dreamscapes issue

I just installed Vista and installed Dreamscapes.   When I download a wallpaper, i get the message' desktop windows manager must be running to use deskscapes.  How do i turn it on?  Thank you.

10,135 views 10 replies
Reply #1 Top

Need more info such as what version of Vista are you using and what is the user experience rating for that system?

Reply #2 Top

He's running Basic.

 

Control Panel/ Performance Information: Update score.

 

Start/Start Search:  type services.msc

Scroll: 'Desktop Window Manager Session Manager', right click

Properties/ Startup Type: Automatic.

Reboot.

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Reply #3 Top

Please note that if you score under a 2 you will not be able to run Deskscapes with out manually turning on some system settings. However if you are running at a 2 these are not the settings you want to turn on.

Reply #4 Top

My score is 3.0 and I'm running basic.  I did as you suggested, rebooted and now my sidebar didn't load up

Reply #6 Top

My device manager tells me that the video controller has a problem, I've tried to update the driver to no avail. Could this be the problem?  I recently installed a Nvidia GeForce 6200 pci video card.

Reply #7 Top

ok, I got my sidebar back, but windows session manager still is not starting

Reply #8 Top

If DWM already running, right click the desktop, go to personalize, then theme. Apply the Windows Vista theme there.
Go to Start and right click on Computer, then go to properties. Click on Advanced system settings and click the Settings button under Performance.

Be sure that Desktop composition is enabled. Click OK after enabling that, then click the Settings button to be sure that is still enabled.

Reply #9 Top

Hi Seabass, I just recently installed Vista Business. I have installed the latest nVidia nForce driver for the 590 SLI chipset. I do not think I've seperatly installed the nVidia display driver yet. I'm having the same issue except that the Window Desktop Manager is running and is set to automatic and Desktop composition is already enabled. I'll repost when all the updates are completed and I have all my drivers installed.

 

EDIT: P.S. I have an EVGA 8800 GTS 320MB video card.

Reply #10 Top

Do you have a MPEG-2 video codec installed?

To display video dreams a MPEG-2 decoder is required. Certain versions of Vista do not come with this codec. Software like PowerDvD includes this in it's install. Certain versions of Vista do not come with this codec.

Here is the info page on Deskscapes where you will find a link to a third party codec. https://www.stardock.com/products/deskscapes/downloads.asp

Unless there is some sort of configuration issue with SLI set ups that could cause a conflict with running dreams I am unaware of this is my guess for what is stopping you from playing dreams.

 

Anyone else have an SLI set up that runs Deskscapes?