Change Color Settings

• The Windows Aero theme is very demanding on your video card, and if you do not have your color settings high enough, the result will be a poorly rendered interface, which will look grainy or dull. To modify the color settings, open the Control Panel, select "Appearance and Personalization," and select "Display Settings." Find the "Colors" section, select "Highest (32 bit)," and click "OK."
  
  

Update Drivers

• If you upgraded to Windows Vista (as opposed to having it come standard on your computer) you may have out-of-date video drivers, which could be interfering with the Aero theme and cause it to malfunction and display incorrectly. To update your drivers, run the installation CD that came with your video card. The install program will automatically check for updates, and all patches will be downloaded directly to your computer, fixing any compatibility problems you are having with Vista's Aero interface.
  
  

Tone Down Aero's Features

• If you have determined that your computer is malfunctioning due to the Aero interface (and not Aero being misconfigured) you can tone down some of Aero's features without disabling it completely. To toggle Aero's individual components, open the Control Panel, and select "Appearance and Personalization." Click "Personalization." You can now adjust some of Windows Vista's features, including the color of the windows and the glass effect that punctuate the Aero theme.
  
  

Turn off Aero Completely

• If Aero is consuming too many resources, and your computer is frequently crashing or freezing, you can disable Aero completely by going to the "Appearance and Personalization" area of the Control Panel and finding the Window Color and Appearance. Find the "Color scheme" area, and select a basic (non-Aero) color scheme, and click "OK." The Aero interface will disappear.