Windows 8.1 no DWM (aka Aero, aka desktop composition)

[Cyberdyne]

Seems silly to want this off right? Two main reasons why you would want it
off. The important instructions are between the lines, but do yourself a favor and read the whole thing.

1. The most useful reason, windowed 3D application are forced to use vsync.
Absolutely no way around this. Emulators and games that feature borderless
window options are annoying. Before you could use a compatibility shim for these
types of programs, but that is no longer the case.

2. Some complain about laggy window movements.

3. It's fun to mess with windows, and I spent a lot of time on making this
work rather nicely.

Googleing will give you a few solutions using way too many steps and 3rd
party apps, and the results are annoying and non permanent. Some solutions
make the desktop unusable which is silly.

I'll show you a much better way to turn off DWM, as long as you understand a
few things.

A. You should be proficient with Windows. I'm not going to explain every little
detail.

B. You understand that the Start screen will break, and other parts of
windows will be inaccessible. You lose the login screen as a result, so
you need to either remove your password or set up windows to
automatically login (google it). If you need to lock your computer, a good
replacement is ClearLock. Set it up, and launch to lock. Add a shortcut to it in your startup folder to lock on startup.
Make sure windows is set to login to the desktop (google it, classicshell also
has an option for this)

C. Make sure you use something like classicshell to have a way to use
Windows. Wireless connections will also be unchangeable, use something like PE Network Manager as a replacement,
it's also a lot better anyway.

The bold part is important because this is really the only 'bad' thing that can
go wrong if you try this. Otherwise you risk locking yourself out of windows.

__________________________________________________ ________________

Download this http://www.eightforums.com/attachmen..._ownership.reg
And this http://www.mediafire.com/download/ll...7x/NODWM8.1.7z

The first thing you should already have if you are a poweruser. It adds a
rightclick option to files to forceown files.
The second thing is a 7z file I put togther with a batchfile and an exe named
dwm.exe, it's 3kb, and it does absolutely nothing. Seriously, just enough code
to make it immediately close. I hope you see where I am going with this.

Navigate to your system32, find dwm.exe, rightclick, take ownership.
Now, you can either run my batchfile, or replace it manually...
Rename dwm.exe in system32 to dwm.exe.old
Copy the 'new' dwm.exe to system32.
Restart, or logoff (click the center of the screen), or open task manager and
end dwm.exe and restart explorer.exe.

It's now off, to reverse it should be obvious, re-replace dwm.exe with the
original one, then restart or logoff. You can also use my batchfile and after it
turns off DWM, it will allow you to press any key to turn it back on.
__________________________________________________ ________________

If you use the programs I tell you about in my directions and the explanation before it, you pretty much find yourself in a metroless windows.
The advantage of doing it this way is it's very easy to reverse, and it's permanent.
If you want to limit the risk of opening the new metro CP, you can navigate to C:\Windows\ImmersiveControlPanel and rename SystemSettings.exe to SystemSettings.exes.old.

Just something interesting to try, I thought it was fun. Also useful for my emulators and a handful of games. I don't give two shiets about any apps.

[dsbig]

I love you

[jesteves]

Sorry if i'm understanding this wrong, but with this "trick" can we save the almost 200mb of vram that DWM/metro always uses ?
Anyway i will test it when i back home.

Thanks.

[dsbig]

wasnt working until I reboot and removed windowblinds.


but now the games I was having problems with. start but only show a black screen.

[dsbig]

but how do I get rid of full screen 30fps cap for games that dont like vsync

[mbk1969]

There is registry key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths

In this key you can create sub-key "dwm.exe" and set default value "(Default)" to any exe full path. I don`t know about load (boot) time, but after load (boot) is completed any attempt to start dwm.exe will start the specified there app instead.

Also this can be done on per-user basis through key

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...(v=vs.85).aspx

[dsbig]

eh...

