Windows Aero

Hi Dan. I'm glad things are back to normal, display-wise.

>> But I am just wondering why this is
>> happening now because before the computer crashed I obviously had the
>> correct driver and how come it has now gone?

To answer the above, when you re-installed Windows Vista, not all your
hardware drivers may have been available to Windows; they were probably
installed by the computer manufacturer, originally. If Windows doesn't have
a driver in its database, it will attempt to substitute its generic driver,
so that you have at least have a minimum of functionality. (Vista has some
3rd Party drivers on it's Install DVD, but, by no means, all). As you have
seen, the generic driver is not ideal, for certain types of hardware. If
you can, it's best to get the latest driver directly from the manufacturer
of the hardware device, especially if it's a display driver.

By sheer coincidence, it looks like VIA released a new version of your
display driver today. That may have been the one you installed, I'm not
sure. In Device Manager, could you Copy and Paste the Driver Version and
Driver Date, as you did before, and post that info? It's best to have the
latest driver.

Also, in Device Manager, could you expand "Sound, Video and Game
Controllers, and tell me the name of your Sound device? Could you Copy and
Paste the Driver Version and Driver Date for that driver?

Your Windows.old folder will probably have all your original drivers, but
since your computer malfunctioned to the point of you having to re-install
Vista, I'm trying to avoid using those drivers, since I don't know what
corrupted drivers may exist in that folder, or even if that's the case.
Like I said, if you can get the latest drivers from the hardware device's
manufacturer, that's the best way to go. Your display driver is probably
more up to date now than it was when you originally bought your computer.

In Device Manager, do you see any entries that have an Exclamation Point
icon, or something that indicates that one of your devices has a problem?
(The category will automatically be expanded, if it does).

As an organizational tip, you can delete the folder created when you
unzipped the driver's files, now that it's installed. Windows has copied
the files it needs and put them somewhere in it's system folders. I would
move the latest .zip file somewhere in a folder you can create, naming it
Display Driver Backup, say, and put it under C:\Users\(Your Name)\Downloads.

