Win7: Turn off Aero automatically disabling during video playback/gaming?

[Xenokyn]

I'm not sure how I managed to do it in Vista, but somehow I was able to keep Aero running during 720p/x264 video playback or DirectX 9/10 gaming, and I can't find the option in Win7. I know my PC can handle all the apps and videos I throw at it with Aero running, and I don't want it to automatically shut off like its doing now. Am I missing an obvious setting in the control panel or will this require a regedit?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ImDonly1]

I think mine keeps running during both. At least when I ALT + TAB aero is on, or maybe it switches back on before I notice. I play x264 mkv movies using media player classic and WMP and aero never turns off. I have a 8800GT if that matters and the latest drivers.

 

[Xenokyn]

I think mine keeps running during both. At least when I ALT + TAB aero is on, or maybe it switches back on before I notice. I play x264 mkv movies using media player classic and WMP and aero never turns off. I have a 8800GT if that matters and the latest drivers.

I had it in Vista the way you have it now. Aero used to stay on during x264 mkv videos using MPC, and I also have an 8800GT with the latest drivers - (Other hardware includes an Asus P5K3 and an Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 3.0)

Since I installed Win7 almost any type of hi-def video file opened in MPC disables Aero until I close MPC, as do games that use DirectX. Are you using Vista or 7? - I need to know how to change it to the way you have it, and the way I had it before I installed 7.

 

[ImDonly1]

Yes, I am using Win 7 64-bit. Try looking at the Aero settings. Right click my computer properties -> advanced system settings on the side. Then under performance click settings. Make sure everything is checked. I have it as let windows decide what is best, but you can try the best appearance option. Then try playing a movie and changing the options again then?

Also, in MPC Home Cinema, go to view then options and in there go to "Playback" then the "Output" subpart. For the DirectShow video pick EVR (or EVR custom pres if you use subtitles with your MKVs).

Also are you maybe using a laptop? Try playing with the power profiles if you are.

Check to see if this box is checked or unchecked
1) Right Clicking the application/game .exe icon.
2) Click the "Compatibility" Tab.
3) And under "Settings", check box "Disable Visual Themes"

go to the MPC or WMP12 .exe/shortcut and make sure the checkbox is not checked.
Also go to control panel and under system and security click find and fix problems. Then find aero in there somewhere and let it find some stuff.

 

[Xenokyn]

Well my problem is solved in MPC. Changing the output from the default Overlay Mixer to EVR(Vista/.Net3) did the trick. Subtitles in my .mkv files still work fine, too - maybe because I install MPC via K-Lite. Before this, even basic XviD/DivX .avi files in MPC were shutting off Aero.

I had already gone over the control panel with a fine-tooth comb. The options where you can set Windows for "best appearance" were not the problem, neither were power profiles, and the option to let Windows find problems with Aero didn't find any. And no I'm not using a laptop, since when did they use Asus P5k3 mobos in laptops? =P. I'm using a desktop PC I built myself.

Btw, the exact version of Windows I'm using is 7 Pro x64 Full Retail Box. More importantly, I am now understanding this to be a software specific phenomenon rather than something inherent to Windows settings.

I'll update on the games side of it soon, right now I'm just happy to have Aero not constantly flickering on/off because I load basic video files.

 

[ImDonly1]

By the way, you may or may not have noticed this, but setting to EVR in MPC HC lets you use your graphics card to decode the playback of HD MKVs (if they are compatible). This reduces the CPU use. This is really useful when you do not have a fast CPU to decode the movies. The default option does not do this.

Also, aero turns on and off automatically when you launch a fullscreen game. It should turn back on when you exit the game. You probably won't even notice it turning on and off since it works really quick.

 

[Xenokyn]

Thanks for the tip on using EVR. My Core 2 Duo e6850 3.0 has no problem decoding 1080p/720p .TS/.MKV files using the "System Default" option(which does not shut off Aero either, only the "Overlay Mixer" option seems to do this). But if I can offload more video decoding instructions to the GPU I'm all for it(ideologically speaking, that's what high-end GPUs should be doing IMO).

Also, I recently bought Left 4 Dead 2, and have it running in a "borderless window" mode(which some apps call "fake fullscreen" - i.e. it looks the same as full-screen but is actually using a window which takes up the entire monitor) - WITH Aero. I can tell Aero is running by using the (Windows key+Tab) "Aero Flip", which is only available while Aero is running. I can even bring up the transparent task-bar/start menu using alt-tab and "Aero Flip", and see the transparent Aero effect in the game behind it, further proof that the game is running with Aero simultaneously.

For all intents and purposes my problem is now solved, I have the latest Source Engine games and Hi-Def .TS and .MKV files running without Aero ever shutting off - exactly how I wanted it from the beginning, and how I had my copy of Vista Business x64 working.

Thanks for the help and tips, especially the ones on using the MPC options.