[Solved] Adjust Visual Styles does not apply

pawtycat · July 5, 2012

Hi!

If tweaks Adjust Visual Styles is set to Best performance, after installation it is set to best performance from Performance Options, but is not 'applied' (=Windows/cursor/menus/etc. still have shadows, translucent selection..).

Thanks!

E: Sry, forgot some additional information:

Im using Win Toolkit v1.4.0.30, trying to use this tweak for Windows 7 Professional SP1 x64.

Edited July 5, 2012 by pawtycat

Legolash2o · July 20, 2012

I've just fixed this, will be in v40.

pawtycat · July 21, 2012

I've just fixed this, will be in v40.

Hi,

Im not sure if this bug is completely fixed. I recently installed version 1.4.0.40 and redid my stuff and installed. Adjust Visual Styles was set to Best performance. Here is an image of fresh Windows 7 installation:

Checkboxes are right; everything is set to best performance, but they are not 'applied'. As you can see, translucent selection rectangle is still there, cursor had shadow (couldnt capture that), also animations in the taskbar were enabled. Surprisingly windows had no shadows nor animations (thats atleast what I can point out).

Can you have a look at this?

Thanks!

Legolash2o · July 21, 2012

Are they still there after a restart?

pawtycat · July 21, 2012

Are they still there after a restart?

Yes, I restarted once, then took screenshot above.

Legolash2o · July 21, 2012

I will have to look when I get back, if you har nothing to do or bored then maybe you can google what registry settings disable those features which are still active, it's upto you though

pawtycat · July 21, 2012

Hi,

I made some research earlier. I dont know what you have already done, so I will start from the beginning. Going from up to down in the list:

First of all:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects]

"VisualFXSetting"=dword:0000000X

X=0 - Let's Windows choose

X=1 - Best appearance

X=2 - Best performance

X=3 - Custom settings

I think this changes the correct checkboxes for visual styles, so I guess this is what you got there, I dont know about the rest.

Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing [source]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]

"MinAnimate"="X"

To enable: X=1

To disable: X=0

Animations in the taskbar and Start Menu [source]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

"TaskbarAnimations"=X

To enable: X=1

To disable: X=0

Enable desktop composition [source]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM]

"CompositionPolicy"=X

To enable: X=1

To disable: X=0

Enable transparent glass [source]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM]

"ColorizationOpaqueBlend"=X

To enable: X=1

To disable: X=0

Save taskbar thumbnail previews [source]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM]

"AlwaysHibernateThumbnails"=X

To enable: X=1

To disable: X=0

Show thumbnails instead of icons [source]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

"DisableThumbnails"=dword:0000000X

To enable: X=0

To disable: X=1

(notice difference to other values; 0 enables, 1 disables)

Show translucent selection rectangle [source]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

"ListviewAlphaSelect"=X

To enable: X=1

To disable: X=0

Show window contents while dragging [source]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]

"DragFullWindows"=X

To enable: X=1

To disable: X=0

Smooth Edges of Screen Fonts [source]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]

"FontSmoothing"="X"

To enable: X=1

To disable: X=0

Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop [source]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

"ListviewShadow"=X

To enable: X=1

To disable: X=0

Disable visual styles on windows and buttons [source]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager]

"ThemeActive"="X"

To enable: X=1

To disable: X=0

For the rest visual effects there is only 1 registry key for it: [source]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]

"UserPreferencesMask"=hex:XX,XX,XX,80,XX,00,00,00

Here we have 5 binary sets to toggle rest of the visual effects. Convert each binary set to hex for the first 3 and 5th hex entries in registry

The binary sets: 1001ABC0 00D1EF10 00000GH1 10000000 000100J0

..where..

(A) Smooth-scroll list boxes

(B ) Slide open combo boxes

(C ) Fade or slide menus into view

(D) Show shadows under mouse pointer

(E) Fade or slide ToolTips into view

(F) Fade out menu items after clicking

(G) Show shadows under windows

(H) Use Visual styles on windows and buttons

(J) Animate controls and elements inside windows (I had to do my own research for this, so not yet 100% guaranteed)

Examples:

Turn all off>

Binary: 10010000 00010010 00000001

Hex: 90 12 1 8 10

Registry: "UserPreferencesMask"=hex:90,12,01,80,10,00,00,00

Turn all on>

Binary: 10011110 00111110 00000111

Hex: 9E 3E 7 8 12

Registry: "UserPreferencesMask"=hex:9E,3E,07,80,12,00,00,00

Few examples:

Disclaimer: I have NOT tested these registery changes YET - use at Your Own risk!

