basic theme

About this tag
The Windows 7 Basic theme is a non-Aero visual style that disables desktop composition and GPU acceleration, shifting rendering load to the CPU. Users report various issues when using this theme, including driver conflicts with older graphics cards like the HIS 4650 AGP, where switching to Basic theme may force 16-bit color and cause display corruption. Some applications, such as those using SetLayeredWindowAttribute for fading effects, fail under the Basic theme with error code 317. Others experience slower system performance or are unable to select Aero themes due to blocked settings. The Basic theme also affects the Start button appearance, replacing the orb with a classic 'Start' label that cannot be easily renamed via Resource Hacker. System Restore may be used to recover the Basic theme when access is denied.
  1. E

    Windows 7 HIS 4650 W7 Driver Issue

    So I have reinstalled windows 7 for the third time this year and have always had problems with the HIS 4650 agp 1GB. I have had this working many times before but I cannot remember how I eventually got it to work and was too excited to do so. I have drivers installed, but when I switch to aero...
    • EvanNolan9
    • Thread
    • 32-bit aero theme agp basic theme blu-ray playback catalyst control center computing ddr memory display issues driver issues graphics card hi-def video his 4650 motherboard pci slot pentium tech support windows 7
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Graphics and Gaming

  2. Windows 7 Question about Windows 7 Aero :)

    Someone please explain me one thing about aero feature. If I enable windows 7 aero theme, does it mean that its going to use my gpu to do certain tasks, it should be like an gpu acceleration or am I wrong? Now, if I would put my theme as windows 7 basic then there would be no gpu acceleration...
    • Achaa
    • Thread
    • acceleration aero basic theme cpu gpu graphics performance themes user experience windows 7
    • Replies: 6
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  3. S

    Windows 7 Desktop Windows Management

    I have a Windows 7 Home Premium Laptop that is experiencing the DMW.exe error message. I click okay and the message still appears. Basically I have disabled the service and the message still comes up. I have tried to upgrade the display drivers and they are current and up to date.....Here is...
    • sparker781
    • Thread
    • aero appcrash basic theme dwm.exe error exception fault module graphics graphics driver laptop os version performance reinstall services troubleshooting upgrade user support windows 7
    • Replies: 2
    • Forum: Windows Graphics and Gaming
  4. A

    Windows 7 SetLayeredWindowAttribute() fails when theme is changed from Aero theme to basic theme

    Hello, I am using Windows 7 Enterprise OS (32 bit). I have an mfc application which uses SetLayeredWindowAttribute() api to display fading effect for a window. The window to be displayed is popup window created with attributes WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW | WS_EX_LAYERED and parent NULL. The problem is...
    • amr123
    • Thread
    • aero theme application error basic theme error fading mfc application popup restart setlayeredwindowattribute theme change user interface windows 7 windows api windows attributes ws_ex_layered ws_ex_toolwindow
    • Replies: 5
    • Forum: Windows Graphics and Gaming
  5. D

    Windows 7 System Restore programs missing

    Hello. I recently used System Restore to, well, restore the Windows 7 Basic theme to my computer (text colour was black on black windows) because when I went to change it, I got the error message "Theme could not be applied. Access is denied." All worked out well, except that my Microsoft Works...
    • Dragoness243
    • Thread
    • access denied acer basic theme file types microsoft works missing programs software issues system restore theme issues windows 7
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Software
  6. W

    Windows 7 Problems with themes

    Hey, Im having a problem with my theme settings, all of the aero temes seem to be blocked and i can only select themes from the basic and high contrast secetion (excluding the windows 7 basic). I can't find any problems any where, everything is up to date and there are no viruses etc. I am...
    • whathits
    • Thread
    • 32-bit acer aero basic theme contrast laptop professional theme settings themes windows 7
    • Replies: 3
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  7. Q

    Windows 7 Modify Start Button

    With a non-aero Basic Theme, the start button looks like the classic 'Start' button. How do you rename the text on the start button? I am using the basic theme and would used to be able to edit explorer.exe and rename the 'Start' letters in the old style start button. I reviewed resource hacker...
    • qdeath
    • Thread
    • aero basic theme classic style customization editing explorer file location modification resource hacker start button user interface windows 7
    • Replies: 9
    • Forum: Desktop Customization

  8. Windows 7 Problem with Windows 7 Basic Theme?

    Hello..!!! I have notice that Windows 7 Basic theme get down my computer.. What i mean? I mean that when i choose Windows 7 Basic theme, my computer become slower and have slower respond.. What can i do?? Please help because i like very much basic theme.. Thank you in advanced.. :cool: Sorry...
    • JohnTheGreek
    • Thread
    • basic theme customization feedback performance slow response themes troubleshooting user experience windows 7
    • Replies: 5
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  9. L

    Windows 7 Taskbar Thumbnail Preview crashes Explorer.exe

    Hello, I currently run the RTM 7600 Build and had come across a very strange problem. Whenever I hover my mouse over the "Superbar" to preview the window via "thumbnail preview" (I believe that is AERO function), I get the "Explorer.exe has stopped working" and then it restarts itself...
    • Luke14789
    • Thread
    • aero basic theme crash explorer preview repair restart rtm 7600 taskbar thumbnails windows 7
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  10. M

    Windows 7 No video player...help needed...

