Windows 7 Window Animations Disabled automatically.

Question

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to ask wether there is some sort of setting that automatically disables windows animations in Windows 7. I`ve tried setting the flag from the interface under advanced in My Computer, looked for the registry entry and set it to 1, or even set the visuals to best appearance. No matter what I try it gets disabled and I want it to stay on.

I was thinking maybe there is a performance evaluator in the background which disables it because Windows Aero Experience is too low. But this is not the case as I have a 5.9 expeience index with Desktop Graphics.

Also I checked the group policy editor to see if there is an entry that sets the aero animations off and there was one under User Configuration-> Administrative Templates->Windows Components->Desktop Window Manager and the entry`s name is Do not allow window animations which I set to disabled in order for window animations to be left on.

Still when I restart the computer the window animations are gone, and the setting must be rechecked in order for them to work.

Thanks for the hep anyone,

Razvan

Answer 1

Hi all

I have the very same problem until I read a post in sevenforum 

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/118847-animation-when-minimizing-maximizing-windows.html

Once I disabled the Citrix entries in msconfig, the animation stayed on after system reboot.

However, if you don't have Citrix installed.  You might want to go through the clean boot process to isolate the problem program (rather than service).

Best regards

WT

Answer 2

Hi Meghmala,

I don`t do anything special.

Ive installed windows again on my laptop which has a GeForce325M video card, with the latest drivers from nvidia. No theme changes occured nothing. I start my windows session, I notice that window animations arent on, I turn them on from the My Computer Advanced options (the way to turn window animations on can be found on a lot of sites, I dont have to replicate it here since it is already on) and then I restart my computer. After restarting my computer the issue replicates, the window animations are on in the Visual effects settings but they do not work. I have to uncheck the box, check it back, press ok, and then theyre back on. Its not theyre not working, its just that they dont survive a restart. 

I read somewhere that this may be caused by some other application that uses some old gui libraries. If this is true, its an aero bug. Aero settings should not be affected by other gui apps... as a programmer I find this weird. Also, lets say they`re affected, the side effects of some app running should last only in this window session, why do the window animations stay affected after restart?

My current configuration is: 

Laptop: Asus N61Jv: intel Core i5-430M processor, nvidia 325M graphics card, 4GB of ram

Software: Windows 7 64bit, Asus software for this laptop version, including some fancy display utilities, Steam Application for games

I`ve also updated DirectX Runtime to the latest version

Thank you,

Razvan

Answer 3

I am seeing this exact problem as RazvanCio describes it. Not much information to be found anywhere else on the web - I imagine many people don't actually notice it. I don't actually know when I first noticed it.

This happens both on my desktop (Windows Vista Business, ATI Radeon HD 4850 with latest drivers) and also my laptop (Windows 7 Professional, Lenovo T410 with Intel integrated and Nvidia discrete graphics). Given that the exact same issue appears across Windows versions and graphics card manufacturers, I rather doubt it is anything platform-specific. It is either a Windows bug, or another piece of software affecting things (which is essentially still a Windows bug).

In both cases, window animations are ticked on, but need to be unticked and reticked to take effect. This only lasts until the next reboot.

Answer 4

Hello,

---

Desktop Window Manager Session****Manger is a service used for desktop appearances. You may check if the service is running correctly and is set to  automatic, if not you can set it to automatic and start the service then check if the issue resolves-

a.     Go to  Start and click on Control Panel

b.     Then All Control Panel Items and then Administrative Tools.

c.      Here click on  Services and double click the service Desktop Window Manager Session****Manger.

d.     Set the startup type of the service to  Automatic.

e.     Now click  Start to initiate the service. Note down the error message if any.

**f.**Click Okand check if the aero feature works properly.

You can also temporarily disable security software and check.

Try uninstalling any third part themes if installed and check.

Hope this helps.

Thanks,

Meghmala – Microsoft Support

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Answer 5

That service is already running, and already set to Automatic start.

I notice in the Event Viewer that the service stops and starts again whenever I play a game, but these are just Information notifications, not Warnings or Errors. Also, stopping and starting the service again does not change the window animation problem at all.

No third party themes are installed, and no security software is installed either (on my Vista desktop).