Animate Windows setting keeps coming back- I want to stop it

[Greg]

Under system properties/advanced/performance/visual effects I keep
custom setting it to NOT animate windows when minimizing or maxing. With
in a few hours, maybe a day, the setting goes back to default.

This is totally ridiculous. Is this one of those XP settings that has to
be changed in more than one place in order to take? Some kind of sick
joke by the programer? Arrgh

Greg
If you can remember the 60's....you weren't really there

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Are you setting this option in an Administrator account or limited account.
If Limited, that's likely the issue.

If you are in an administrator account when setting the option, I'd start
looking for things that can block system changes. Start by making sure your
antivirus is up to date and run a scan. Also check for malware, download,
install and run Ad Aware:
www.lavasoftusa.com

 

[nos1eep]

Under system properties/advanced/performance/visual effects I keep
custom setting it to NOT animate windows when minimizing or maxing. With
in a few hours, maybe a day, the setting goes back to default.

This is totally ridiculous. Is this one of those XP settings that has to
be changed in more than one place in order to take? Some kind of sick
joke by the programer? Arrgh

Greg
If you can remember the 60's....you weren't really there

Greg, Try going to Display Properties\Appearance click on the Effects
button and uncheck all that offend you. .

-nos1eep

 

[Greg]

Are you setting this option in an Administrator account or limited account.
If Limited, that's likely the issue.

If you are in an administrator account when setting the option, I'd start
looking for things that can block system changes. Start by making sure your
antivirus is up to date and run a scan. Also check for malware, download,
install and run Ad Aware:
www.lavasoftusa.com

No, I am the administrator. No other user accounts on the machine.
Norton is current. I run Ad Aware and Spybot frequently ( keep them
current, also).

Anything else I could look for? Like maybe the ghost in the machine.
<grin>

Greg
If you can remember the 60's....you weren't really there

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

LOL, well, Ad Aware and Spybot should take care of any ghosts or gremlins.

When you finish, are you certain to hit the apply button because hitting ok
won't do it?

I use the animated effect so I turned it off when I saw your post in order
to test to see if perhaps this was a bug but since its been a few hours and
the setting has held, we can rule out bug!

You don't know if this is a recent issue or able to put a time frame on it
so that pretty much rules out System Restore.

Here are a few other things you can try:
The following assumes you have an actual XP CD as opposed to a restore CD or
restore partition supplied by your PC manufacturer.

Go to Start, type sfc /scannow in the run box and press enter. Note, there
is a space between sfc and the forward slash. You will be asked for your XP
CD. Be aware, upon inserting the CD the XP setup screen may appear, this is
not a part of sfc /scannow, rather it is being invoked by autorun. Simply
minimize the screen and allow sfc to continue.

If the above fails to resolve the issue, try a repair install as follows:

Be sure you are well backed up in case there is a problem from which you are
unable to recover. NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data
files intact, if something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be
forced to start over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your
data backed up, you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive, boot with the XP
CD in the drive. If it isn't or you are not sure, you need to enter the
system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter setup press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.

The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.

 

[Greg]

LOL, well, Ad Aware and Spybot should take care of any ghosts or gremlins.

When you finish, are you certain to hit the apply button because hitting ok
won't do it?

I use the animated effect so I turned it off when I saw your post in order
to test to see if perhaps this was a bug but since its been a few hours and
the setting has held, we can rule out bug!

Don't bet on it. I have also gone a couple of days before it reverts
back.

You don't know if this is a recent issue or able to put a time frame on it
so that pretty much rules out System Restore.

I can't put a time frame on it.

Here are a few other things you can try:
The following assumes you have an actual XP CD as opposed to a restore CD or
restore partition supplied by your PC manufacturer.

Go to Start, type sfc /scannow in the run box and press enter. Note, there
is a space between sfc and the forward slash. You will be asked for your XP
CD. Be aware, upon inserting the CD the XP setup screen may appear, this is
not a part of sfc /scannow, rather it is being invoked by autorun. Simply
minimize the screen and allow sfc to continue.

