Windows 7 Aero Shake/Peek in non-WDDM-compatible video card

To force enable Aero features like Aero Shake and Aero Peek in Windows 7 (Build 7100) without needing WDDM compatible video card support, you can try some alternative methods. Although Windows Aero relies on WDDM for full functionality like Aero Glass, you might still be able to enable some basic Aero features with your current setup. Here are a few tips you can try:

1. Easy Window Dragging (Aero Shake)​

Description: Shake the window you want to focus on, minimizing all the other windows in the background.

• Method: This feature should work by default in Windows 7.

  2. Aero Peek​

  Description: Hover over the taskbar icons to view open windows or click the small rectangle on the bottom right of the taskbar to temporarily show the desktop.
• Method: This feature should also be available by default in Windows 7.

  3. Colorized Taskbar​

  Description: Customize the color of your taskbar.
• Method: You can still customize the color of the taskbar using the Control Panel.

You can access this setting by right-clicking on the desktop, selecting Personalize, then Window Color. Here you can change the color of the windows, including the taskbar.

4. Registry Edits for Aero Features​

If you want to attempt registry edits to force enable Aero features, you can try the following:

• Registry Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM
• Key: UseMachineCheck

Please note that modifying the registry can be risky and may potentially cause issues in your system. It's recommended to create a backup of your registry before making any changes. In your case, since the specified registry key might not work in Build 7100, it's possible that the operating system version limitations are preventing these changes.

Conclusion​

Given the limitations of your video card and the specific Windows 7 build, full Aero functionality might not be achievable. However, you can still enjoy some of the basic Aero features like Aero Shake and Aero Peek even without advanced video card support. If these features are essential for you, consider upgrading to a WDDM-compatible video card for the best Aero experience.