Just like every other major part of an operating system, DWM can be troublesome at times. One error that users have found when using Xen series desktop virtualization applications, from Citrix, is DWM crashing and, obviously, closing. Upon crashing, Windows Event Viewer displays the stop code 0×400100004. This error was found to be caused when setting TS profile paths with the AD Users and Computers console in Windows Server 2008. While this issue isn’t very common, there still is that slight possibility that it will occur.
Fixing this issue is fairly simple, just follow these steps:

Clear “UserParameters” attribute:
Const ADS_PROPERTY_CLEAR = 1

Set objUser = GetObject _
(“LDAP://cn=MyUser,ou=MyOU,dc=MyDomain,dc=com”)
objUser.PutEx ADS_PROPERTY_CLEAR, “userParameters”, 0
objUser.SetInfo
Now we need to reset the TS profile path and properties via script:
Set objUser = GetObject _
(“LDAP://cn=MyUser,ou=MyOU,dc=MyDomain,dc=com”)
objUser.TerminalServicesProfilePath = “\\server\share\profile”
objUser.SetInfo

There you have it! This should take care of the 0×400100004 error and prevent it from happening again.

Windows 7 gave consumers an operating system that not only looked good, but ran much better than its predecessor. However, even with the massive boost in performance, Windows Aero can still be a huge resource hog, especially for computers lacking in the video adapter department. Luckily for those people, there’s a simple change that can be made to the Aero experience that still looks good but doesn’t bring your computer down to its knees.

Transparency is a very nice addition to the Aero experience, but it is also a resource hog without the proper hardware to back it up. Disabling this feature can offer a much quicker, snappier and lag-free Windows 7 experience, but it does not get rid of other Aero functionalities. Animations, real-time taskbar thumbnails, and 3D flip can all still be used after disabling transparency.

To disable transparency and free up some system resources simply follow these quick steps:
1. Right click on any free space on your desktop and click “Personalize”.
2. In the window that just popped up, click “Window Color”.
3. Uncheck the box below the color squares marked “Enable transparency”.
4. Now click “Save changes” at the bottom of that window and you’re done!

Now that you’ve disabled transparency, you should see a very nice speed boost. If, after you disable transparency, you find that you really miss the effect you can always put in a better performing video card, that is, if you are using a desktop. Laptop users are pretty much stuck with what they have, although adding more RAM is always a different option to help run the GUI run smoother.

Check out some of the other articles on DWMEXE.com about the Windows Aero experience to learn more about how it works!

A Quick Fix

In some instances, you may be able to solve DWM errors by way of a simple fix. This is often the case when you accidentally delete the dwm.exe file from your computer. The first thing you should do is to check the Recycle bin. If the file isn’t there, you may be able to download it from a trusted website or another computer. In some cases, this may be sufficient to fix a dwm.exe error.

Using A Registry Cleaner

More troublesome is a dwm.exe errors that results from a problem with the Windows registry. When the Windows registry is corrupted, your entire computer might be at risk of serious damage that may be difficult and even impossible to recover from. In such cases, it would be best to use a professional registry cleaner instead of messing with the registry.

Removing dwm.exe Errors Manually

If you are confident enough in your computer skills, you may opt to try removing the dwm.exe file manually. Now before you start, keep in mind that manual removal of dwm.exe is a risky task, and you may cause more harm than good. If you are sure you know what you are doing, follow these steps:

• Delete all processes related to dwm.exe.
• Erase all EXE files associated with DWM
• Remove any .lnk files associated with the virus if necessary
• Go into the registry, and remove any suspicious files in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and HKEY_CURRENT_USER

Removing dwm.exe Errors Automatically

For most users, a far better option than manual removal would be to the use of a registry cleaner and/or an anti-virus/anti-spyware program. Such tools allow you to remove dwm.exe and even other exe errors with a few clicks of the mouse.

Registry cleaners are designed to scan your computer thoroughly using advanced algorithm technology that detects and fixes all invalid, corrupt, and/or broken registry entries. Such software tools make it easy to track down and rectify dwm.exe errors, with little risk of damage to your computer.

For all the benefits that DWM can provide, many users opt to leave it installed, and simply live with the negligible memory consumption that it entails. DWM errors are something else entirely however, and they can really get in the way of your productivity and enjoyment of your computer. With any luck, the steps we have outlined above should get you through most DWM related errors, helping to ensure a more stable and rewarding computer experience.

