Aero themes were working perfectly until my boyfriend uninstalled jZip from the computer (since it kept trying to install a toolbar). When he restarted the computer, the computer had reverted to the classic windows theme and we were unable to switch it back. Itunes also refused to open until I removed a blank disc from the disc drive, not sure if that's related or just another crazy thing my computer did today. When I tried to switch back to an aero theme, the icons are greyed out in the Personalization menu. I went online to search for fixes, here's what I've tried: I tried restarting the computer. I ran the aero themes troubleshooter. It found no issues. I went into the Services menu and made sure that the System Event Notification Service was started and automatic. It is. I ran the Window Experience Index. It rated a 6.3 for Graphics (desktop performance for Windows Aero). Lowest score in any area was 5.9 (in Primary hard disk, disk data transfer rate). I ran the system file checker (sfc /scannow) and no issues were found. I attempted to force start Aero using the following notepad document turned .reg file: Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM] “UseMachineCheck”=dword:00000000 “Blur”=dword:00000000 “Animations”=dword:00000000 I created another user on the computer and Aero works just fine if I switch into the other user. This shows me that my computer can handle aero themes but something in my main user/administrator account is messed up. I ran the Microsoft Fix It Online program and it gave me the following error: Your video card doesn't support DirectX 9.0 or higher, Pixel Shader Model 2.0 or higher, or doesn't have sufficient memory or memory bandwidth required to display Aero effects such<br> as transparency. This seems odd, since the other test user account can display Aero just fine and so was my main user account until very recently. About my system: I am running Windows 7 Home Premium with Service Pack 1 on an HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook PC.

Have you tried to this if not try this:- Step 1:-Go to Manage and then go to 'services' from services and Applications Step 2:- Search for ' Themes' service and restart it or if stopped start it by right clicking on to it Step 3:-search for desktop windows ' Desktop Window Manager session manager ' service start it and go to properties and set it's start up type to Automatically. Hope this will solve your issue.........

OMG This worked perfectly with me, Thank you so much!!!

It's not. I followed the steps you outlined and it had no effect. Aero effects fails in whichever user account I log into first. Then if I switch to any other user it's functional. for example: Boot up and log in to "User A", aero fails. Switch to "User B," aero works. Switch to "User C," aero works. Restart and log in to "User B," aero fails. Switch to "User A," aero works. Switch to "User C," aero works. Restart and log in to "User C," aero fails Switch to "User B," aero works. Switch to "User A," aero works.

I've had the same problem on my Dell Vostro... After turning my laptop on (and waiting an unusually long boot-up time), I logged on and the Windows Classic Theme was applied, instead of my usual Windows Aero Theme... I get the same error message saying "Failed to connect to a Windows Service". The Aero themes under Personalization are greyed out and cannot be selected or applied... Restarting my laptop didnt help.. Theme stayed the same The only way I've learned to overcome this is by holding down the power button and forcing a full shut down... Then upon restart, I "Start Windows Normally" and the issue is resolved Would still like to know whats causing this issue though... Is it an issue with Aero, or something else?

Hi RachaelWD, · Do you receive any error message or error code? Follow the suggestions listed below for a possible fix: Method 1: I would suggest you to perform clean boot and check if any third party applications are causing the issue. Place the computer in a clean boot state and then check if it helps. You can start Windows by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This kind of startup is known as a "clean boot." A clean boot helps eliminate software conflicts. How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135 Note: After troubleshooting, make sure to set the computer to start as usual as mentioned in Step 7 from the KB article mentioned above. Method 2: There might be an issue with the drivers related to the display adapter on the computer; I suggest that you update the drivers and check. a. Click on Start . b. Type in Device manager in the Start Search. c. Expand the Display Adapters in the Device Manager window. d. Right click on the device. e. Click Properties . f. Click on Driver tab. g. Click on Update drivers . h. Click OK . Now restart the computer and check. Refer the link to update the drivers from Windows Update: Update a driver for hardware that isn't working properly http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Update-a-driver-for-hardware-that-isnt-working-properly You may also follow the steps in the article for more help: Guided Help: Troubleshoot Aero problems in Windows 7 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976170 Let me know if this worked.

Windows 7 Aero is not working after restart (option greyed out) - tried nearly everything!

