Alienware M15x Aero Theme Not Working.

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System Information
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Time of this report: 1/8/2011, 03:46:24
Machine name: CLICKYS-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.100618-1621)
Language: Greek (Regional Setting: Greek)
System Manufacturer: Alienware
System Model: M15x
BIOS: Ver A06 1.00
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU Q 720 @ 1.60GHz (8 CPUs), ~1.6GHz
Memory: 6144MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 6132MB RAM
Page File: 2245MB used, 10017MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 120 DPI (125 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 32bit Unicode

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Display Devices
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Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce GTX 260M
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0618&SUBSYS_02A21028&REV_A2
Display Memory: 3811 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1001 MB
Shared Memory: 2810 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (59Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: unknown
Monitor Id: LGD0215
Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (59.934Hz)
Output Type: Internal
Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 8.17.0012.6099 (English)
Driver Version: 8.17.12.6099

The problem is that when iam right clicking desktop and trying to set an aero theme , it doesnt let me do that because the icons are grey and i cant select them . My laptop is brand new i bought it before 2 months or so ... I dont know what is the problem i recently updated my graphic card too and i cant think what it might be the problem ? It should be hardware or something ? please someone who knows anything let me know so i can bring back my laptop to the shop i bought to get fix. ..

ps : iv tried some things but is still not working , i went though aero fixes , search for any problem but its saying that :

Here what i get when iam going Personalize :

 

Go to Help and Support on the Start menu. Then enter "Aero troubleshooter" in the search box. Click on the selection "Open the Aero troubleshooter," then click to open AT and follow the instructions. It will fix whatever's wrong or report why it can't.

 

i also recommend updating your bios to A08 while your at it.

 

iam typing Aero troubleshooter on start and search box , but there is nothing to find there..

 

Updating now lets see,

 

Be sure you're entering the aero troubleshooter query in the Help and Support search box, not the Windows search box located on the Start Menu. Should get this:

​

 

Here what i got :

 

Click on No. 1. Wonder why your results are so much more limited?

 

There is no error, here :




*i dont know why my results are so limited :SS:S

 

LOL. Well, according to Windows, you don't have a problem. I've exhausted my resources for the moment. If I can find anything further, I'll let you know. Sorry.

 

Go into device manager.. chances are your video drivers aren't functioning. Even more likely Windows Update probably tried to install a newer video driver and it failed.

Start > Right Click "Computer" > Properties > Device Manager

See if anything has a yellow triangle over it or a red 'x'.

If your video drivers aren't working, get the latest from Alienware's website, assuming they are still putting new drivers out for your card.

 

everything are fine, and plus i updated my graphic card today with the newest version from nvidia website.

 

Some additional areas to check:

1. Be sure that the current theme supports transparency. Right click on desktop, click on Personalize, click on Windows Color at the bottom. The box by Enable transparency should be checked.

2. Desktop Window Manager must be enabled to display aero effects.

3. Color depth must be set to 32 bits to render aero effects.

4. Power setting must be at Balanced or High Performance. On Power Saver or on battery, Aero is disabled to save power.

5. Check Services to assure that Theme Service is running.

6. Check Services to assure that Desktop Window Manager Service is running.

 

1. I updated my BIOS but still aero themes not working.

Look what iam getting when i click windows color:

 

Just select the Arctic Theme and see if that enables it. Then change the wallpaper and colors to suit and save it as your current theme. We're going to feel really stupid if the problem the whole time was that a basic (non-Aero) theme was active.

 

The newest drivers on Nvidias website are "verde" reference drivers that may not work properly with your card. Did you check device manager?

Might try getting the latest from Alienware.

 

I cant select the theme, i cant click on it its grey i cant do anything.

Iv went to dell website i fill in my Service Tag, and iam downloading now the drivers from there. Should i remove the current drivers ? From Device manager?

 

Yea, its never a bad idea to uninstall old drivers from Control Panel (Nuke everything that says Nvidia - Phsyx, Video Drivers, HD Audio Driver) and restart your computer before installing new drivers.

 

Check the other items mentioned earlier.

One other thing to check -- Go to Control Panel|System & Security|System|Check Windows Experience Index and then click on Advanced Tools over in the left margin. Select "Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows" and then be sure that the popup menu is set to either Let Windows choose what's best, etc or Adjust for best appearance. If set to Adjust for best performance, Aero is disabled.

 

Done it , still nothing :S

 

It was on Custom , then i choose let windows choose whats the best... but still nothing ..

At the top of the window there were some reports about perfomance here :

 

You think it might be a win7 prob ? or installation prob ?

 

Possibly. Some of those Windows' notices suggest some program(s) is running in the background, consuming lots of resources and interfering with normal Windows' functions, including Aero. Check Task Manager to see what might be running (Apps tab) and hogging either processor cycles or memory (Processes tab). A free utility like What's Running is also useful for this purpose.

Welcome to WhatsRunning.net! The home of What's Running, your system information utility!

 

what i should look for in the Whatsrunning prog ?

 

Click on the Processes tab. First, check the CPU column to see whether some process/program is using large amounts of CPU cycles. In the normal course, CPU usage is typically 1-2% overall. If usage is higher, click on the process and the side panel will show memory usage. If something odd is present or some process is using unexpected levels of resources, right click on it and you can shut it down or go online to get an explanation of what it is or does.

 

I think everything its fine check that out :

 

Nothing jumps out except that there are a lot of processes running -- 98 vs. 57 on my M15x, but I probably overdo the effort to keep the OS clean and lean.

Clickys, I don't know. I'm out of theories. Run a complete virus scan. If that comes back clean, I'd consider a clean installation of Win 7.

 

yup iam thinking to format my pc and install a fresh installation new partitions etc...

 

if i backup and then when i installed a fresh installation i will have problem when i will restore the backup ?

 

Check whether you are on stealth mode or not. In my experience, that thing aero not working happens when windows detect that your computer does not have the sufficient power to support it.
Something is holding your graphics performance down. Good Luck ^^

Oh, and try reverting back to the old drivers(older version) if it works again. I read somewhere that nvidia latest driver do this too.

Or check this site to c if u can enable it via registry : http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/01/13/hack-to-force-enable-aero-in-windows-7/