sbal
Freshman Member
Posts: 28
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Post by sbal on Jun 19, 2021 15:40:24 GMT -8
I tried a few downloads from thi forum but they either rebooted to a black screen or did not work. I tried the steps in this youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_4i6X5OAw8) but explorer never stopped crashing (despite it eventually stopping in the video). Is there a current method that successfully disables DWM and leaves you with a usable system?
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Post by anixx on Jun 19, 2021 23:38:26 GMT -8
Copy rundll32.exe and rename it dwm.exe
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sbal
Freshman Member
Posts: 28
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Post by sbal on Jun 20, 2021 7:26:53 GMT -8
Copy rundll32.exe and rename it dwm.exe I did that, but that results ina desktop where explorer just crashes and restarts over and over again, leaving the system unusable |
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Post by ihatemetro on Jun 20, 2021 9:18:54 GMT -8
Copy rundll32.exe and rename it dwm.exe I did that, but that results ina desktop where explorer just crashes and restarts over and over again, leaving the system unusable To avoid that rename C:\Windows\SystemApps to something else. |
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sbal
Freshman Member
Posts: 28
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Post by sbal on Jun 21, 2021 16:20:00 GMT -8
Where can you download ClassicTheme.exe?
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sbal
Freshman Member
Posts: 28
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Post by sbal on Jun 23, 2021 7:22:12 GMT -8
I did that, but that results ina desktop where explorer just crashes and restarts over and over again, leaving the system unusable To avoid that rename C:\Windows\SystemApps to something else. I will give that a try this afternoon |
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sbal
Freshman Member
Posts: 28
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Post by sbal on Jun 25, 2021 11:26:55 GMT -8
I did that, but that results ina desktop where explorer just crashes and restarts over and over again, leaving the system unusable To avoid that rename C:\Windows\SystemApps to something else. OK I just tried that but Explorer keeps crashing on first boot and never gets to a useable state |
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Post by ihatemetro on Jun 25, 2021 15:27:13 GMT -8
To avoid that rename C:\Windows\SystemApps to something else. OK I just tried that but Explorer keeps crashing on first boot and never gets to a useable state I was confusing that with another error, oops. Make sure you have sihost.exe in your System32 directory and that you have it enabled in the registry. If you deleted it to get rid of the black screen, then my original solution allows for removing the black screen and also keeping explorer. |
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sbal
Freshman Member
Posts: 28
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Post by sbal on Jun 28, 2021 9:33:21 GMT -8
OK I just tried that but Explorer keeps crashing on first boot and never gets to a useable state I was confusing that with another error, oops. Make sure you have sihost.exe in your System32 directory and that you have it enabled in the registry. If you deleted it to get rid of the black screen, then my original solution allows for removing the black screen and also keeping explorer. Can you provide step by step instructions? I have been booting into install media, then going to a command prompt to do the removal (replace dwm with rundll and delete sihost and the Windows UI dll). I never got to a point where I can access the registry |
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Post by ihatemetro on Jun 28, 2021 10:04:03 GMT -8
I was confusing that with another error, oops. Make sure you have sihost.exe in your System32 directory and that you have it enabled in the registry. If you deleted it to get rid of the black screen, then my original solution allows for removing the black screen and also keeping explorer. Can you provide step by step instructions? I have been booting into install media, then going to a command prompt to do the removal (replace dwm with rundll and delete sihost and the Windows UI dll). I never got to a point where I can access the registry You DO NOT delete sihost.exe.
Here are the steps:
1. Boot into live medium.
2. Replace dwm.exe with rundll32.exe.
3. Rename WIndows.UI.Logon.dll.
4. Rename C:\Windows\SystemApps to something else.
5. Reboot
6. You now have DWM off.
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sbal
Freshman Member
Posts: 28
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Post by sbal on Jun 29, 2021 7:19:57 GMT -8
Can you provide step by step instructions? I have been booting into install media, then going to a command prompt to do the removal (replace dwm with rundll and delete sihost and the Windows UI dll). I never got to a point where I can access the registry You DO NOT delete sihost.exe.
Here are the steps:
1. Boot into live medium.
2. Replace dwm.exe with rundll32.exe.
3. Rename WIndows.UI.Logon.dll.
4. Rename C:\Windows\SystemApps to something else.
5. Reboot
6. You now have DWM off.
I will give it a shot and report back. I accidentally trashed my Win10 VM so I need to make a new one |
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sbal
Freshman Member
Posts: 28
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Post by sbal on Jun 29, 2021 12:05:37 GMT -8
Can you provide step by step instructions? I have been booting into install media, then going to a command prompt to do the removal (replace dwm with rundll and delete sihost and the Windows UI dll). I never got to a point where I can access the registry You DO NOT delete sihost.exe.
