COMPUTER EASE

Disable Aero for specific applications in Vista/Win 7

ericspeed — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 03:11:16 +0000

If you don’t want to turn off Aero completely but feel you need as much available physical memory (RAM) as possible when you run certain applications here’s a way to disable Aero when you use a particular app.

Simply right-click on the applications short cut, or on the chosen application from the programs list and select “Properties”. For demonstrative purposes I’m applying this to GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program).

After clicking on “Properties” a new window will appear:Click on the “Compatibility” tab and check to box labeled “disable desktop composition”. Click on the “Apply” button, then the “OK” button.

Now when you run that application Aero will be turned off. When you close the app. Aero will resume.

Pretty simple, huh?

How to disable Aero in Vista

ericspeed — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 11:38:50 +0000

Windows Aero is a Graphical User Interface and the default theme in most versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7. Windows Aero is a major change from the previous theme used by Windows XP (Luna) and it includes new translucency, live thumbnails, live icons and animations meant to improve overall usability and aesthetics.

But those advancements in “usability and aesthetics” can really bring a computer to it’s knees, especially one with minimal RAM (1GB or less). Even those using computers with 2GB or more may wish to turn off all the “unnecessary bling”, well here’s how.

Simply right-click anywhere on the desktop and select “properties” from the pop-up menu.

When you click on “properties” a new window will appear.

Click on “Window Color and Appearance” link at the top (the highlighted one). This area can also be reached via the Control Panel (it is found within the “Appearance and Personalization” section).

Clicking that link will open another window (we’re only part way down the rabbit hole).

Within this window click on “Open classic appearance properties…” link (the highlighted one) to open yet another window.

Within this final window select “Windows Vista Basic” as shown in the image above and click on the “Apply” button. Then click on the “OK” button and Wha la! Aero is now turned off.

Here is a shot of the Task Manager when Aero was active.

You can see that 644Mb of physical memory (RAM) is being used, 63% of the total.

Now after Aero has been turned off.

Now 516Mb of RAM is being used, 50% of the total memory. And that’s with two more processes running (paint and an open window in explorer – I was viewing files on my memory stick).

With Aero turned off the the borders around windows is solid and the previous translucency that Aero provides as well as the live thumbnails, icons and animations no longer function.

My next post will focus on disabling Aero only when running certain applications.

What to expect

ericspeed — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:30:45 +0000

I will be posting various how-to’s, maintenance and recommendations to maximize the usability of your PC. I will also include links to sites that do the same.

If you have any questions you would like me to answer please leave a comment containing the question.