Vista Question (Aero/Toshiba A105 laptop)

> Installed the latest Vista Beta on a Toshiba A105-S2712 laptop. The Vista
> advisor, running under XP, says it can run Aero. This laptop has an Intel
> 915 chipset with Intel Graphics Accelerator 900 chipset video (uses shared
> memory). This video system can allocate 128MB of video memory and
> supports Pixel Shader 2. The computer has a gigabyte of total memory.
> The CPU is a Pentium M 1.73GHz (not a Celeron).
>
> My questions all revolve around running Aero the Aero interface on this
> system.
>
> First, how can I tell if Aero is running? If Aero is like an Orgasm ("if
> you don't know if you are running it, you are not"), then I'm not running
> Aero. There is nothing spectacularly different that reaches out and
> shakes me, no transparent see-through Windows or anything like that.
>
> Second, if I'm not running it, is there anything in Vista itself that will
> come right out and tell me if I'm running Aero, if not why not, and is
> there anything I can do turn Aero on if it's currently off?
>
> [Note, I'm using pretty much "Classic everything" .... start menu,
> desktop, folders]
>
> Thanks

> Most everyone checks the Taskbar to see if it is transparent. Also, in the
> top middle of the Welcome Center you should see "(Microsoft Windows WDDM)"
> following the name of the graphics adaptor. This also appears in Device
> Manager when you expand graphics adaptors.
>
> "Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:e$0EW%23gqGHA.3484@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>

>>Installed the latest Vista Beta on a Toshiba A105-S2712 laptop. The Vista
>>advisor, running under XP, says it can run Aero. This laptop has an Intel
>>915 chipset with Intel Graphics Accelerator 900 chipset video (uses shared
>>memory). This video system can allocate 128MB of video memory and
>>supports Pixel Shader 2. The computer has a gigabyte of total memory.
>>The CPU is a Pentium M 1.73GHz (not a Celeron).
>>
>>My questions all revolve around running Aero the Aero interface on this
>>system.
>>
>>First, how can I tell if Aero is running? If Aero is like an Orgasm ("if
>>you don't know if you are running it, you are not"), then I'm not running
>>Aero. There is nothing spectacularly different that reaches out and
>>shakes me, no transparent see-through Windows or anything like that.
>>
>>Second, if I'm not running it, is there anything in Vista itself that will
>>come right out and tell me if I'm running Aero, if not why not, and is
>>there anything I can do turn Aero on if it's currently off?
>>
>>[Note, I'm using pretty much "Classic everything" .... start menu,
>>desktop, folders]
>>
>>Thanks

>
>
>

> Installed the latest Vista Beta on a Toshiba A105-S2712 laptop. The Vista
> advisor, running under XP, says it can run Aero. This laptop has an Intel
> 915 chipset with Intel Graphics Accelerator 900 chipset video (uses shared
> memory). This video system can allocate 128MB of video memory and
> supports Pixel Shader 2. The computer has a gigabyte of total memory.
> The CPU is a Pentium M 1.73GHz (not a Celeron).
>
> My questions all revolve around running Aero the Aero interface on this
> system.
>
> First, how can I tell if Aero is running? If Aero is like an Orgasm ("if
> you don't know if you are running it, you are not"), then I'm not running
> Aero. There is nothing spectacularly different that reaches out and
> shakes me, no transparent see-through Windows or anything like that.
>
> Second, if I'm not running it, is there anything in Vista itself that will
> come right out and tell me if I'm running Aero, if not why not, and is
> there anything I can do turn Aero on if it's currently off?
>
> [Note, I'm using pretty much "Classic everything" .... start menu,
> desktop, folders]
>
> Thanks

> The task bar is not transparent; the driver does not say WDDM.
>
> Going out on a limb here, I'm going to speculate that this hardware is
> capable of running Aero: The Vista Advisor says that it WILL, and from
> what I can tell it meets all of the required hardware specs (128MB of
> memory, DX9, Pixel Shader 2).
>
> But, speculating further, the currently available driver doesn't implement
> it.
>
> Is there any way to find out for sure if a future driver release is going
> to support Aero on this hardware (Intel GMA 900 chipset video implemented
> as part of the Intel 915 laptop chipset)? Given that this chipset was
> used in a huge percentage of laptops produced in the past year by all
> laptop makers, probably tens or hundreds of millions of laptops, there
> certainly is interest in having a driver for this that supports Aero.
> And, furtheremore, there's a serious issue (perhaps a legal issue) if the
> Vista Advisor says that it will run Aero but it won't (for whatever
> reason).
>
>
> Colin Barnhorst wrote:
>

>> Most everyone checks the Taskbar to see if it is transparent. Also, in
>> the top middle of the Welcome Center you should see "(Microsoft Windows
>> WDDM)" following the name of the graphics adaptor. This also appears in
>> Device Manager when you expand graphics adaptors.
>>
>> "Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
>> news:e$0EW%23gqGHA.3484@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>

