Microsoft decided that The Aero interface would not be available for Windows Vista Home Basic users. I personally dislike the new trend to offer several versions of a program with different functionality naming them basic, premium and ultimate. It confuses consumers who have enough troubles to work with the operating system less alone deciding which of the many versions of Windows Vista would suit their needs.
It is apparently not a big problem to enable the Vista Aero interface in Windows Vista Home Basic even though it is officially not included in that version. All you need to do is to change the values of two registry keys and restart Windows Vista afterwards. Open the registry by pressing Windows + R, typing regedit and hitting enter afterwards.
Navigate to the key Hkey_Current_User \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ DWM \ and change the value of the entry Composition to 1 and the value of CompositionPolicy to 0.
Now you can select the Aero interface by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting Personalize from the menu. Switch to Colors and Appearance and click on Classic Appearance Properties.. and choose Windows Vista Aero from the menu.
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148 Responses to “Enable Vista Aero in Windows Vista Home Basic”
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[...] Despite not being supported on Vista Home Basic, it is possible to enable the Aero interface on this lowest of the low Vista operating system. In fact, it’s a simple registry tweaks (information by gHacks ) [...]
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[...] lėmė jums Windows Vista Home Basic, o vistiek norite naudotis Aero sąsaja? Pasirodo, kad ją galima įjungti “nepritaikytoje” OS papras?iausiai pakeitus porą [...]
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[...] Glass on Compatible Hardware Here’s another : Windows Vista Aero UI Registry Tweaks and another : Enable Vista Aero in Windows Vista Home Basic Hope these are a help superbill __________________ AMD X2 6400+ 3.2GHz BLACK EDITION::GA-M51 [...]
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[...] no way to run windows aero transparent glass in vista basic > edition??? Read the description: http://www.ghacks.net/2007/05/13/ena…ta-home-basic/ — Helmut Rohrbeck [MVP] http://www.helmrohr.de/Kontakt.htm Mail nur ber das Kontaktformular auf [...]
It’s not working !! any how…
if any one have sol plz send me…….
i want in all da stuff u said to go in, went i went to change the settin it was already 0 and 1, dude how am i ment to fucking change somin thats already at wat its ment to be changed too, dude you suck!!!!!!! with a capt S&K
Is there any way of getting true aero for home basic WITHOUT editing the registry?
BTW, I’m only here because my WindowBlinds broke, and I was using the XP Luna theme then.
(gives cutest bambi-eyes ever) Plllleeeaassseee!
Ma provate prima di parlare oltre il fatto che la chiave di sistema e gia impostata a 1 e a 0…
Ma il vista home basic non supporta aero…solo le piu costose di vista come ultimatum ecc…. supportano aero…sarà scontato che avrà una buona ram e una buona scheda video…se supporta un vista…
to be honest, i dont belive in Microsoft making a operating system with diffrent choises.
yes, their should be a choise for buisness, but serioulsy. all these big computer company giants, just use vista basic as an excuse to sell cheap pc’s.
i have got vista basic, and i feel that what microsoft have done with basic, is basically stripped everything and left you with a sp4 of xp. with a facelift. thats all vista basic is.
oh and one more thing, i downloaded a program called “Vista Glazz” its not actually for vista basic, but it does work on vista basic, and what it does is make the windows go transparent when windows are maximized. and yes, its not a skin, its aero. its pure aero, on vista basic. try it out yourself, just install, then maximise a window. http://www.codegazer.com/vistaglazz/
and also, when i installed my vista basic, the instalation was aero, as you can see here: http://bp0.blogger.com/_5fbEcKCBnFw/RoNdAQ220oI/AAAAAAAABfM/l0qFur2xM6E/s640/WindowsVistaDuringInstallation.PNG
so basically vista basic is capable of running aero, but nobody has found a way yet.
Hi all,
It’s Leigh Kennedy again!
Lemme just say I have found ‘Windows Vista’ to be crap anyways…
…go Mac OS X!!!