An Introduction To DWM
Dwm.exe or Desktop Windows Manager was first introduced in Windows Vista, and it is now a feature included with Windows 7 as well. This application basically displays transparent and glossy effects in the form of 3D modules, and controls the views of Windows themes and icons, in addition to providing previews of active window thumbnails. Although this feature is a welcome one for many users, it does have the disadvantage of taking up a lot of memory, and this can significantly bog down computers that do not have enough RAM installed.

DWM Or Virus?
Before we go into the steps of reducing the memory usage of DWM and its permanent disabling, it is worthwhile to determine whether or not your insufficient memory issues are actually caused by the use of DWM or if it is in fact caused by a virus. Keep in mind that both issues may produce similar results, so you should do a thorough scan of your computer first. You should be aware that certain viruses may mimic the file name of a utility program, such as dwm.exe. If you have had DWM onboard for a long period without any issues therefore, this may be a sign that your computer has been infected with a computer virus. If you have determined that your computer is clean, you can then proceed in reducing the DWM load on your memory or disable it permanently.

Reducing DWM Memory Usage
The easiest way to reduce the memory load of dwm.exe is to switch to the Windows Classic theme. To do this, open the Task Manager and go to the dwm.exe program, which you can find in the “Processes” menu tablet. This will allow you to see how much memory and CPU space DWM is using. Here’s how to switch to the Windows Classic theme:

Windows 7. Right click on an open area on your desktop and choose the “Personalize” option. Select the “Windows Classic” theme on the menu listing that shows up. Click on the “Apply” and then “Ok” buttons.

Windows Vista. Right click an open area on your desktop, and select the “Personalize” and “Windows Color and Appearances” options. Select “Open Classic appearance”, and choose “Windows Classic” under “Color Schemes”. Click on the “Apply” and then “Ok” buttons.

Permanently Disabling dwm.exe
If the above steps don’t result in an appreciable improvement, you may opt to disable DWM permanently. Here’s how:

• Switch to the Windows Classic theme following the steps outlined above.
• Select the “Services” application in the “Start” menu or in the “Control Panel”.
• Click the “Window Manager Session Manager” option and select the “Stop” menu button. This temporarily disables dwm.exe.
• To disable DWM permanently, double click on dwm.exe in the “Services” window. In the following screen, choose the “Disabled” option from the drop down menu. Click “Stop” and “Apply.”

Even some of the most experienced Windows users aren’t immune to such issues, and it seems that such errors occur out of the blue without any apparent cause. When such errors show up, they can really put a damper on what would otherwise be an enjoyable and rewarding computing experience, which is why we have put together this article in the hopes of helping you deal with such issues.

Some of the most common causes of dwm.exe crashes are computer viruses. The Internet is a particularly fertile breeding ground for some truly ornery bits of code in the form of spyware or malware, and they can really do a number on your computer. Therefore, the first step in getting to the bottom of dwm.exe crashes is determining whether your computer problems are caused by viruses. There are many antivirus programs currently available on the market, and any computer user would do well to look into a good one. We’re going to leave the discussion of virus removal to the many other articles on the Web, and instead focus on another common cause of dwm.exe crashes, which is a registry error.

In many cases, a DWM crash is caused by a corruption of the Windows registry. The Windows registry is one of the most important components of the Windows operating system, and it performs the very essential function of keeping track of the different software and device downloads, installations, and removals that computer users routinely undertake. It is important to note that something as seemingly innocuous as the removal of software can wreak havoc on your Windows registry, particularly if it isn’t done properly. One common instance is when Windows cannot locate the correct path name for the dwm.exe file. If you are faced with such a problem, your best recourse is to use a good registry cleaner program.

Just like antivirus software, a registry cleaner program is an essential tool to have at your disposal. Such tools are designed specifically to fix errors in the Windows registry, such as the aforementioned DWM crashes. These programs basically scan, analyze, and repair any errors in your windows registry, rectifying any issues with missing and/or corrupted dwm.exe files.

Of course, many users would simply opt to disable DWM entirely, but this isn’t a feasible option for users who want to enjoy the added features of Desktop Window Manager. If the crashes you are experiencing aren’t enough to deter you from using DWM, investing in a good registry cleaner program would be to your advantage.