I've been playing with it, trying to figure out where it is broke. I've discovered that the Windows Explorer and such have the theme at the top and not Aero. The programs do not. I also cannot seem to convince my Windows desktop icons to have anything besides the default. I'm not sure that is a related thing or not.

Try doing:

1. Run your Windows Experience Index.

If this does not straighten things out,

2. Start Menu> cmd > right click on the icon and 'run as administrator' > type in   sfc /scannow

Let it run. Should repair any corrupted system files.

Apply the default Aero Theme, if ok, try other blinds if ok, don't do the following. If not ok continue with:

3. Uninstall Windowblinds and clean registry (with CCleaner) and reboot.

Reinstall Windowblinds reboot.

Let us know if this solved the problem (for Windowblinds).

OK, restarted session manager and ran the experience meter. Before and after the experience was 4.9 (6.0 6.0 4.9 6.2 5.9) Guess nothing has messed with that part. I can see where it might rebuild Aero 3D, I'll try to remember that for any "next times" down the road. Now so far the only esthetically irritating thing is the menu background for my text editor hasn't picked up the style. Perhaps whomever designed the software chose a different way of coloring it. I'm going to investigate the Windows appearance tab (you know, the one that you choose a color or font for everything Microsoft will let you) It's buried under colors in the Personalize window.

Edit: I checked there, the skin had it all covered. I never noticed before but there seems to be a lot less choices than in previous Windows. I'll have to check the XP machine. So, it's just some pre-programmed, non-skinable thing I guess. (program is called EditPad Lite if anyone wants to know)