"Daniel Hirons" <DanielHirons.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B379CB6C-C3F6-48F7-A384-2E1B0B7D733D@microsoft.com...
> Thanks ever so much Dean-Dean - Windows Aero is now back on and my screen
> resolution is also back to normal. I really appreciate all of your help.
> What
> a star!
>
> To anyone else reading this post I truly recommend Dean-Dean because he
> gives great advice, instructions and he knows what he's on about!
> --
> Dan
>
>
> "Daniel Hirons" wrote:
>
>> Thanks, will do that as soon as possible. But I am just wondering why
>> this is
>> happening now because before the computer crashed I obviousily had the
>> correct driver and how come it has now gone?
>> --
>> Dan
>>
>>
>> "dean-dean" wrote:
>>
>> > Thanks Dan. Good job. It's kind of a needle in a haystack, but I
>> > believe
>> > this is the driver you need:
>> >
>> > http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=420&OSID=36&CatID=2900&SubCatID=185
>> >
>> > Click on the "Click Here to Begin Free Download" link, and save it to
>> > your
>> > Desktop. Right-click on
>> > P4M900(CE)-VN896(CE)-CN896(CE)_210001f_Vista_wIShld.zip
>> > and choose Properties. Click on the Unblock button (Apply, OK). Then
>> > right-click on the file again, and choose Extract All. When the files
>> > are
>> > extracted, right-click on Setup.exe, and choose Run as Administrator.
>> > Allow
>> > Setup to do it's thing. You will proabably have to reboot.
>> >
>> > If successful, go to Control Panel > Performance Information and Tools,
>> > and
>> > click on Update My Score.
>> >
>> > I'll get back to the subject of Windows.old, but first I want to see if
>> > this
>> > goes OK (right now it's acting as kind of a backup). Too, there's
>> > another
>> > driver you may want to update.
>> >
>> >
>> > "Daniel Hirons" <DanielHirons.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>> > message
>> > news:35C8EE05-6AF5-48F0-80C9-6C87850EAA93@microsoft.com...
>> > >I think this is it:
>> > >
>> > > PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3371&SUBSYS_0C87105B&REV_01
>> > > PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3371&SUBSYS_0C87105B
>> > > PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3371&CC_030000
>> > > PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3371&CC_0300
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > --
>> > > Dan
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > "dean-dean" wrote:
>> > >
>> > >> Thanks Dan. Your computer is using the generic Microsoft display
>> > >> driver.
>> > >> This shouldn't be! The Microsoft driver just gives you the minimum
>> > >> functionality necessary to view your screen. It's just a matter of
>> > >> finding
>> > >> what display hardware your computer has.
>> > >>
>> > >> To help me figure out your display hardware, so that I can find the
>> > >> right
>> > >> driver, do this. In the Start Menu type devmgmt.msc, and open Device
>> > >> Manager.
>> > >>
>> > >> In Device Manager, expand Display Adapters. Double-click Standard
>> > >> VGA
>> > >> Graphics Card and go to the Details
>> > >> tab of Properties. In the drop-down menu, under Property,
>> > >> choose Hardware ID. Right-click the Values shown and choose Select
>> > >> All.
>> > >> Copy the values and post it in your reply. It will look something
>> > >> like
>> > >> this
>> > >> example:
>> > >>
>> > >> PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_3150&SUBSYS_81CA104D&REV_00
>> > >> PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_3150&SUBSYS_81CA104D
>> > >> PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_3150&CC_030000
>> > >> PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_3150&CC_0300
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >> "Daniel Hirons" <DanielHirons.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>> > >> message
>> > >> news:38365191-AD3A-4506-B510-D97D794D4F87@microsoft.com...
>> > >> > Unfortunately it seems that evesham have removed the computer from
>> > >> > their
>> > >> > website now but here is one similar. It is also hard to show you
>> > >> > exactly
>> > >> > what
>> > >> > I had because I customized it quite a lot:
>> > >> > http://www.evesham.com/products/configurator/default.asp?e=E6C36403-8D...49F8-81
>> > >> >
>> > >> > The name of the device is a Standard VGA Graphics Card.
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Driver version number = 6.0.6000.16386
>> > >> > Driver date = 21/06/2006
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Hope this helps.
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Dan
>> > >> > --
>> > >> > Dan
>> > >> >
>> > >> >
>> > >> > "dean-dean" wrote:
>> > >> >
>> > >> >> No, the Window.old folder is a separate issue, and getting rid of
>> > >> >> it
>> > >> >> can
>> > >> >> be
>> > >> >> resolved also. For now, we might actually find it useful.