>>>Installed the latest Vista Beta on a Toshiba A105-S2712 laptop. The
>>>Vista advisor, running under XP, says it can run Aero. This laptop has
>>>an Intel 915 chipset with Intel Graphics Accelerator 900 chipset video
>>>(uses shared memory). This video system can allocate 128MB of video
>>>memory and supports Pixel Shader 2. The computer has a gigabyte of total
>>>memory. The CPU is a Pentium M 1.73GHz (not a Celeron).
>>>
>>>My questions all revolve around running Aero the Aero interface on this
>>>system.
>>>
>>>First, how can I tell if Aero is running? If Aero is like an Orgasm ("if
>>>you don't know if you are running it, you are not"), then I'm not running
>>>Aero. There is nothing spectacularly different that reaches out and
>>>shakes me, no transparent see-through Windows or anything like that.
>>>
>>>Second, if I'm not running it, is there anything in Vista itself that
>>>will come right out and tell me if I'm running Aero, if not why not, and
>>>is there anything I can do turn Aero on if it's currently off?
>>>
>>>[Note, I'm using pretty much "Classic everything" .... start menu,
>>>desktop, folders]
>>>
>>>Thanks

>>
>>

> As you have concluded, you also need a WDDM driver. Intel may not have a
> driver for Vista yet. If not, Microsoft will not be writing the driver,
> Intel will. Until you have a WDDM driver, you will not see Glass. One of
> the frustrations of sweating out a beta product.
>
> "Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:44BC5B99.3040803@neo.rr.com...
>

>>The task bar is not transparent; the driver does not say WDDM.
>>
>>Going out on a limb here, I'm going to speculate that this hardware is
>>capable of running Aero: The Vista Advisor says that it WILL, and from
>>what I can tell it meets all of the required hardware specs (128MB of
>>memory, DX9, Pixel Shader 2).
>>
>>But, speculating further, the currently available driver doesn't implement
>>it.
>>
>>Is there any way to find out for sure if a future driver release is going
>>to support Aero on this hardware (Intel GMA 900 chipset video implemented
>>as part of the Intel 915 laptop chipset)? Given that this chipset was
>>used in a huge percentage of laptops produced in the past year by all
>>laptop makers, probably tens or hundreds of millions of laptops, there
>>certainly is interest in having a driver for this that supports Aero.
>>And, furtheremore, there's a serious issue (perhaps a legal issue) if the
>>Vista Advisor says that it will run Aero but it won't (for whatever
>>reason).
>>
>>
>>Colin Barnhorst wrote:
>>
>>

>>>Most everyone checks the Taskbar to see if it is transparent. Also, in
>>>the top middle of the Welcome Center you should see "(Microsoft Windows
>>>WDDM)" following the name of the graphics adaptor. This also appears in
>>>Device Manager when you expand graphics adaptors.
>>>
>>>"Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
>>>news:e$0EW%23gqGHA.3484@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl. ..
>>>
>>>
>>>>Installed the latest Vista Beta on a Toshiba A105-S2712 laptop. The
>>>>Vista advisor, running under XP, says it can run Aero. This laptop has
>>>>an Intel 915 chipset with Intel Graphics Accelerator 900 chipset video
>>>>(uses shared memory). This video system can allocate 128MB of video
>>>>memory and supports Pixel Shader 2. The computer has a gigabyte of total
>>>>memory. The CPU is a Pentium M 1.73GHz (not a Celeron).
>>>>
>>>>My questions all revolve around running Aero the Aero interface on this
>>>>system.
>>>>
>>>>First, how can I tell if Aero is running? If Aero is like an Orgasm ("if
>>>>you don't know if you are running it, you are not"), then I'm not running
>>>>Aero. There is nothing spectacularly different that reaches out and
>>>>shakes me, no transparent see-through Windows or anything like that.
>>>>
>>>>Second, if I'm not running it, is there anything in Vista itself that
>>>>will come right out and tell me if I'm running Aero, if not why not, and
>>>>is there anything I can do turn Aero on if it's currently off?
>>>>
>>>>[Note, I'm using pretty much "Classic everything" .... start menu,
>>>>desktop, folders]
>>>>
>>>>Thanks
>>>
>>>

>

> The Upgrade Advisor Beta has an acknowledged bug regarding the Intel 915
> graphics chipset. The 915 will NOT support Aero.
>
> -Reed Rinn
> MVP Shell / User
>
>
> "Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:e$0EW%23gqGHA.3484@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>

>>Installed the latest Vista Beta on a Toshiba A105-S2712 laptop. The Vista
>>advisor, running under XP, says it can run Aero. This laptop has an Intel
>>915 chipset with Intel Graphics Accelerator 900 chipset video (uses shared
>>memory). This video system can allocate 128MB of video memory and
>>supports Pixel Shader 2. The computer has a gigabyte of total memory.
>>The CPU is a Pentium M 1.73GHz (not a Celeron).
>>
>>My questions all revolve around running Aero the Aero interface on this
>>system.
>>
>>First, how can I tell if Aero is running? If Aero is like an Orgasm ("if
>>you don't know if you are running it, you are not"), then I'm not running
>>Aero. There is nothing spectacularly different that reaches out and
>>shakes me, no transparent see-through Windows or anything like that.
>>
>>Second, if I'm not running it, is there anything in Vista itself that will
>>come right out and tell me if I'm running Aero, if not why not, and is
>>there anything I can do turn Aero on if it's currently off?
>>
>>[Note, I'm using pretty much "Classic everything" .... start menu,
>>desktop, folders]
>>
>>Thanks

