBOOT PC

but if you wanna be a jerk thats fine lol, im just trying to help.

 

Mine has always been set to "Let Windows choose what best for my computer". Nevertheless it still stops function properly on its own from time to time. That's not the fix to the problem we're talking about.

 

read lower.

 

mine does the same thing sometimes, and thats how i just fixed it a few minutes ago, just be unplugged and on power saver and chose the option "Let Windows choose what best for my computer". and do a reboot after that. thats how i fixed this on mine, but i just noticed it doesnt always work
uumm? i did read your first post lol.
and duhh, i know what your saying, i posted a link to a program that you could try, im saying I, ME, fixed this with what i typed above.....

 

K well I've had that setting by default. As I said before. I havent changed any settings. This is a default configuration setting.

 

oh alright, iv NEVER used ts before and iv had the same issue.. but i just tested vista battery saver in the link i provided and it does exactly what you want to do. just give it a try, on battery it disables aero, when plugged in it re enables it.
other then that i cant seem to find anything else to fix this

 

Anyway thanks ajslay for giving a lot of troubleshooting but it looks like I have same problem as slicklie. Actually Im not going to call it a problem anymore because like slickie says it fixes itself after awhile. Slickie mentioned he unpluggs and pluggs in a lot (about 20 times a day) I do about the same. This is definatly due to the constant changing and im guessing sometimes it hangs up. Because now Its normal but im sure after a little bit it will come back. Hopefully a windows update can fix this but thats all I can hope for I guess. THANKS SO MUCH GUYS FOR TRYING.

 

your welcome man, iv been using the vista battery saver and its better then the built in power plan stuff in windows 7. when plugged in you have aero, and when you unplug the power it automaticly turns aero off and switches to the basic windows 7 theme but keeps everything but aero, plug power back in and it re enables aero and all of its features. i actualy found something quite useful that i like =p

 

How is what you've described any different than what Windows 7 does on its own?

 

ok well on my m11x aero doesnt turn off when unplugged even on battery save mode, it still acts as if its in high performance when its not, so this program called vista battery saver does the job instead couse windows cant seem to do it on its own.

 

the default power saver profile already does that... (unless if you have the alienware power contoller installed, in which case, it's a mess).

 

not on mine, in power save mode it acts like its still on high performance. no idea why, but this little program fixes it for me.

 

See people don't understand ajslay. They keep saying "this goes on by default". Why can't they listen to what we are saying. IT DOESN'T FOR US. Until we use the program.