    I just installed windows 7 and everything installed perfectly and the drivers work well, i installed vlc player and im playing an avi file using vlc player and the windows them goes to windows 7 basic color scheme and there will be just sound, no video..its just a black screen and i even used...
    • masantula
    • Thread
    • avi files basic theme color scheme drivers troubleshooting video issues video playback vlc windows 7 wmp
    • Replies: 8
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  11. M

    Windows 7 Windows 7 problem - Aero not working - Bored Basic style - PLEASE HELP ME!!!!

    Hi there So I have Windows 7 in my computer, and I can't just use the Aero features (including the theme), because it says that my video card driver is not WDDM compatible. My Video card driver is: Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family Graphics memory: 128MB Should I install...
    • mileycyruslove
    • Thread
    • aero basic theme compatibility driver issues graphics graphics card intel themes wddm windows 7
    • Replies: 6
    • Forum: Windows Hardware

  12. Windows 7 Magnifier Docked Mode Causes Desktop Process Issues and Theme Reversion to Basic

    So im using build 7229. But when i use magnifer its good. But when i switch to docked mode where it shows a bar at the top of the screen my desktop process thing stops and the theme goes to basic from aero. And i have to reenable it to get aero back. Why. This happened in 7100 and other builds...
  13. F

    Windows 7 Keep switching to Windows 7 basic theme

    I am running 4 gig of ram and a duel core 4 gig processor and it keeps telling me that I am running low on memory, can any one tell me what is going on, thanks.
  14. B

    Windows 7 Remote Desktop--Aero theme

    I have a laptop running Windows 7 (Ultimate) RC 7100 with Remote Desktop enabled (allow connections) and it is using a Windows Aero theme. I have a second (brand new HP) laptop running Vista SP1 that I want to connect via Remote Desktop Connection to my Windows 7 laptop. It works fine, except I...
    • Bob Campbell
    • Thread
    • aero theme basic theme connection hp laptop mstsc.exe remote desktop ultimate windows 2008 windows 7 windows vista
    • Replies: 2
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  15. P

    Windows 7 Aero disabling itself after being idle

    After being away from my computer for what seems like 10 minutes or so Aero switches to the basic theme. If i click my mouse it will turn back on automatically. I have all the sleep settings for monitor/harddrive/power turned off in control panel. Any ideas? Also using latest nvidia drivers 185.85
  16. V

    Windows 7 MSN Visual Bug

    Hm I don't remember if I disabled the Send Feedback/disabled shortcuts or it was removed from the RC, but I'll post it here. I'm using Windows 7 Basic theme on a laptop with bad ATI support so with Aero I get crashes when I go full screen in video/flash, but with the Basic theme enabled, if I...
    • vahnx
    • Thread
    • aero ati basic theme crash flash player laptop issues minimizing effects msn software bugs system tray taskbar video playback visual glitch windows 7 windows live messenger
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  17. G

    Windows 7 Windows 7 can only show basic theme (non aero)

    Hi all, I have installed Windows 7 but it has no aero theme like in the attached picture although it can in another laptop. I use Lenovo Think Pad Laptop with: - 2GB Ram - 2.0 MHz Processor - 512 MB VGA (NDIVIA CARD) Can you help me??? Thanks a lots.
    • gianghd.vt
    • Thread
    • aero basic theme graphics card lenovo nvidia performance ram thinkpad troubleshooting windows 7
    • Replies: 2
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  18. L

    Windows 7 how to change windows border color when im using windows 7 basic

    im using windows 7 basic cuz my graphic card sux. but i assume at least i can change the color of the window border instead of sticking with the defult blue right? how can i do so? thanks
    • lzzhang10
    • Thread
    • aero basic theme border color color settings customization display settings graphics user interface windows 7 windows themes
    • Replies: 3
    • Forum: Desktop Customization
  19. E

    Windows 7 Windows 7 and the aero theme

    Great to be a new member here! I avoided Vista at all costs and feel a pleasant warm feeling when booting XP. But this beta is great and installs everything I through at it so far and looks good and runs fast. I haven't installed the aero theme, but the Windows theme that came with it seems...
    • eye_share
    • Thread
    • aero theme basic theme customization desktop dialog box help installation new member personalization settings speed themes user experience windows 7 windows transparency windows vista
    • Replies: 4
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support