Best performance.reg


Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; ###
; Visual Effects
; ###
; Do not Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]
"MinAnimate"="0"

; Disable Animations in Taskbar and Start Menu
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"TaskbarAnimations"=0
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"TaskbarAnimations"=-

; Disable desktop composition
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM]
"CompositionPolicy"=0

; Enable transparent glass
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM]
"ColorizationOpaqueBlend"=0

; Disable Taskbar Thumbnail Previews
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM]
"AlwaysHibernateThumbnails"=dword:00000000

; Disable Explorer Thumbnails (All Users)
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"DisableThumbnails"=dword:00000001

; Disable translucent selection rectangle
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"ListviewAlphaSelect"=0

; Dont show window contents while dragging
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"DragFullWindows"=0

; Dont smooth Edges of Screen Fonts
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"FontSmoothing"="0"

; Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"ListviewShadow"=0

; Disable visual styles on windows and buttons
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager]
"ThemeActive"="0"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager]
"ThemeActive"=-

; Disable following:
; * Animate controls and elements inside windows
; * Smooth-scroll list boxes
; * Slide open combo boxes
; * Fade or slide menus into view
; * Show shadows under mouse pointer
; * Fade or slide ToolTips into view
; * Fade out menu items after clicking
; * Show shadows under windows
; * Use Visual styles on windows and buttons
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"UserPreferencesMask"=hex:90,12,01,80,10,00,00,00

Best appearance.reg


Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; ###
; Visual Effects
; ###
; Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]
"MinAnimate"="1"

; Enable Animations in Taskbar and Start Menu
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"TaskbarAnimations"=1

; Enable desktop composition
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM]
"CompositionPolicy"=1

; Enable transparent glass
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM]
"ColorizationOpaqueBlend"=1

; Enable Taskbar Thumbnail Previews
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM]
"AlwaysHibernateThumbnails"=dword:00000001

; Enable Explorer Thumbnails (All Users)
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"DisableThumbnails"=dword:00000000

; Enable translucent selection rectangle
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"ListviewAlphaSelect"=1

; Show window contents while dragging
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"DragFullWindows"=1

; Smooth Edges of Screen Fonts
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"FontSmoothing"="1"

; Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"ListviewShadow"=1

; Enable visual styles on windows and buttons
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager]
"ThemeActive"="1"

; Enable following:
; * Smooth-scroll list boxes
; * Slide open combo boxes
; * Fade or slide menus into view
; * Show shadows under mouse pointer
; * Fade or slide ToolTips into view
; * Fade out menu items after clicking
; * Show shadows under windows
; * Use Visual styles on windows and buttons
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"UserPreferencesMask"=hex:9E,3E,07,80,12,00,00,00

I think you could also make a little extra form to create custom visual styles, takes little effort but you are hardworking d00d

Hope this helps!

Edited July 22, 2012 by pawtycat

Legolash2o · July 22, 2012

I've fixed the things i've missed out and the mistakes i've made, should be in v43

pawtycat · July 26, 2012

Hi,

I tried v44 other day and no cigar. Same thing happened; checkboxes are unchecked but features still there.

Im not sure why this doesnt work. I've tried to disable them using Setupcomplete.cmd few months ago and didn't work.

What do you think; can it be because these tweaks are executed by TrustedInstaller and not the user I log on (I make user at Windows Setup, not by unattended file)?

Quickpost - Im in the middle-of-nowhere with laptop and battery running out

Legolash2o · July 26, 2012

I think Windows may do it just before first logon, so i might as well remove this tweak as it'll never work.

pawtycat · July 27, 2012

I think Windows may do it just before first logon, so i might as well remove this tweak as it'll never work.

I see.

/edit: What about this kind of solution? http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325347

Any use?

Edited July 27, 2012 by pawtycat

Legolash2o · July 27, 2012

I see.
/edit: What about this kind of solution? http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325347
Any use?

That's the method it currently uses

pawtycat · July 27, 2012

That's the method it currently uses

Ah! Good to know.

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[Solved] Adjust Visual Styles does not apply

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