Windows 7 - easiest way to tell whether AERO / DWM is enabled?

Question

From this article I have learnt, that DWM is enabled only with AERO:

Let’s recall: without Aero turned on, the DWM is deactivated, so there’s also no more 2D acceleration, either (this applies equally to Windows 7 as it does to Vista)

What is the easiest way to tell whether AERO / DWM on Win 7 is enabled / disabled? With some themes it is (visually) obvious, but with some others not (especially not when using remote access like VNC).

Is there some dialog where I can see that AERO / DWM is enabled / disabled?

Answer 1

There is a corresponding service UxSms (Desktop Window Manager Session Manager- Provides Desktop Window Manager startup and maintenance services).

This starts a process dwm.exe. With this started, AERO is enabled (if stopped AERO is disabled). So basically if the process dwm.exe runs, AERO is enabled (read the comments, this means that AERO themes might, but not necessarily have be used. However, without DWM no AERO).

Answer 2

Run SystemPropertiesPerformance.exe, options 4-6 in the long checkbox list of visualfx

Answer 3

According to Raymond Chen:

A quick way to check whether desktop composition is enabled is to hit Alt+Tab and see whether windows get the Aero Peek effect when you select them. Aero Peek is a feature that is provided by the desktop compositor.

Answer 4

For me it was the following setting in the performance options:

"Use visual styles on windows and buttons"

After A LOT of trying out of combinations, it boiled down to this one setting. If I disable it, it doesn't matter what else is checked: I get tearing.

Sounds strange and I still think it can't be, but it works reliably.