Well, the default Aero themes that came with Window work - after I turn back on a service called "usxms" I checked the log and this was the message, "The Desktop Window Manager was unable to start because a composited theme is not in use"  What the? I can't think of anything I've added to the machine, but there was a bunch I uninstalled. I don't see how outdated programs have to do with anything. Besides, that was hours before the crash.  My alter-ego works fine, but this account has everything under the sun for the last forever years. The title bars show up when Aero is off, and then go nearly completely clear when it is turned on - just the applications, not the windows.

Wow. Try uninstalling WindowBlinds after reverting back to the default Aero skin, reboot and run CCleaner or similar app the re-install WindowBlinds and reboot. Files the app uses may have been corrupted by all the playing around. Hope this helps.

I'm more than a little bit confused however sometimes when you apply a skin it doesn't paint correctly the first (and sometimes second) time and the blind needs to be reapplied.

not all blinds will roll-up. it has to be a part of the coding that the author uses. I don't find an option for roll-up when right clicking on the window's title section, what is it that you see.

what program are you referring to?

There is an option in  WB config > Settings that you can enable for rollups.  Down at the bottom of that window, there are options for double-clicking and right clicking.  I have my double-click option set to rollup the blind.  I just double click on the titlebar and the window rolls up.  It works with all blinds, whether the author made a button for rollup or not.

thanks for the info MJ, I'm glad that I set my roll-up height even though I usually don't include a roll-up button.

That method is what I use and it works well exept for a time when I had a bad mouse that wanted to double click with every click. I had to disable roll-up until the mouse was replaced.

I use right click for my roll up. In WB you can choose what you want for double and right click. Big long list.  As for programs with clear title bars in Aero mode. That would be all of them. Anything that uses .exe to start.  Windows are fine. If I cranked the opacity really high, I could just see the title bar. Nothing I did would let the roll up work.

Before it really blew up it was working. I switched to another theme and it wasn't. So I thought I would check it in Skin Studio to see if there was something that turned it on and off. While I was looking I was trying to make some text larger and a couple other tweaks (never got that text either) then the computer had a heart attack when it was doing that cloud over while it applies the skin. It flashed and blinked and then it reapplied the skin again. Then Aero quit permanently.

I have been running the themes and gadgets and even some wallpapers (except they overheated the GPU and I quit using them) Nothing has happened until now.  Microsoft site says "go back to your restore point". Now that I'm using MS virus scan I might actually have one of those.  Then to reinstall some software. Sigh.

Since I am on the subject of software, which of the following is no longer necessary or just a total waste of time? (copied the list from a web site) It seems that some are crazy redundant and if you have one you don't need another.  WindowBlinds-Colors-ThemeManager   IconPackager-ThemeManager  Which would you skin with and why do you need more than one.

1. DeskScapes
2. DesktopX
3. IconDeveloper
4. IconPackager
5. SkinStudio
6. SoundPackager
7. Theme Manager
8. WindowBlinds
9. WindowFX 4
10. KeepSafe
11. Multiplicity
12. BootSkin
13. CursorFX
14. DirectSkin
15. LogonStudio
16. Multiplicity Pro
17. ObjectDock
18. Colors
19. Fences Pro
20. WindowFX
21. Tiles

I know I'm lazy and could have posted another, but since I'm going to clean out some software while I troubleshoot this...  (and no, I don't own all of them just what you get from the package deal plus a couple like Multiplicity Pro)

Greg you don't need a roll-up button. Just double clicking on the top of the window will roll it up. You may already know this so sorry if I jumped in for no reason.

Try running Aero Repair.

actually no, I didn't know that. but I do include a roll-up button as part of my current project.

I just tried this on ie8 and it maximized and minimized on double click, so did several other programs, no roll-up???

That seemed to be something new (for me, anyhow) It didn't find anything. I did, however, uninstall and reinstall WB. Things are running Aero now, but I am certain that there is more wrong.I guess it is stable enough to edit a skin again. After trying out about ten icon packs looking for "just the right one" to go with my skin I'm thinking it might be time to learn to make a piece of paper and a folder in my graphics program...

I did discover that if someone installs the free version of Icon Packager and didn't uninstall it when they upgraded they would have two links in the Programs Control Panel. Also, if they try to remove the free one and leave the other it doesn't work - it removes both. Now I am missing the "icon" options in Explorer.  I'm eyeballing that WindowsBlinds 5.5 uninstall and trying to decide if I want to run that or not with all the problems lately.

I use IE 8 as well, and it rolls up just fine.

Did you check Settings in WB config to make sure you had the double-click set to roll up the blind?

ah, I'll check, nope thanks

WB has to be TSR. I've been having fun settling the arguments between WB and WinFX. The two special actions actually get along. I just hold the right mouse a little longer to spawn the WinFX menu. It does, however, do weird things when I save settings. WB rolls right up when I tell it to save a window size.