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >> You have a display driver problem, for one. It needs to be
>> > >> >> updated.
>> > >> >> You
>> > >> >> may need to update other drivers for other hardware devices, as
>> > >> >> well.
>> > >> >> Can
>> > >> >> you give me a link from the Evesham website that shows the exact
>> > >> >> computer
>> > >> >> you are using?
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >> Expand Display
>> > >> >> Adapters. What is the Name of the device? Double-click on the
>> > >> >> device,
>> > >> >> and
>> > >> >> click on the Driver tab. Copy and Paste the Driver Version
>> > >> >> number and
>> > >> >> the
>> > >> >> Driver Date number into your reply to this post.
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >> "Daniel Hirons" <DanielHirons.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>> > >> >> message
>> > >> >> news:C23FA9DA-D2C6-4E7E-BD4D-A9D8D5110AAC@microsoft.com...
>> > >> >> > it has an overall base score of 1 and a "Desktop Performance
>> > >> >> > and
>> > >> >> > Windows
>> > >> >> > Aero" score of 1 as well. It is an evesham computer and the
>> > >> >> > model is
>> > >> >> > a
>> > >> >> > solar
>> > >> >> > XS.
>> > >> >> >
>> > >> >> > I don't really know why this is happening because before I had
>> > >> >> > to
>> > >> >> > reload
>> > >> >> > vista onto the computer again I had Windows Aero and now after
>> > >> >> > it
>> > >> >> > sort
>> > >> >> > of
>> > >> >> > crashed and I reloaded vista it hasn't been on or available to
>> > >> >> > me.
>> > >> >> > Do
>> > >> >> > you
>> > >> >> > think it might be anything to do with the fact that it stored
>> > >> >> > everything
>> > >> >> > off
>> > >> >> > of the previous vista thing (i.e. word documents and the
>> > >> >> > settings
>> > >> >> > for
>> > >> >> > all
>> > >> >> > the
>> > >> >> > software) in a folder called windows.old and it isn't letting
>> > >> >> > me
>> > >> >> > delete
>> > >> >> > everything from the folder now because it says I don't have the
>> > >> >> > file
>> > >> >> > permissions.
>> > >> >> >
>> > >> >> > Thanks for all your help so far, I really appreciate it!
>> > >> >> > --
>> > >> >> > Dan
>> > >> >> >
>> > >> >> >
>> > >> >> > "dean-dean" wrote:
>> > >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> Yes, thanks. It tells me that Windows is not believing your
>> > >> >> >> computer
>> > >> >> >> is
>> > >> >> >> capable of running Aero. In Control Panel\Performance
>> > >> >> >> Information
>> > >> >> >> and
>> > >> >> >> Tools, what is your overall Base Score number? And,
>> > >> >> >> specifically,
>> > >> >> >> what
>> > >> >> >> is
>> > >> >> >> the number for "Desktop Performance and Windows Aero"?
>> > >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> What is your computer's Manufacture's name, and what is your
>> > >> >> >> Model
>> > >> >> >> name|Number?
>> > >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> "Daniel Hirons" <DanielHirons.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
>> > >> >> >> in
>> > >> >> >> message
>> > >> >> >> news:F8B8B365-6563-46DB-8577-D573AC835258@microsoft.com...
>> > >> >> >> > It just says ab(Default) in the name and then REG_SZ in the
>> > >> >> >> > Type.
>> > >> >> >> > Is
>> > >> >> >> > that
>> > >> >> >> > any
>> > >> >> >> > help?
>> > >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> > --
>> > >> >> >> > Dan
>> > >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> > "dean-dean" wrote:
>> > >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> >> The registry is is a (huge) database for Windows and
>> > >> >> >> >> programs.
>> > >> >> >> >> You
>> > >> >> >> >> can
>> > >> >> >> >> read
>> > >> >> >> >> it by using the Registry Editor. However if you have never
>> > >> >> >> >> used
>> > >> >> >> >> the
>> > >> >> >> >> Editor,
>> > >> >> >> >> it can be pretty daunting, initially.
>> > >> >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> >> Don't make any changes, just try to navigate to the Key
>> > >> >> >> >> (folder)
>> > >> >> >> >> I
>> > >> >> >> >> gave
>> > >> >> >> >> you,
>> > >> >> >> >> by expanding each Key one at a time, down the ladder, so to
>> > >> >> >> >> speak,
>> > >> >> >> >> starting
>> > >> >> >> >> with the "folder" HKEY_CURRENT_USER. Next expand the
>> > >> >> >> >> Software
>> > >> >> >> >> "folder",
>> > >> >> >> >> then the Microsoft "folder", and so on, and report back
>> > >> >> >> >> what you
>> > >> >> >> >> see
>> > >> >> >> >> (in
>> > >> >> >> >> the
>> > >> >> >> >> right-hand pane) for the DWM folder's values.
>> > >> >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> >> To open the Editor, press the Windows Key + R. Type
>> > >> >> >> >> regedit in
>> > >> >> >> >> the
>> > >> >> >> >> Run
>> > >> >> >> >> box,
>> > >> >> >> >> and click on OK.