:P
Mac OS X isn’t a sports team you nerd, go troll somewhere else.
I THINK EVERYONE HERE IS A LITTLE CONFUSED AS TO WHAT VHB OFFERS AND WHAT AERO REALLY IS. FROM THE SECOND I FIRST TURNED ON MY COMPUTER I COULD PERSONALIZE THE COLORS OF MY WINDOWS USING THE SLIDERS. PEOPLE WANT THE TRANSPARENCY, 3-D FLIP, AND ALL OTHER FEATURES AERO OFFERS. DOESN’T SEEM TO ME A LOT OF PEOPLE GIVING ADVICE AND CALLING PEOPLE NOOBS UNDERSTAND THAT. There’s nothing you can change to your system to get the true Aero interface as of now. You can always find some downloads that will do the same thing. I think Microsoft knows what they’re doing.
I know only one thing,
“Everything is possible.”
But we have to work hard for this and find a way.
Keep practicing and searching for this. I am doing.
Hi all,
The only things I like in Windows Vista is the things that were copied from a Mac.
And rumour has it that Bill Gates uses Linux,
So why an operating system that
a) not even the CEO of Microsoft would us
And
b) has a lot of stuff copied from another operating system.
And since when has a Mac had a virus…
Never!
Kind regards,
Leigh Kennedy.
GRRRRRRRRR! ANY WAY OF GETTING AERO WITHOUT EDITING THE REGISTRY? (oh look at that someone hit CapsLock)
First of all i have not tryed this hack. But i hope it works.
I got a fast computer Core 2 quad Over clocked to 4 GHz 3 gtx 280s in tri sli on a 790i and i run vista basic. y you might ask.. Well DX-10. And because do not want to pay 300 for the higher end vistas.
Basic does every thing i want it to this aro hack if it works is just a bonus. Now if it does not what ever.
Now i also know there programs like windows blinds crystalXP ect.
but i dont want to have to run and set up 3 or 4 differnt programs. when 2 REG changes get me the same thing.
oh and Keshav i think Glass 2k just works in XP/2000. and not in vista.
Leigh Kennedy says:
rumour has it that Bill Gates uses Linux,
I am shure Bill gates DOES NOT use linux. if he does not like vista the he is probley useing XP.
Leigh Kennedy says: Vista has a lot of stuff copied from another operating system.
I asume the outher os your talking about is MacOS. But you must rember that bill gates gave Apple computers 7mil to keep them from going under.
Now i dont want to start a PC vs MAC War. becase those go no whare. Its like ford saying that doge cant have power windows because they did it first. Who cares. And if mac os is so good how come people are puting XP on there macs hmmm?
Leigh Kennedy says: And since when has a Mac had a virus…
Never!
CHECK YOUR FACTS MAN they had Viruses. just not lots. because no hacker wants to infect 20% of the computer useing population. and if you think i am lieing GOOGLE it.
Now i got nothing aganst macs or apple computers i have a mac and i got no problems useing it. I am NOT a PC fan boy or any thing like that. But i am a INTeL guy.
WOW i shure can ramble..
Billgatez 31337 Super NERD
Hi all,
Which one of you are calling yourself ‘Leigh Kennedy’,
Because I know for a fact I haven’t posted any comments on this for a while!
Yes I am aware of the fact Mac OS X can get viruses, the Apple website clearly states that they get SOME but not all.
And I have an extremely good suggestion…
If you want to have ALL the Vista features for nothing,
How about turning to custom editions of Windows Vista!
One that I know of that a friend reckons is good is ‘Vista 2009 Black Edition’.
He says it has ALL the features of Windows Vista and also packs in extra features and fixes that Microsoft haven’t put in.
Kind Regards,
Leigh Kennedy
P.S. If you want to post comments, please use your own name and not mine!
My registry values are already set to those values only. so now, what should i do?
Hi all,
Try out Vista 2009 Black Edition!!!
