PC switching to Aero basic at midnight

[Nelviticus]

I've noticed that whenever I'm using my machine late at night, my installation of Windows 7 disables Aero glass on the stroke of midnight. About two minutes later it re-enables it, but for those two minutes I can't manually turn it back on.

I'm running 64-bit Windows 7 Ultimate with an ATI 4850 graphics card and apart from this weirdness everything else runs fine. I update my ATI drivers every month when the new versions come out, but I've noticed this behaviour for several months so I'm sure it's not graphics driver-related. I've run a full Avira scan and it came up clean.

Has anyone else experienced this? I can't find any mention of it in Google searches.

Nelviticus

 

[GOSCO]

I would say this is driver related.

Check event log for any helpful information

It seems like the driver is failing and windows is starting it back up to me.

 

[Nelviticus]

I will have a look in the event log but ... it always (and only) happens exactly as the clock ticks over to midnight. Weird.

Nelviticus

 

[vacunita]

I would say its some scheduled task running some application or executable at midnight which doesn't have Aero support. It takes 2 minutes for it to complete.

Check what is running before midnight, and then compare it to what is running at midnight, and you'll likely find your culprit.

----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
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Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Behind the Web, Tips and Tricks for Web Development.

http://behindtheweb.blogspot.com/

 

[kjv1611]

It definitely sounds like an application running that is not Aero-Compatible, or one that turns off Aero for some other reason.

I'd also be at least a little suspicious about Remote Applications. When you remote into a Windows 7 machine with either RDP or WinVNC, Windows defaults to a non-aero interface as well. So, a process could be running in a remote session on a scheduled task. If you have no need for anyone remoting into your PC, then I'd disable remote capabilities under Computer - Properties - Advanced.. or at least I think that's where it is, I forget... you can find it though, I'm sure. I'm sitting in front of a severely permissions limited WinXP machine right now, so I can't verify the exact location at the moment.

 

[Nelviticus]

I had a look and there are no scheduled tasks that run at midnight. I'll double-check whether remote access is enabled but as far as I'm aware you have to specifically turn it on, which I haven't done.

I think I'll just live with the weird behaviour. If nothing else, it's a useful reminder that I should be in bed!

Nelviticus

 

[kjv1611]

Just to be sure, what I'd try to do next, if it were me would be:
1. Grab a snapshot of what is running when Windows goes to Aere-less Basic mode, using Process Explorer

2. One night, take a stab at the Remote possibilities by disconnecting the network cable just before midnight, and see if you still get the same effect. No cable, no remote access. ;0) Or if you're on wireless, turn that off just before midnight instead.

 

[linney]

What about any third party programs automatically checking for updates on the stroke of midnight?

Any evidence of a "joke" virus?

I see lots of recommendations here for programs like -

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

SuperAntispyware

http://superantispyware.com/

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/929135

950093 How to use the System Configuration utility to troubleshoot configuration errors in Windows Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;950093