Hi, I have an old application that I need to get working in Windows 8. I have it up and running but there is one small thing left, and that is to 'disable visual themes'.

In earlier versions of windows there was an option on the Compatibility tab of a shortcut/program for this, but it is not available in Windows 8. Is there a way to use Compatibility Administrator to create a shim for this, or is there another way to activate this setting?

With out it, the application messes up the 'maximize/minimize' buttons AND it goes completly blank (White window) under certain circumst

which application do you try to run?

I can see it:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/W8ITProPreRel/thread/7b2529ad-a16b-4a18-944b-e6a29268bc94

Hi, thanks for your reply. Yes the compatibility mode is still there, this is something else :

This option is missing in Windows 8.

The application I'm runing is an old Business software that's using an AS/400

this is by design. In Windows 8 the Desktop Composition is always on. This is required for the new "Metro" UI.

Desktop Window Manager is always on

Platforms

Clients Windows 8

Servers Windows Server 2012

Description

In Windows 8, Desktop Window Manager (DWM) is always ON and cannot be disabled by end users and apps. As in Windows 7, DWM is used to compose the desktop. In addition to experiences enabled in Windows 7, now DWM desktop composition enables desktop composition for all themes, support for Stereoscopic 3D, and management, separation, and protection of the experience with Windows Store apps.

Desktop composition for all themes

In Windows Vista and Windows 7, desktop composition is enabled only with the AERO Glass Theme. Hence users of Windows Classic and high contrast themes cannot use experiences enabled by desktop composition such as Windows Flip, automatic scaling for high resolution (DPI) scaling, thumbnail Preview and full screen magnifier. In addition, in these earlier versions of Windows, app developers must write and maintain multiple code paths one where desktop composition is enabled and another where desktop composition is disabled.

With Windows 8, desktop composition is enabled for all themes. Users of Windows Classic and high contrast themes can use the experiences enabled by desktop composition such as Windows Flip, automatic scaling for high resolution (DPI) scaling, thumbnail previews, and full screen magnifier. In addition, developers dont need to write and maintain multiple code paths, thereby simplifying development.

So apps that require this no longer work? Handy. As a developer I am required to fix my bugs and not label them as designed.

Captain fantastic.. Same problem here, DWM is disabled on my workstations running Windows 7, but it seems compatibility on Win8.1 is non-existant at this point.
Great news...

Even though the flag is not there, its still supported in Windows 8.1 (I just tried)

Go into Regedit.exe:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers.

Add new string. Name should be the full path of your app:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Dynamics AX\40\Client\Bin\-appname-.exe

In Valuedata, enter: ~^ DISABLETHEMES DISABLEDWM

This worked for me :)

I would just like to add that this works perfectly for an issue I had with Skyrim on Windows 8.1.

After having not played it in a year, I decided to re-install. I am now using dual monitors, which I wasn't before. After running (with mods) I had a problem where I was seeing the normal Skyrim cursor right beside a spinning hourglass cursor (windows). That cursor would move with the Skyrim cursor but would be in a different place - very annoying. Anyway, I found this thread and the fix worked.

I did have to create the 'Layer' folder/key before adding a new key, and was hesitant at first (I don't make many Registry changes). Worked just fine - no extra cursor. Thanks to Morten!