Anonymous

Aero themes were working perfectly until my boyfriend uninstalled jZip from the computer (since it kept trying to install a toolbar). When he restarted the computer, the computer had reverted to the classic windows theme and we were unable to switch it back. Itunes also refused to open until I removed a blank disc from the disc drive, not sure if that's related or just another crazy thing my computer did today. When I tried to switch back to an aero theme, the icons are greyed out in the Personalization menu. I went online to search for fixes, here's what I've tried:

I tried restarting the computer.
I ran the aero themes troubleshooter. It found no issues.
I went into the Services menu and made sure that the System Event Notification Service was started and automatic. It is.
I ran the Window Experience Index. It rated a 6.3 for Graphics (desktop performance for Windows Aero). Lowest score in any area was 5.9 (in Primary hard disk, disk data transfer rate).
I ran the system file checker (sfc /scannow) and no issues were found.
I attempted to force start Aero using the following notepad document turned .reg file:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM]

“UseMachineCheck”=dword:00000000

“Blur”=dword:00000000

“Animations”=dword:00000000

I created another user on the computer and Aero works just fine if I switch into the other user. This shows me that my computer can handle aero themes but something in my main user/administrator account is messed up.
I ran the Microsoft Fix It Online program and it gave me the following error:

Your video card doesn't support DirectX 9.0 or higher, Pixel Shader Model 2.0 or higher, or doesn't have sufficient memory or memory bandwidth required to display Aero effects such<br> as transparency.

This seems odd, since the other test user account can display Aero just fine and so was my main user account until very recently.

About my system:

I am running Windows 7 Home Premium with Service Pack 1 on an HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook PC.

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous

2014-07-03T06:51:11+00:00

Have you tried to this if not try this:-

Step 1:-Go to Manage and then go to 'services' from services and Applications

Step 2:- Search for 'Themes' service and restart it or if stopped start it by right clicking on to it

Step 3:-search for desktop windows 'Desktop Window Manager session manager' service start it and go to properties and set it's start up type to Automatically.

Hope this will solve your issue.........
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Anonymous

2015-07-31T07:43:24+00:00

OMG This worked perfectly with me, Thank you so much!!!
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Anonymous

2012-10-06T22:13:48+00:00

It's not. I followed the steps you outlined and it had no effect. Aero effects fails in whichever user account I log into first. Then if I switch to any other user it's functional.

for example:

Boot up and log in to "User A", aero fails.

Switch to "User B," aero works.

Switch to "User C," aero works.

Restart and log in to "User B," aero fails.

Switch to "User A," aero works.

Switch to "User C," aero works.

Restart and log in to "User C," aero fails

Switch to "User B," aero works.

Switch to "User A," aero works.
Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.

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Anonymous

2012-10-01T15:11:36+00:00

I've had the same problem on my Dell Vostro... After turning my laptop on (and waiting an unusually long boot-up time), I logged on and the Windows Classic Theme was applied, instead of my usual Windows Aero Theme... I get the same error message saying "Failed to connect to a Windows Service". The Aero themes under Personalization are greyed out and cannot be selected or applied...

Restarting my laptop didnt help.. Theme stayed the same

The only way I've learned to overcome this is by holding down the power button and forcing a full shut down... Then upon restart, I "Start Windows Normally" and the issue is resolved

Would still like to know whats causing this issue though... Is it an issue with Aero, or something else?
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1 person found this answer helpful.

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Anonymous

2012-09-11T03:58:14+00:00

Hi RachaelWD,

·         Do you receive any error message or error code?

Follow the suggestions listed below for a possible fix:

Method 1: I would suggest you to perform clean boot and check if any third party applications are causing the issue.

Place the computer in a clean boot state and then check if it helps. You can start Windows by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This kind of startup is known as a "clean boot." A clean boot helps eliminate software conflicts.

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Note: After troubleshooting, make sure to set the computer to start as usual as mentioned in Step 7 from the KB article mentioned above.

Method 2: There might be an issue with the drivers related to the display adapter on the computer; I suggest that you update the drivers and check.

a.       Click on Start.

b.      Type in Device manager in the Start Search.

c.       Expand the Display Adapters in the Device Manager window.

d.      Right click on the device.

e.      Click Properties.

f.        Click on Driver tab.

g.       Click on Update drivers.

h.      Click OK.

Now restart the computer and check.

Refer the link to update the drivers from Windows Update:

Update a driver for hardware that isn't working properly

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Update-a-driver-for-hardware-that-isnt-working-properly

You may also follow the steps in the article for more help:

Guided Help: Troubleshoot Aero problems in Windows 7

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976170

Let me know if this worked.
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1 person found this answer helpful.

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Windows 7 Aero is not working after restart (option greyed out) - tried nearly everything!

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