If the above fails to resolve the issue, try a repair install as follows:

Be sure you are well backed up in case there is a problem from which you are
unable to recover. NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data
files intact, if something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be
forced to start over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your
data backed up, you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive, boot with the XP
CD in the drive. If it isn't or you are not sure, you need to enter the
system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter setup press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.

The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.

Geez. Hmmm, that sounds a little more involved than I care to get,
unless I have some other things that go funky too.

Hit the "apply" button? Sounds like a goofy question, but I know why you
had to ask it yes I did

Yes, I have the XP cd. I built the system and bought XP (horrors, I had
to pay money for it, a novel experience...just kidding).

I am going to save your post, but not do the above for the time being.
I'm a little burned out restoring stuff. Had to completely redo my other
98 machine to get rid of a problem. Not in the mood to do that again for
a while.

Thanks, Greg
If you can remember the 60's....you weren't really there

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

You're welcome, Greg, good luck.

I'll give it a few days and post back if my system reverts.

 

[David Candy]

It would be a program or driver that is doing it. For instance the opposite problem (it won't stay set) is caused by Dell Media Experience.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

That's true but running it down unless it is the Dell Media Experience could
be quite a process. My thinking was, whatever it might be, it has likely
changed something to cause this and SFC or the Repair ought to be able to
resolve it.

Other than that, he'd have to uninstall things one by one and then test
after each one...it could be a lot of work trying to run it down.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

It would be a program or driver that is doing it. For instance the opposite
problem (it won't stay set) is caused by Dell Media Experience.

 

[David Candy]

We can set up an audit of the key and the security log will tell us whom (what exe) is changing it.

Local Security Policy - Local Policy - Security Options
Audit Policy:Audit Access Global System Objects

Local Security Policy - Local Policy - Audit Policy
Audit Object Access (do fail and sucess)

Regedit and set up auditing for the registry key for System and Everyone for Set Value

Then read about it in Event Viewer Security Log. Get something like this which here says mmc queried the value under the key (but your will say set). But regmon is easier.

Event Type: Success Audit
Event Source: Security
Event Category: Object Access
Event ID: 567
Date: 29/06/2004
Time: 4:55:37 PM
User: SERENITY\David Candy
Computer: SERENITY
Description:
Object Access Attempt:
Object Server: Security
Handle ID: 424
Object Type: Key
Process ID: 1748
Image File Name: C:\WINDOWS\system32\mmc.exe
Access Mask: Query key value



For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.


For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.


Then undo all of the above.

 

[Carrie Garth]

| "(e-mail address removed)" <[email protected]>
| wrote in message | Under system properties/advanced/performance/visual
| effects I keep custom setting it to NOT animate windows
| when minimizing or maxing. With in a few hours, maybe a
| day, the setting goes back to default. <SNIP>

Have you tested to see if a corrupt User Profile is causing the
problems? That is: Create a new user account with the same
rights and group memberships as your account, log on as that
new user, and see if the errors still occur.

Have you checked the Application Log in the Event
Viewer Console (eventvwr.msc) for Userenv error
messages?

KB837115 - Troubleshooting profile unload issues
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?Product=winxp&scid=kb;en-us;837115

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Thanks, David, looks good to me.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

We can set up an audit of the key and the security log will tell us whom
(what exe) is changing it.

Local Security Policy - Local Policy - Security Options
Audit Policy:Audit Access Global System Objects

Local Security Policy - Local Policy - Audit Policy
Audit Object Access (do fail and sucess)

Regedit and set up auditing for the registry key for System and Everyone for
Set Value

Then read about it in Event Viewer Security Log. Get something like this
which here says mmc queried the value under the key (but your will say set).
But regmon is easier.

Event Type: Success Audit
Event Source: Security
Event Category: Object Access
Event ID: 567
Date: 29/06/2004
Time: 4:55:37 PM
User: SERENITY\David Candy
Computer: SERENITY
Description:
Object Access Attempt:
Object Server: Security
Handle ID: 424
Object Type: Key
Process ID: 1748
Image File Name: C:\WINDOWS\system32\mmc.exe
Access Mask: Query key value



For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.


For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.


Then undo all of the above.