flip & thumbnails not working....

I've got a new lap top with vista installed on it and the flip 3d,
thumbnails, and maybe more (I don't know what all there is) isn't working. In
one of the other posts someone said:

"Right Click on the desktop, personalize, Windows Color & Appearance Make
sure it is on teh Areo(if I have the name correct) Theme, Not the basic
theme"

but when I go in Windows Color & Appearance all there is is colors for the
windows and such, a color intensity slider, and a color mixer. Nothing about
themes. If I go under themes in the personalization window the theme is set
to Windows Vista. Where else can I look?? Is there something else that might
me causing them not to work? Its a brand new laptop made to work with vista...