It is available as a torrent.
And it is free!
It has ALL of Windows Vista’s eye-candy too!
WORKS! – Thanks, I have a laptop with Vista Basic, the hack works fine. There is nothing slow about my system now that I have Aero active…people love to assume crap. My video card falls short by one number actually…Aero still runs fast. I have 1gb of memory…I don’t see how Aero takes up 1gb itself…my system is running just as fast as it did before Aero got activated…and I’m a tech. [ CELERON M - 1GB DDR II - EVEREX LAPTOP]
Hey guys It finally worked.
all you need to do is. Of course do that Compostion thing a magig.
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM]
Composition = 1
CompositionPolicy = 2
Than open up your Start Button. And search for CMD. Once you found it.
Then, either use an administrative command prompt (right-click on Command Prompt and choose ‘Run as administrator’) to enter:
net stop uxsms
net start uxsms
Right click on “Personalize” and click on
“Window Color And Apperance” And choose
“Windows Vista Aero” Boom it worked
where do you find composition i go through everything and there is no composition but just default and if you right click it it shows modify or modify binary data.if this makes any sence
I don’t want to show that I’m stupid in this site, but I don’t understand how to do it, Hkey_Current_User that is the part.
Hah, you know what? I was about to call you all boneheads before I realized I already have Home Premium; I just had the DWM service disabled. Not so much a problem with four gigs of ram, though. :D
Hey guys, thx for the instructions here, i followed it to the letter an it works…and might i just say to thoes who do not have the basic understanding of human knowlage and have abused ppl here….if you don’t like their advice…go somewhere else…
Hey, someone managed to enable aero transparency on vista basic.
Check this out.
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/8371/vistabasicaeroqu6.jpg
My McLovin, can you please advise what else can be done to get this to work. I’ve tried
——————
all you need to do is. Of course do that Compostion thing a magig.
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM]
Composition = 1
CompositionPolicy = 2
Than open up your Start Button. And search for CMD. Once you found it.
Then, either use an administrative command prompt (right-click on Command Prompt and choose ‘Run as administrator’) to enter:
net stop uxsms
net start uxsms
Right click on “Personalize” and click on
“Window Color And Apperance” And choose
“Windows Vista Aero” Boom it worked
———————-
I’ve also tried CompositionPolicy = 1, but when I go to choose “Windows Vista Aero” it’s not available. I’ve already restated my PC as well. I know not to advise to people in these sites that it’s B.S., everyone has different system types and configurations, it’s finding the one that works with yours. So I’ve tried everything in these postings and am pretty PC savy (hack up most everything, but I haven’t vested time in this topic other than tonight). So any help is greatly appreciated to all….. Thanks!
cyberjax, I’m not quite sure what do you want actually. Do you want your window’s interface to look transparent or just have the aero effect?(aero effect is just the glassy look on the taskbar, no transparent effect).
If you are going for the aero effect, the hack thingy should work. I don’t know other tricks. If you are going for transparent effect in Vista Home Basic, well, I used TuneUp Utilities 2009 software and SteelFlash 100K theme. Hope this helps. I’m ready to debrief more if this didn’t helped you enough though.
I don’t understand a thing! What is “Hkey_Current_User \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ DWM \” supposed to mean?
One of vistas updates has disabled the hack. You cant run aero interface on basic no more.
Jessica that is a location in the Windows Registry.
Who cares about vista?
Quit crying and get Windows 7! :-D
I have build 7022 installed right now!
If you MUST use vista, try this: http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/03/22/hack-to-enable-windows-aero-in-vista-home-basic-edition/
this method doesn’t work in Windows Vista Basic, I tried in different machines that run vista basic edition, so I read in others web that the only way is install some program like windows blinds, vista glazz, and others.
i changed the desktop interface of my vistahome basic to an interface that can support dreamscene ! it means i can run videos as wall paper!
i chaned some values in the registry !
now aero is enabled in my vista home basic
this was good ! but i feel like a damaged my vista! because many dvd video games won-t launch again ! seance i did that!
it doesn’t work. you……
t is apparently not a big problem to enable the Vista Aero interface in Windows Vista Home Basic even though it is officially not included in that version. All you need to do is to change the values of two registry keys and restart Windows Vista afterwards. Open the registry by pressing Windows + R, typing regedit and hitting enter afterwards.