I managed to get it working in 8.0 and unlock the 30fps limit in fullscreen for some games. but the games now go from 11-60fps. back and forth


tried it with blood 2. but theres a glitch for some reason the hud will disappear..

[Cyberdyne]

@jesteves, yes, desktop composition will not run and so you will save some vram.

@dsbig, the 'limit' is your refresh rate. Doing turning off DWM like I describe makes games preform like they did when you were able to use the disable desktop composition shim, so I'm not sure what you are having issues with.
It could be an unrelated compatibility problem.

@mbk1969, are you saying that rather then replacing the exe, you can edit a reg key, point it say at the exe in my 7z file, and effectively disable DWM that way? I'm not sure I understand.

[jesteves]

Originally Posted by Cyberdyne

@jesteves, yes, desktop composition will not run and so you will save some vram.

Ok, thanks.
I will test it to see how much memory it will save.
In my system, with everything closed (at the desktop), msi afterburner shows always 150-200mb vram is used.

[mbk1969]

Originally Posted by Cyberdyne

@mbk1969, are you saying that rather then replacing the exe, you can edit a reg key, point it say at the exe in my 7z file, and effectively disable DWM that way? I'm not sure I understand.

Exactly. But check is needed, because I don`t know at what stage of boot process OS starts dwm.exe, and I don`t know whether mentioned registry key would be used when OS starts dwm.exe. Mentioned registry key is working when you start app without full path. So the question is how OS starts dwm.exe.

[Cyberdyne]

Originally Posted by jesteves

Ok, thanks.
I will test it to see how much memory it will save.
In my system, with everything closed (at the desktop), msi afterburner shows always 150-200mb vram is used.

Without DWM in windows 7 put vram at about 50mb constant.
With DWM off in Windows 8.1 it seems to put it around 70mb constant.
The difference is probably WDDM 1.3.

@mbk1969, I think DWM.exe is started and maintained by winlogon.exe, since disabling dwm from the windows task manager gives problems from that process.
Other methods of turning off dwm include killing explorer.exe and then suspending winlogon.exe- then removing permission from dwm.exe, then restarting explorer. It's a mess.

[mbk1969]

Originally Posted by Cyberdyne

@mbk1969, I think DWM.exe is started and maintained by winlogon.exe, since disabling dwm from the windows task manager gives problems from that process.
Other methods of turning off dwm include killing explorer.exe and then suspending winlogon.exe- then removing permission from dwm.exe, then restarting explorer. It's a mess.

You can check whether registry method does the trick.

[Ibxoful]

Originally Posted by mbk1969

You can check whether registry method does the trick.

doesn't work

[wazer]

Originally Posted by Cyberdyne

Without DWM in windows 7 put vram at about 50mb constant.
With DWM off in Windows 8.1 it seems to put it around 70mb constant.
The difference is probably WDDM 1.3.

@mbk1969, I think DWM.exe is started and maintained by winlogon.exe, since disabling dwm from the windows task manager gives problems from that process.
Other methods of turning off dwm include killing explorer.exe and then suspending winlogon.exe- then removing permission from dwm.exe, then restarting explorer. It's a mess.

you got fixes for my problem?, Latest windows 8.1 April iso releases, does this to my desktop when i try to use your file, i could not takwownership via bat file you made, so i had to reboot into dos/offline win explorer to change filename from the original and put your file it, this is the result, with your file dwm.exe or without any file called dwm.exe in system32.

http://i.imgur.com/YB1XJEy.png


I would really be happy get this shutted down since it takes a lot of resources from gaming...

[pjokerxp]

Originally Posted by dsbig

I love you

me too

[Cyberdyne]

Originally Posted by wazer

you got fixes for my problem?, Latest windows 8.1 April iso releases, does this to my desktop when i try to use your file, i could not takwownership via bat file you made, so i had to reboot into dos/offline win explorer to change filename from the original and put your file it, this is the result, with your file dwm.exe or without any file called dwm.exe in system32.

http://i.imgur.com/YB1XJEy.png


I would really be happy get this shutted down since it takes a lot of resources from gaming...

