nvidia GeForce FX 5200 problem with Aero

[Guest]

I used the FX 5200 with Vista RC1, and was able to use Aero with no problems,
but after installing RC2, I cannot use Aero. The only choices I have are
basic, standard and classic. I've updated the graphics driver from nvidia to
9.6.8.5 (the newest for vista) and it's still the same. Any idea how to
enable Aero again?

 

[Stuart]

I have the same problem but I am using the GeForce 6200 card.
Again with RC1 I have full aero, but not with RC2
I have trawled around this news group and the nvidia web site and the only
suggestion I have found is to either update the bios on my Shuttle MK32
motherboard or to update my motherboard to a newer one.
If anyone from nvidia or microsoft can offer an explanation, I'd be
grateful.

 

[John Doe]

I had this same problem when in RC1 when Windows Update installed a newer
driver. I don't know if this solved my problem or if it fixed itself, but
what I did was rerun the performance test to update the performance ranking.
After doing that I was able to run Aero again.

 

[Guest]

From extensive reading about this problem when upgrading from RC1 to RC2, it
seems you need at least 1gig of RAM to enable this feature in RC2. Does that
tie in with any of your circumstances?
Regards,
Mike L

 

[Stuart]

I only have 512 Mb of RAM at the moment, I'll upgrade and let you all know
of the outcome, thanks for your advice
Stuart

 

[Guest]

Hi Stuart,
Please don't blame me if this is NOT true... but as you DO have 512meg it
seems quite likely that this IS the case! As I said, I have researched it
quite a bit! I only have 512meg RAM too, and I'm looking to buy an NVidia
card to get aero/glass. The 1gig RAM has tended to put me off... I have 4
DDR slots and they are full! Hence I need to replace NOT add!
Good luck and let us all know if this does cure the problem.
Regards,
Mike

 

[Guest]

i have the same video card, i.e. nvidea gforce fx5200. the only one problem i
had with rc1 (so far) was i needed to update the video card to watch DVD'S,
aero though no problems before i updated the video card, i do have though
1.25 GB of ram. so i think your right.

 

[Guest]

Hi Billmc,

I am still looking for definitive answers to this, but there really doesn't
seem to be any! I have read, here, that others have aero / glass enabled
with on-board graphics with 64meg, others with dedicated graphics cards with
just 256meg! That just doesn't make sense! It seems, in RC2 at least, that
the O/S does a hardware check and, if below spec, disables aero/glass. There
is a registry hack that, apparently, gets round this... I tried it and can't
get it to work! Does ANYBODY have the full answer to this? The last thing I
want to do is spend loads of cash on a new card and find I still have this
problem!
Regards to all,
Mike L

 

[Stuart]

Hi All,
I took Mike's advice and increased my RAM from 512 to 1 gig.......
YES, I now have aero enabled.
Thanks Mike, you seem to cracked this problem for me.
I am surprised that vista RC2 needs this amont of RAM to run aero as RC1
doesn't
Stuart

 

[Guest]

Yes, this is strange... if RC1 can run Aero with 512 MB of RAM just fine
(which is what I have), I don't see why RC2 should need 1GB... I'm not sure
if I want to upgrade just to run Aero.

 

[Guest]

Good question Arthur! I wish I had the answer!
Glad that sorted the problem Stuart! Looks like I'll have to follow my own
advice!!!
Does RC2 need more resources than RC1? I wouldn't have thought so! So, we
still have this anomoly in that SOME people can make it work and others
can't, even though they use the same amount of RAM! Must be down to
combinations of hardware / software in use! I'm lost!
Regards,
Mike

 

[Joe Villarreal]

I had the same problem. There's a registry hack on
"microsoft.public.windows.vista.general" that will fix the problem with 512
megs of ram. It works! Using a GeForce FX 5500 256 meg PCI card.