Disable certain Windows Visual Effects Settings?

[netmonk99]

Is there any way use UVK scripts to disable certain Visual Effect settings in Windows (see attached picture)? I'm looking for ways to further speed up the optimization process in our shop.

Thanks!

[Fred]

The settings you see in the Visual effects tab are saved in several places in the registry:

Code: Select all

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects]
;0 = Let Windows choose what's best for my computer
;1 = Adjust for best appearance
;2 = Adjust for best performance
;3 = Custom
"VisualFXSetting"=dword:00000003

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager]
;Use visual styles on windows and buttons (0=off 1=on)
"ThemeActive"="1"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM]
;The following values set glass transparency and arero for windows
"Composition"=dword:00000001
"ColorizationOpaqueBlend"=dword:00000001
"EnableAeroPeek"=dword:00000001
"CompositionPolicy"=dword:00000002
"AlwaysHibernateThumbnails"=dword:00000001
"ColorizationColor"=dword:a84f1b1b
"ColorizationColorBalance"=dword:00000038
"ColorizationAfterglow"=dword:a84f1b1b
"ColorizationAfterglowBalance"=dword:0000000b
"ColorizationBlurBalance"=dword:00000021
"ColorizationGlassReflectionIntensity"=dword:00000032
"LastDisqualifiedCompositionSignature"=dword:0015f900
"UseDpiScaling"=dword:00000000

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
;Use common tasks in folders (0=off 1=on)
"WebView"=dword:00000001

;Show translucent selection rectangle (0=off 1=on)
"ListviewAlphaSelect"=dword:00000001

;Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop (0=off 1=on)
"ListviewShadow"=dword:00000001

;Use a background image for each folder type (0=off 1=on)
"ListviewWatermark"=dword:00000001

;Slide taskbar buttons (0=off 1=on)
"TaskbarAnimations"=dword:00000001


[HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]
;Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing (0=off 1=on)
"MinAnimate"="1"


[HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop]
;Show window contents while dragging (0=off 1=on)
"DragFullWindows"="1"

;Smooth edges of screen fonts (0=off 2=on)
"FontSmoothing"="2"

;Smooth scroll list boxes
;Slide open combo boxes
;Fade or slide menus into view
;Show shadows under mouse pointer
;Fade or slide tooltips into view
;Fade out menu items after clicking
;Show shadows under menus
;(All off = 90,12,01,80   All on = 9e,3e,05,80)
"UserPreferencesMask"=hex:9e,3e,05,80

This last entry deserves some elaboration. UserPreferencesMask uses a 4 byte entry to hold the values for 7 different visual effects, and a few other options. If we expand this 4 byte hex entry into binary, we get
1001ABC0 00D1EF10 00000G01 10000000
where bits A - G are used for the following visual effects using 0=off and 1=on
A = Smooth scroll list boxes
B = Slide open combo boxes
C = Fade or slide menus into view
D = Show shadows under mouse pointer
E = Fade or slide tooltips into view
F = Fade out menu items after clicking
G = Show shadows under menus

For example:

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1001ABC0 00D1EF10 00000G01 10000000
10010000 00010010 00000001 10000000 = 90 12 01 80 (all off)
10011110 00111110 00000101 10000000 = 9e 3e 05 80 (all on)
10010000 00110010 00000101 10000000 = 90 32 05 80 (mouse and menu shadows)

I think the easiest way is to configure the effects manually, export the 6 registry keys below, and then use one of the methods I explained in your Add / merge a registry file topic to import them back.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

Important:

• Messing with the registry can cause serious damages to your system. If you're not sure of what you're doing, don't do anything.
  
  If you're using the UVK immunization, you must un-immunize the Desktop and Explorer registry entries sections before running the script. You can do it within the script with the command <ImunizeSystem>, which will in-immunize all sections.

Hope it helps.

[Shikha2]

looking for same information...
netmonk99 is this helpful solution...?

[Utam7623]

Thanks for sharing...