I'm confused. Your screenshot shows you were able to replace it. I'm not sure what you issue is exactly.

If you mean you simply want another way to take ownership of the file so you can avoid using safemode try Unlocker. It's a pretty heavy handed approach but it should work. Just make sure you back up the original exe.


EDIT: ohh, do you mean how your theme is all messed up in that screenshot? The window is all messy looking? You could try to use the high contrast themes (which is probably your best bet, you can change the colors of the high contrast theme to whatever you want, kinda like the Classic theme), or download a new one. Also you can try Ribbon Disabler, that might also fix your issue.

[MasterBash]

Originally Posted by Cyberdyne

1. The most useful reason, windowed 3D application are forced to use vsync.
Absolutely no way around this. Emulators and games that feature borderless
window options are annoying.

Does that apply to old games only? Cause I am 110% sure that the games I run in borderless window (D3, LoL) do not use vsync.

[IcE]

Why are games that feature borderless window mode "annoying" exactly? I tested, and Vsync isn't forced in CS:GO in borderless window mode.

[Cyberdyne]

When a game already supports the option ingame vsync is avoided. But when forcing it in games that do not offer that option in my experience you are forced to use vsync (like skyrim for example).

I'm not aware of an emulator that has borderless fullscreen built in, but I would love that.

[wazer]

Originally Posted by Cyberdyne

I'm confused. Your screenshot shows you were able to replace it. I'm not sure what you issue is exactly.

If you mean you simply want another way to take ownership of the file so you can avoid using safemode try Unlocker. It's a pretty heavy handed approach but it should work. Just make sure you back up the original exe.


EDIT: ohh, do you mean how your theme is all messed up in that screenshot? The window is all messy looking? You could try to use the high contrast themes (which is probably your best bet, you can change the colors of the high contrast theme to whatever you want, kinda like the Classic theme), or download a new one. Also you can try Ribbon Disabler, that might also fix your issue.

No I'm taking about the black thing over to the right, it even is like that when in games, cant see clock cant see nothing over there, even moue disappears

[Cyberdyne]

Oh, that's the charmbar/searchbar/wifi-internet bar thing. Yeah that is unavoidable. That's why I try to recommend replacement programs so you dont use that. Just avoid clicking on the corners of the screen, or do this in classic shell...

That should help avoiding that.

EDIT: also, if the black bar appears and you don't want to restart to fix it, restart explorer. (open task manager, right click Windows Explorer, press Restart).

[mbk1969]

Cyberdyne, there should be such way:
- download your version of dwm.exe (am I correct to assume it just does nothing and exits immediately?) into some folder "C:\folder"
- open regedit and navigate to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options", create subkey "dwm.exe", in that subkey create value (REGSZ) "Debugger" = "C:\folder\dwm.exe"
- navigate to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft \Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options", and if subkey "dwm.exe" is not there then create it, in that subkey create value (REGSZ) "Debugger" = "C:\folder\dwm.exe"

If original "dwm.exe" started through CreateProcess function the tweak should work.

[Cyberdyne]

That sounds like an interesting way to do it. Might allow for more automation. I've been trying to just let dwm stay on, but the next time I want it off I'll give that a try and see if I can use AutoIt to automate the process.

[wazer]

Originally Posted by Cyberdyne

That sounds like an interesting way to do it. Might allow for more automation. I've been trying to just let dwm stay on, but the next time I want it off I'll give that a try and see if I can use AutoIt to automate the process.

Your file is flagged by AV's now :S.

Could you do the thing he said in autoit and release to us so we can test it ?

[mbk1969]

Originally Posted by wazer

Could you do the thing he said in autoit and release to us so we can test it ?

Do you want PowerShell script to do it? It can ask for a fake dwm.exe path and add key to registry.