Windows XP Graphics Window Handling vs Windows 7

[jmarkus]

Does anyone know if there is a big difference between how WinXP handles rendering graphics in a windows and Win7? Here is the scenario. I am running the same application on a dual boot machine (NX7.5). When I use the application's command to capture an image I get 2 different results depending on the OS. In WinXP if another window or dialog box is covering the portion of the screen I am "capturing" that window or dialog box shows up in the image. However, when I perform the same routine under Win7, regardless of what is on top of the graphics screen I am capturing - only that graphics screen is captured (which is what I want).

So does Win7 put each graphics element in a different memory space whereas WinXP shares the space? And if so, if there any way to get WinXP behave like Win7 for this situation?

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[spamjim]

Are you capturing by a basic print screen or are you using a third party app?

Are you using the basic or aero interface of Win7?

Aside from different OSs, you are likely using different video drivers which might also affect output.

 

[strongm]

>So does Win7 put each graphics element in a different memory space

If you are using Aero, the basic answer to this is yes.

>if there any way to get WinXP behave like Win7

Not that I'm aware of

 

[jmarkus]

I am currently using an Aero Theme. When I switch to a basic theme Win7 still behaves as before (with Aero Theme). The screen capture is handled by the application, but based on the results I think it is simply calling a Windows OS graphics routine of sorts (so probably similar to print screen).

I checked the video drivers and they report the same version numbers and OpenGL numbers.

Ok - so if I can't make WinXP behave like Win7 - then can I disable Aero completely so that Win7 might behave like WinXP (for testing purposes).

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[strongm]

Simply switching to a Basic theme does not necessarily disable the graphics pipeline used by Aero: desktop composition.

Under Performance, Visual Effects look for a setting "Enable Desktop Composition" and uncheck it if it is checked. That should do it.

 

[jmarkus]

Whenever I uncheck "Enable desktop composition" and click OK, it turns itself back on - that is, if I go back into Visual Effects it is checked again. What is controlling this behavior?

Jeff

 

[strongm]

I suspect that you may not have the correct user rights.

Try disabling the "Desktop Window Manager Session Manager" service.

 

[jmarkus]

I have administrator rights, and it prompts me for administrator user and password when I click on advanced system settings.

Doesn't the window manager manage the whole windows interface? (i.e. without it I won't have any windows?)

Jeff

 

[strongm]

>Doesn't the window manager manage the whole windows interface

Nope. It services DWM which in turn provides all the fancy tricks for Aero, including compositing

 

[xwb]

What happens when you try the capture in XP mode on W7? Does it behave like XP or 7?

 

[jmarkus]

Well I tried running a virtualbox of XP over Win7 and it behaved like Win7. I didn't try XP mode, but I suspect it'll be the same.

 

[jmarkus]

I just tried stopping the "Desktop Window Manager Session Manager" service, but the behaviour didn't change. I guess I'll just stick to dual-boot for testing and give up on solving the problem for XP.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[strongm]

Stopping, or disabling?

 

[jmarkus]

Stopped & disabled.