Aero Glass for Windows 8 - BETA 1

[Ednan]

Release 0.7

64-Bit is perfect. No side effects !

32-Bit generates a C++ Runtime Library Error at startup. Version 0.6 works fine !

Install Notes:

1- Copy all files to c:\Windows\System32\DWMHook (or where you prefer)
2- Edit the REG file to match the location in step 1
3- Execute the modifyed REG file to merge it into registry
4- Restart Windows

Have fun !

It's very simple !

There's a file named LoadGlass__AppInit_DLLs.reg. Supposing that you extract the files in ..\System32\DWMHook\, you just need to edit it like this...

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows]
"LoadAppInit_DLLs"=dword:00000001
"AppInit_DLLs"="C:\\Windows\\System32\\DWMHook\DWMGlass.dll"
"RequireSignedAppInit_DLLs"=dword:00000000

>> Run the file.

>> Restart.

I followed all your instructions but still I don't get transparent window borders

 

[Hopachi]

Release 0.7

64-Bit is perfect. No side effects !

32-Bit generates a C++ Runtime Library Error at startup. Version 0.6 works fine !

Install Notes:

1- Copy all files to c:\Windows\System32\DWMHook (or where you prefer)
2- Edit the REG file to match the location in step 1
3- Execute the modifyed REG file to merge it into registry
4- Restart Windows

Have fun !

It's very simple !

There's a file named LoadGlass__AppInit_DLLs.reg. Supposing that you extract the files in ..\System32\DWMHook\, you just need to edit it like this...

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows]
"LoadAppInit_DLLs"=dword:00000001
"AppInit_DLLs"="C:\\Windows\\System32\\DWMHook\DWMGlass.dll"
"RequireSignedAppInit_DLLs"=dword:00000000

>> Run the file.

>> Restart.

I followed all your instructions but still I don't get transparent window borders



View attachment 21850

Use aero glass from post 13 on top of what you did here.

 

[Ednan]

Use aero glass from post 13 on top of what you did here.

Thank you

 

[Hopachi]

Use aero glass from post 13 on top of what you did here.

Thank you

You're welcome.

 

[XweAponX]

Ok, I just tried vRosa's original post - Merged the reg entries. I'll let ya know when I reboot! The other thing was too dangerous bfwhaha!

 

[Lazure]

This is great! Just need them to get rid of that pointlessly added hourly nag screen and I'll use it. Been waiting for my Aero to return for so long... but of course the programmer decides to make it too annoying to use!

 

[vrosa]

Latest Version: 0.94 (RC)

BerliOS Download - The Open Source Mediator

 

[Lee]

Latest Version: 0.94 (RC)

BerliOS Download - The Open Source Mediator

Thanks Big Guy, testing Stardock's WindowBlinds 8 at present, albeit will test this in VM. . .

 

[Mark Phelps]

Latest Version: 0.94 (RC)

BerliOS Download - The Open Source Mediator

Thanks for the update ... but does it still have the earlier problem:

Just need them to get rid of that pointlessly added hourly nag screen

??

 

[Mark Phelps]

Thanks Big Guy, testing Stardock's WindowBlinds 8 at present

They just came out with the Final version (not in Beta anymore) -- and having been testing this throughout the beta program, I can attest that if works fine, now.

 

[vrosa]

Anyone got DWMGlass working under 8.1 ?

 

[vrosa]

Version 0.95 (RC5) released:

BerliOS Download - The Open Source Mediator

 

[jimijab]

This app allows you to manipulate Windows 8 Aero Glass implementation. Very good !

Aero Glass Tweaker 1.2: View attachment 19467


View attachment 19470

Note: Setting Feature Level to DX11.1 crashes explorer.exe and gives black screen. All other settings are safe !

Thanks a million for this works very well, I set at DX11 to try it out but don't think my laptop could cope set it to DX10 and is working fine, I like how you can tweak it does it need to run at startup all the time or will Windows remember the settings?

 

[MilesAhead]

I have to say, the Aero hack on Windows 8 results in a very clean looking glass, I'd prefer it to be more like the Taskbar's transparency than anything. But again, it becomes chrome over content, versus content over chrome; this is basically not metro design.

I must be missing something. I restart Explorer and everything looks just the same. Do you need to run an Aero theme or what?

edit: I tried the 1.2 installer. It says secure boot must be off. Is that a one shot for setup or does it have to stay off to use glass?

edit2: Ok, I've got transparent borders. I take it I need to leave secure boot disabled as it does a checksum of some kind.

 

[johne53]

Does anyone know if there's a decent Aero Glass implementation yet for Windows 8.1? I gather that in the previous version (Win 8.0) Aero was still present and could be activated if you knew what you were doing - but in 8.1 it's apparently no longer present, so you now need to use a 3rd party utility. I've tried two so far:-

1 - Aero8Tuner:-
How to Activate Aero Glass Transparency in Windows 8.1 from techmell.com

2 - WinAeroGlass
WinAeroGlass: Freeware To Enable Aero Glass In Windows 8

The first one didn't seem to work at all whereas the second one worked, albeit very badly. Can anyone recommend a good implementation?

 

[Mark Phelps]

Does anyone know if there's a decent Aero Glass implementation yet for Windows 8.1?

Don't know of any FREE ones that work, but I'm running WindowBlinds on 8.1 and the themes do provide for customizable levels of transparency. I did this because I simply can't stand the "flat" look of Windows 8.

 

[johne53]

I simply can't stand the "flat" look of Windows 8.

Me neither. Aero does look pretty slick IMHO - so after all the hard work that MS must have put into it, why ditch it in favour of a flat, tired looking interface which pre-dates even XP?? It beggars belief. Win8 reminds me of Windows 2000 - an interface from 13 years ago which was never very inspiring in the first place!!

Yes, I'll give WindowBlinds a try, especially as it comes with a 30 day trial version.

What about DWMGlass? It gets a mention earlier in this thread but I couldn't figure out if it works in 8.1 or only in 8.0

 

[vrosa]

Version 1.2 (RC4) now avaiable to Win 8.1 too !

Aero Glass for Windows 8

100% working

 

[johne53]

Version 1.2 (RC4) now avaiable to Win 8.1 too !

Aero Glass for Windows 8

100% working

Thanks for the link. I just installed the above product and I must admit, my initial impressions are very favourable.

One more question.... I work with a dual monitor system. For some strange reason I see two launch bars (one on each monitor). Is this normal for Windows 8.1? For all previous versions of Windows I only ever saw one launch bar (on the main monitor) and I do find the 2nd launch bar quite distracting. It's been present ever since I first installed Win8.1 (i.e. it didn't only just happen after I installed AeroGlass). Does anyone know of a way to get rid of it?

 

[johne53]

Version 1.2 (RC4) now avaiable to Win 8.1 too !

Aero Glass for Windows 8

100% working

Thanks for the link. I just installed the above product and I must admit, my initial impressions are very favourable

Hmmm... it seems I may have spoke too soon. Several times each day, the above AeroGlass product pops up a message dialog reminding me that it's free software. It then gives me a long number (which it calls a "machine code") and asks if I want to copy it to the clipboard. I've no idea if (sometime subsequently) I'm supposed to use the machine code for some purpose (e.g. registration?) There doesn't seem to be anywhere to enter it AFAICT.

Whether I copy the code to my clipboard or not, nothing obvious happens until the next time the message dialog pops up again. It's immensely frustrating