>> > >> >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> >> Here's the "path" again:
>> > >> >> >> >> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM
>> > >> >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> >> When you get to the DWM Key, it will look some thing like
>> > >> >> >> >> this:
>> > >> >> >> >> http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/8510/rgeditmx0.jpg
>> > >> >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> >> Then tell me the Data values for the Name values noted in
>> > >> >> >> >> my
>> > >> >> >> >> previous
>> > >> >> >> >> post.
>> > >> >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> >> "Daniel Hirons" <DanielHirons.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com>
>> > >> >> >> >> wrote
>> > >> >> >> >> in
>> > >> >> >> >> message
>> > >> >> >> >> news:CE9EEFCA-BC81-41E5-9F6E-05826F7CF87B@microsoft.com...
>> > >> >> >> >> > It is already set to automatic. Shall I go ahead and do
>> > >> >> >> >> > the
>> > >> >> >> >> > next
>> > >> >> >> >> > part
>> > >> >> >> >> > of
>> > >> >> >> >> > what
>> > >> >> >> >> > you say then? What do you mean when you say the registry?
>> > >> >> >> >> > --
>> > >> >> >> >> > Dan
>> > >> >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> >> > "dean-dean" wrote:
>> > >> >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> >> >> In the Start Search box of the Start Menu, type
>> > >> >> >> >> >> services.msc.
>> > >> >> >> >> >> Is
>> > >> >> >> >> >> the
>> > >> >> >> >> >> Desktop Window Manager Session Manager service set to be
>> > >> >> >> >> >> Automatic
>> > >> >> >> >> >> at
>> > >> >> >> >> >> startup? If it's not, set it that way, and then restart
>> > >> >> >> >> >> your
>> > >> >> >> >> >> computer.
>> > >> >> >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> >> >> If Aero still doesn't work, go to this key in the
>> > >> >> >> >> >> registry:
>> > >> >> >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> >> >> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM
>> > >> >> >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> >> >> In the right-hand pane, is there a value called
>> > >> >> >> >> >> "Composition"
>> > >> >> >> >> >> (without
>> > >> >> >> >> >> quotes) under the Name column? Note this NOT the value
>> > >> >> >> >> >> name
>> > >> >> >> >> >> "CompositionPolicy" (without quotes). If so, what is
>> > >> >> >> >> >> it's
>> > >> >> >> >> >> value
>> > >> >> >> >> >> for
>> > >> >> >> >> >> "Composition" under the Data column? What is the value
>> > >> >> >> >> >> Data
>> > >> >> >> >> >> for
>> > >> >> >> >> >> "CompositionPolicy"?
>> > >> >> >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> >> >> "Daniel Hirons" <DanielHirons.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com>
>> > >> >> >> >> >> wrote
>> > >> >> >> >> >> in
>> > >> >> >> >> >> message
>> > >> >> >> >> >> news:579173FB-1BC1-4137-9698-D7B361EB534D@microsoft.com...
>> > >> >> >> >> >> > I've done that but nothing has changed....
>> > >> >> >> >> >> > --
>> > >> >> >> >> >> > Dan
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> >> >> > "dean-dean" wrote:
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> Well, choose Windows Vista, and then go to Control
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> Panel
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> (Classic
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> View)
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> Performance Information and Tools, and click on
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> "Update My
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> Score".
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> (It's
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> on
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> the right-hand side of the page, beneath the big blue
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> "Base
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> Score" #.# picture).
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> "Daniel Hirons"
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> <DanielHirons.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com>
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> wrote
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> in
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> message
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> news:3497DE69-CCC9-46FC-8E3D-983622D436B9@microsoft.com...
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> > windows vista is already displayed there
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> > --
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> > Dan
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> > "dean-dean" wrote:
>> > >> >> >> >> >> >> >