winxp forgetting my settings!

[nogoro]

Lately I have stopped downloading stuff overnight which gives me a chance to turn off the computer when I sleep. I have it set in the Control Panel >System >Performance such that visual effects are all turned off (i.e. Classic view). When I turn my computer back on, it's back to the fancy blue task bar again. That in itself is not a huge problem, but just wondering if this is indicative of more serious HW/SW bugs. Thanks.

[mopslik]

When I turn my computer back on, it's back to the fancy blue task bar again.

Check the following registry setting:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects\VisualFXSetting

It should be 0 for Windows-chooses, 1 for best appearance (eye candy), or 2 for best performance (what you want). Change the registry value, reboot, and see if it is fixed.

If that does not work, and you want to use the standard Windows grey toolbar, you might want to completely disable the Themse service. You can do this by launching the Run dialog and entering "services.msc". Search for the Themes service, right-click, select Properties. Stop the service, and change the startup type to Disabled. Note that this will give you a few extra MB of RAM, as the service will not be loaded. Also note, however, that *all* users on your computer will no longer have theming capabilities.

Beyond that, no idea.

[nogoro]

great suggestions, killing the themes did the trick, thanks!
And with all the extra memory I saved, I ought to crosspost to Freebies!