Here are the steps:
1. Boot into live medium.
2. Replace dwm.exe with rundll32.exe.
3. Rename WIndows.UI.Logon.dll.
4. Rename C:\Windows\SystemApps to something else.
5. Reboot
6. You now have DWM off.
OK, I have it booted now but it's not really workable I kwp getting random black windows and the taskbar doesnt work. Can this be made into a usable system? |
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Post by ihatemetro on Jun 29, 2021 15:49:37 GMT -8
You DO NOT delete sihost.exe.
Here are the steps:
1. Boot into live medium.
2. Replace dwm.exe with rundll32.exe.
3. Rename WIndows.UI.Logon.dll.
4. Rename C:\Windows\SystemApps to something else.
5. Reboot
6. You now have DWM off.
OK, I have it booted now but it's not really workable I kwp getting random black windows and the taskbar doesnt work. Can this be made into a usable system? Yeah, those are issues I have with DWM off too. Random black windows and semi-broken taskbar. Only the taskbar can be fixed AFAIK. Taskbar fixes: Start Menu - Open-Shell or StartIsBack++ (latter is paid, but you can get a sort of "infinite trial" like with winrar. And no, it's not "cracking" the software or modifying it in any way) Taskbar Jump Lists - StartIsBack++ (Is compatible with Open-Shell as start menu and StartIsBack for taskbar, just make sure to select the default start menu instead of the other skins and also have a blank start button in StartIsBack. You also need a custom start button in Open-Shell). You could also just use 7+ Taskbar Tweaker to enable the old Vista/XP-style taskbar window controls (the context menu) if you want to have a more classic look. Volume flyout: www.howtogeek.com/323371/how-to-get-the-old-volume-control-back-on-windows-10/Clock (WITH SIB ONLY in 1607+) and Battery flyouts: www.howtogeek.com/257525/how-to-restore-the-old-clock-calendar-and-battery-on-the-windows-10-taskbar/Only fix for black windows are to resize them as small as possible, you might also be able to use Process Hacker to kill the process that handles that window. Also, Control Panel modifications (adding entries to old unused dll cpls from Windows 8/earlier versions of Windows 10, and sometimes editing them) and some classic CPLs like ReactOS desk.cpl are needed to actually "survive" on DWM off permanently. If you are on 2004+, File Explorer search will not work unless if you run file explorer elevated (aka as admin). |
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sbal
Freshman Member
Posts: 28
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Post by sbal on Jun 30, 2021 5:51:29 GMT -8
Well, I have it "pretty" usable. I installed StartIsBack (I have no problem paying a few bucks for good software) and that gets me the taskbar and start menu working. I do get a fair bunch of random black windows, but if you click the "Show Desktop" button on the far right of the Taskbar, they vanish. The only thing that doesn't work at all is UWP settings windows as expected, SO I may have to re-enable DWM, set everything up how I want, then disable it. But browsing on Edge and Chrome both work, File Explorer works, I haven't tried a ton of software but so far no showstoppers. I don't care about the volume call out or clock. I did have to change Alt-Tab back to classic mode by following the directions at social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/52222.windows-10-how-to-enable-the-old-style-alt-tab.aspxIs there any way to disable DWM on a running system? I can't find a way to rename c:\windows\SystemApps while the system is running, even using PowerRun. Having to boot into boot media and access the FS that way is a pain OK, I have it booted now but it's not really workable I kwp getting random black windows and the taskbar doesnt work. Can this be made into a usable system? Yeah, those are issues I have with DWM off too. Random black windows and semi-broken taskbar. Only the taskbar can be fixed AFAIK. Taskbar fixes: Start Menu - Open-Shell or StartIsBack++ (latter is paid, but you can get a sort of "infinite trial" like with winrar. And no, it's not "cracking" the software or modifying it in any way) Taskbar Jump Lists - StartIsBack++ (Is compatible with Open-Shell as start menu and StartIsBack for taskbar, just make sure to select the default start menu instead of the other skins and also have a blank start button in StartIsBack. You also need a custom start button in Open-Shell). You could also just use 7+ Taskbar Tweaker to enable the old Vista/XP-style taskbar window controls (the context menu) if you want to have a more classic look. Volume flyout: www.howtogeek.com/323371/how-to-get-the-old-volume-control-back-on-windows-10/Clock (WITH SIB ONLY in 1607+) and Battery flyouts: www.howtogeek.com/257525/how-to-restore-the-old-clock-calendar-and-battery-on-the-windows-10-taskbar/Only fix for black windows are to resize them as small as possible, you might also be able to use Process Hacker to kill the process that handles that window. Also, Control Panel modifications (adding entries to old unused dll cpls from Windows 8/earlier versions of Windows 10, and sometimes editing them) and some classic CPLs like ReactOS desk.cpl are needed to actually "survive" on DWM off permanently. If you are on 2004+, File Explorer search will not work unless if you run file explorer elevated (aka as admin). |
