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

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).

 

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.

 

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 ?

 

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

 

It's strange that the exe is showing as a virus. It's an old exe made by a tech site I found a long time ago, can't remember the name. Made with the intention of replacing exes in the Windows installation for heavy tweaking. It's safe.

I guess I could also make a new one, I have no real coding experience so again I would have to use AutoIt, which would be easy enough but the file size would be like over 800kb, just for an exe that does nothing. Kinda pointless.

 

Shall I do dwm.exe which does nothing and quits instantly? It will take 10 minutes.

Edit: http://www.mediafire.com/download/lce6aiqks37bd9z/dwm.zip
This is console x86 application which prints "dwm.exe dummy" and exits.
Let me know whether it is appropriate for the purpose of replacing the original dwm.exe.

 

I personally would prefer it does absolutely nothing. Just an instant close. But don't worry about it, I'm not about to turn off dwm atm.

I'm also not sure if Windows tries to relaunch the exe after it closes (or if it waits a bit and tries again). If that's the case, that console window would be an annoyance.

 

The vsync that windows 8.1 forces in windowed mode is weird. It does not cap the framerate to refresh rate but eliminates tearing and causes stuttering.

 

It can be re-written as GUI app.

 

test if runing dwm.exe windows 7 original file (64-bit) and programs that are not worked now works with this file






download
http://www61.zippyshare.com/v/34375621/file.html

 

It's so annoying for my emulators. Maybe not a big deal for some people, but I have a large rom/iso collection.

What you you saying maur0? Are you replacing the 8.1 dwm.exe with the one from 7? What does that do for you?

 

I wonder if it works and if it would have any advantage in using it

and is possible usage classic theme present in win7 screen below

i search internet and found 2 forum with this subjet

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=67&t=113024

and

http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1300248

 

What emus are affected btw? Im can imagine it must be a nightmare trying to emulate retro consoles on a CRT when windows doesn't even allow you to turn off compositions and forces its own vsync. Personally, I'm going go switch to linux for emus since KMS mode provides the lowest possible latency.

 

All the ones I use. Dolphin, PPSSPP, PCSX2 are the main ones. And for some reason even putting those three into fullscreen doesn't help.

 

200 mb? It doesn't bother me. Big deal..

 

Thanks for checking in with that incredibly constructive post shadex!

 

Sure lets try something!

 

http://www.mediafire.com/download/gn25i273na6v6rc/Set-dwm_dummy.zip

Before you execute scripts in PowerShell you have to set permissions for scripts execution:
- run PowerShell
- execute
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
or
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

Now you can extract script and either execute it from PowerShell or invoke context menu for a file and choose 'Execute with PowerShell'. Script should ask you the full path to the dummy 'dwm.exe' and then it should create proper registry key.

 

Has anyone found a solution to disable dwm in Windows 8.1 Update 1? The right side (where the metro thingy should appear if you go in the corner) doesn't work at all, and instead there's a black bar which can't be clicked (although the mouse can go over it). Other than that, dwm does disable correctly, but it isn't very usable like this.