Navigate to the key Hkey_Current_User \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ DWM \ and change the value of the entry Composition to 1 and the value of CompositionPolicy to 0. AND NOT 2
Now you can select the Aero interface by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting Personalize from the menu. Switch to Colors and Appearance and click on Classic Appearance Properties.. and choose Windows Vista Aero from the menu.
Remember, this hack still requires you to have hardware capable of running Aero (in other words, a good graphics card), and don’t go to Microsoft expecting support if things go wrong.
how to locate dat key and that composite thing too……..
Ok:
McLovin says:
January 10, 2009 at 2:37 pm
cyberjax, I’m not quite sure what do you want actually. Do you want your window’s interface to look transparent or just have the aero effect?(aero effect is just the glassy look on the taskbar, no transparent effect).
If you are going for the aero effect, the hack thingy should work. I don’t know other tricks. If you are going for transparent effect in Vista Home Basic, well, I used TuneUp Utilities 2009 software and SteelFlash 100K theme. Hope this helps. I’m ready to debrief more if this didn’t helped you enough though
I tried this and it actually works, but I couldn’t find the SteelFlash 100K theme anywhere, so I was just wondering where you found that but thanks a lot already!!!
Also, I tried the registry thing and the top of the maximized windows are transparent but the switch between windows doesn’t work and the start menu isn’t transparent. I might have done something earlier to improve the performance that disabled those functions so any info would help.
guy the trick worked for me, but in the personalization when i go to ” open classic appearance properties”
i get – windows Vista basic
-windows vista standard
with no windows vista aero.. but the standard gets me the windows task bar colors, but no glassy taskbar, flip 3d and the other options aero adds..
anyhelp on how i get those? or aero jst doesn’t FULLY work on vista basic
if you want to use aero theme in your wista home basic,you install your graphic card or graphic file by your driver c.d.and then go following
<desktop
<right click <personalize<color and apperence<open classic clolor properties<select windows standard,
reply:-kcdiku2@gmail.com
found a cheap fix. if you have a .edu email address you can legit copies from microsoft at 90% off. I bout Visita Ultimate and Office Ultimate 2007 for $65 each. do a search on google for “microsoft ultimate steal”
Doesnt work HELP!!!
Ok, so I’ve looked into this awhile and I’ve found something that works for me. Sorry, but it does involve the registry. Do exactly what he explains up there but on CompositionPolicy change the value to 2 and on Composition set the value to 1. Be safe, create a restore point by clicking Start, Control Panel, System and Maintenance, Backup and Restore Center, and then clicking create a restore point on the side bar. Restore points create a place for your computer to fall back onto if everything goes to hell. (btw my value for Composition was already at 1 so don’t freak out if your’s is too). Hope this helps.
Also, this hack doesnt give you the ability to edit how Aero looks easily. I’m sure you can do it but i haven’t found it yet.
Disregard the last comment I posted. Read this updated one.
Do exactly what he explains up there but on CompositionPolicy change the value to 2 and on Composition set the value to 1. Restart your computer. Open command prompt. Type net stop uxsms, press enter. Type net start uxsms, press enter. You should now have Aero. You will not have the ability to change how Aero looks easily but I’m sure there is a hack to do it. (btw my value for Composition was already at 1 so don’t freak out if your’s is too). Hope this helps.
This does not work on Home Basic! However, there is a neat program I found that emulates Flip3d.
http://winflip.stylekings.de/
You might also want to check out this:
http://lee-soft.com/viglance/
wait is this gonna mess up my laptop cuz then im gonna be killed