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Post by ihatemetro on Jun 30, 2021 6:27:08 GMT -8
Well, I have it "pretty" usable. I installed StartIsBack (I have no problem paying a few bucks for good software) and that gets me the taskbar and start menu working. I do get a fair bunch of random black windows, but if you click the "Show Desktop" button on the far right of the Taskbar, they vanish. The only thing that doesn't work at all is UWP settings windows as expected, SO I may have to re-enable DWM, set everything up how I want, then disable it. But browsing on Edge and Chrome both work, File Explorer works, I haven't tried a ton of software but so far no showstoppers. I don't care about the volume call out or clock. I did have to change Alt-Tab back to classic mode by following the directions at social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/52222.windows-10-how-to-enable-the-old-style-alt-tab.aspxIs there any way to disable DWM on a running system? I can't find a way to rename c:\windows\SystemApps while the system is running, even using PowerRun. Having to boot into boot media and access the FS that way is a pain Yeah, those are issues I have with DWM off too. Random black windows and semi-broken taskbar. Only the taskbar can be fixed AFAIK. Taskbar fixes: Start Menu - Open-Shell or StartIsBack++ (latter is paid, but you can get a sort of "infinite trial" like with winrar. And no, it's not "cracking" the software or modifying it in any way) Taskbar Jump Lists - StartIsBack++ (Is compatible with Open-Shell as start menu and StartIsBack for taskbar, just make sure to select the default start menu instead of the other skins and also have a blank start button in StartIsBack. You also need a custom start button in Open-Shell). You could also just use 7+ Taskbar Tweaker to enable the old Vista/XP-style taskbar window controls (the context menu) if you want to have a more classic look. Volume flyout: www.howtogeek.com/323371/how-to-get-the-old-volume-control-back-on-windows-10/Clock (WITH SIB ONLY in 1607+) and Battery flyouts: www.howtogeek.com/257525/how-to-restore-the-old-clock-calendar-and-battery-on-the-windows-10-taskbar/Only fix for black windows are to resize them as small as possible, you might also be able to use Process Hacker to kill the process that handles that window. Also, Control Panel modifications (adding entries to old unused dll cpls from Windows 8/earlier versions of Windows 10, and sometimes editing them) and some classic CPLs like ReactOS desk.cpl are needed to actually "survive" on DWM off permanently. If you are on 2004+, File Explorer search will not work unless if you run file explorer elevated (aka as admin). I think I have a way to disable dwm on a running system. 1. Kill explorer 2. Kill any metro processes you see, as well as sihost (you could also do this after suspending winlogon) 3. Suspend winlogon.exe 4. Kill dwm.exe 5. Rename SystemApps 6. Replace dwm.exe with rundll32.exe 7. Rename Windows.UI.Logon.dll 8. Un-suspend winlogon.exe 9. Start explorer (it automatically starts sihost) 10. You might have dwm off, or it might not work lol Afterwards you can install startisback and such. |
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Post by anixx on Jun 30, 2021 10:05:35 GMT -8
If you have some unwanted windows, an AHK script may help to close them automatically.
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Post by ihatemetro on Jun 30, 2021 10:14:43 GMT -8
If you have some unwanted windows, an AHK script may help to close them automatically. They seem to be metro apps or something similar and have no name on the titlebars. |
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Post by anixx on Jun 30, 2021 10:27:28 GMT -8
If you have some unwanted windows, an AHK script may help to close them automatically. They seem to be metro apps or something similar and have no name on the titlebars. You can use Window Detective to find their real names. |
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Post by TechSalt on Oct 3, 2022 10:51:39 GMT -8
Started to have some interest into disabling DWM, i can live without UWP (including the settings app) however it seems to break OpenGL when disabling it. For example, SuperTuxKart and Minecraft don't render anymore.
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Post by TechSalt on Oct 4, 2022 6:26:51 GMT -8
Started to have some interest into disabling DWM, i can live without UWP (including the settings app) however it seems to break OpenGL when disabling it. For example, SuperTuxKart and Minecraft don't render anymore. Old XBMC (windowed) doesn't render anymore either. This might be something related to DirectDraw or maybe the graphics driver |
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