>
>
>

> Waiting does not bother me IF I KNOW THAT IT IS COMING (even next year,
> after the public release). But I am advising people on purchase
> decisions, and the concern is that there might never be a Vista driver for
> this chipset that supports Aero, which would be especially upsetting given
> that the Vista Advisor says that it will run Aero. What I'd like is some
> assurance that yes, it will be supported, even though it's not yet.
>
>
> Colin Barnhorst wrote:
>

>> As you have concluded, you also need a WDDM driver. Intel may not have a
>> driver for Vista yet. If not, Microsoft will not be writing the driver,
>> Intel will. Until you have a WDDM driver, you will not see Glass. One
>> of the frustrations of sweating out a beta product.
>>
>> "Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
>> news:44BC5B99.3040803@neo.rr.com...
>>

>>>The task bar is not transparent; the driver does not say WDDM.
>>>
>>>Going out on a limb here, I'm going to speculate that this hardware is
>>>capable of running Aero: The Vista Advisor says that it WILL, and from
>>>what I can tell it meets all of the required hardware specs (128MB of
>>>memory, DX9, Pixel Shader 2).
>>>
>>>But, speculating further, the currently available driver doesn't
>>>implement it.
>>>
>>>Is there any way to find out for sure if a future driver release is going
>>>to support Aero on this hardware (Intel GMA 900 chipset video implemented
>>>as part of the Intel 915 laptop chipset)? Given that this chipset was
>>>used in a huge percentage of laptops produced in the past year by all
>>>laptop makers, probably tens or hundreds of millions of laptops, there
>>>certainly is interest in having a driver for this that supports Aero.
>>>And, furtheremore, there's a serious issue (perhaps a legal issue) if the
>>>Vista Advisor says that it will run Aero but it won't (for whatever
>>>reason).
>>>
>>>
>>>Colin Barnhorst wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Most everyone checks the Taskbar to see if it is transparent. Also, in
>>>>the top middle of the Welcome Center you should see "(Microsoft Windows
>>>>WDDM)" following the name of the graphics adaptor. This also appears in
>>>>Device Manager when you expand graphics adaptors.
>>>>
>>>>"Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:e$0EW%23gqGHA.3484@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl.. .
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Installed the latest Vista Beta on a Toshiba A105-S2712 laptop. The
>>>>>Vista advisor, running under XP, says it can run Aero. This laptop has
>>>>>an Intel 915 chipset with Intel Graphics Accelerator 900 chipset video
>>>>>(uses shared memory). This video system can allocate 128MB of video
>>>>>memory and supports Pixel Shader 2. The computer has a gigabyte of
>>>>>total memory. The CPU is a Pentium M 1.73GHz (not a Celeron).
>>>>>
>>>>>My questions all revolve around running Aero the Aero interface on this
>>>>>system.
>>>>>
>>>>>First, how can I tell if Aero is running? If Aero is like an Orgasm
>>>>>("if you don't know if you are running it, you are not"), then I'm not
>>>>>running Aero. There is nothing spectacularly different that reaches
>>>>>out and shakes me, no transparent see-through Windows or anything like
>>>>>that.
>>>>>
>>>>>Second, if I'm not running it, is there anything in Vista itself that
>>>>>will come right out and tell me if I'm running Aero, if not why not,
>>>>>and is there anything I can do turn Aero on if it's currently off?
>>>>>
>>>>>[Note, I'm using pretty much "Classic everything" .... start menu,
>>>>>desktop, folders]
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks
>>>>
>>>>

>>

>>>>>
>>>>>"Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
>>>>>news:e$0EW%23gqGHA.3484@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl. ..
>>>>>
>>>>>>Installed the latest Vista Beta on a Toshiba A105-S2712 laptop. The
>>>>>>Vista advisor, running under XP, says it can run Aero. This laptop has
>>>>>>an Intel 915 chipset with Intel Graphics Accelerator 900 chipset video
>>>>>>(uses shared memory). This video system can allocate 128MB of video
>>>>>>memory and supports Pixel Shader 2. The computer has a gigabyte of
>>>>>>total memory. The CPU is a Pentium M 1.73GHz (not a Celeron).
>>>>>>
>>>>>>My questions all revolve around running Aero the Aero interface on this
>>>>>>system.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>First, how can I tell if Aero is running? If Aero is like an Orgasm
>>>>>>("if you don't know if you are running it, you are not"), then I'm not
>>>>>>running Aero. There is nothing spectacularly different that reaches
>>>>>>out and shakes me, no transparent see-through Windows or anything like
>>>>>>that.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Second, if I'm not running it, is there anything in Vista itself that
>>>>>>will come right out and tell me if I'm running Aero, if not why not,
>>>>>>and is there anything I can do turn Aero on if it's currently off?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>[Note, I'm using pretty much "Classic everything" .... start menu,
>>>>>>desktop, folders]
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Thanks
>>>>>
>>>>>

>
>