Help, No WindowBlinds/XP Transparency on Vista with Aero Incompatable Hardware.

512 MB Ram, NVIDIA MX 420 (XDDM)

from WinCustomize Forums

Hi all,

I recently upgraded to Vista Ultimate thinking my PC was fully compatible, which it is for Vista, but not Aero. I don't have any glass effect, tool tips, flip 3D or whatever else the Aero desktop offers.  No biggie, I have a payed version of Windowblinds 5.5 that gave me great Aero-like transparency effects on XP.

Problem...

Vista seems to have blocked the way WindowBlinds creates per pixel effects.

So, my question is...

How do I get WindowBlinds/XP Transparency (glass) on Vista with a computer that doesn't meet the required specs to run the new Aero Desktop?  Is there some kind of hack to get vista to run graphics the way XP did?

As a note: The Vista Sidebar is be able to run transparency (opacity) effects! Why the Sidebar and not my window borders?

All responses are welcome and much appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

6,061 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Regrettably, glass effects are not possible on Vista without WDDM-compatible hardware, even with WB. It is unfortunate that, at least in this respect, Vista is a 'downgrade' from XP - most of us sort of expect/assume the newest OS to be at least as graphically capable as older ones, but because of the complete re-do of the way the display is rendered, that's the case here.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Until I get a better video card, I will not be upgrading to Vista for this reason (among others).
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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
I for one am a little bit angry. If the advertizing for this software indicated that it could not produce transparency on the vista platform, I may not have purchased it. The advertising claims vista compatability, so it is somewhat misleading. I would consider making this issue known a little more clearly, as many will do what i have done in an attemp to get some bit of aeroglass feature on vista with non compatable hardware. Just so you know, not all of us can upgrade hardware, due to the nature and construction of modern laptop computers. I for one cant afford to replace a laptop that is only a couple years old, and the video chipset can not be upgraded.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I figured its pretty old news that a lot of older hardware wouldnt be supported in Vista, Its not WB thats failing you its your hardware. Don't feel alone though there are many people in the same boat you are in.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

WindowBlinds does support per pixel transparency on Vista when you have WDDM drivers (I.e DWM capable ones).  If you have to use XP drivers on Vista then I am sorry but you will not get per pixel transparency on Vista as your hardware is not up to the job.  This is not the fault of WindowBlinds.

If your hardware does not support the DWM on Vista, I would strongly urge you not to upgrade to Windows Vista.

Likewise if you do have WDDM drivers and you are buying Vista, it would be best if you purchased Home Premium (or Ultimate) rather than Home Basic.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
It's not Windowblinds faulth that the transparency doesn't work. I know that. Because Vista in different then XP. BUT is Stardock working on a update (or something like that) that makes it possible to get transparency in Vista?

I think that Stardock can come up with something to make Vista work with Windowblinds and transparency.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The Vista Sidebar is be able to run transparency (opacity) effects!


The Sidebar doesn't use alpha-based transparency. DWM is a highly complex rendering engine, and the Sidebar doesn't represent it fully. As an example of this, and apparently you know, the sidebar still gives transparency when Vista is under the Basic theme. It looks exactly the same way in Aero with the exception of the Add Gadgets dialog.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
OK, Out of the blue with this one, since standard & per pixel (/px) translucency engines both have different rendering 'prerequisites' then is it possible to make windowblinds use a standard B&W reference overlay similar to what a PNG image does rather than /px shading?

On this note, It make me question why M$ had to make an entirely new translucency rendering engine rather than use one that is known to be working on most machines and simply have an additional blurring engine. I mean, Is this not what vista does to make the 'aero' effect? Simply use blurring and translucencies to simulate fogged glass? :-/
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
I am also quite disappointed that I purchased WindowBlinds. I purchased just the other day and installed it to my XP Pro system and everything worked great - transparancy etc., but decided to upgrade to Vista Ultimate. I thought for sure since they state it is vista compatible it would work just as well on Ultimate. My laptop is just a little over a year old and did not meet the Aero requirements but I figured my hardware was showing the transparency with WindowBlinds, XP Pro and my existing hardware surely it would also work with Vista. I know Neil stated "WindowBlinds does support per pixel transparency on Vista when you have WDDM drivers" but why did it work without Vista? He also states "as your hardware is not up to the job. This is not the fault of WindowBlinds." So then why was my hardware up to the job using XP Pro...it's the same laptop video card?

Please Neil, explain
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Windowblinds has nothing to do with it. It's your hardware and Vista compatibility. If your hardware doesn't support the DWM/WDDM, there's nothing Windowblinds can do since it relies on those to display transparency in Vista. In that sense, it's actually a downgrade with Vista since XP had no problem with that stuff. It's the OS itself.