Vista Aero Failed.

[AIBaon]

I have an Alienware m15x notebook computer running Vista Home Premium 32 bit. I have 4 gigs of RAM and an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU.

I had Vista's lovely Aero interface working well, until I needed to install software on my computer for my engineering class (student at Syracuse University). We used the stupid Lego Mindstorm RCXs, which aren't meant for Vista, so we had to modify a few things, run installers in compatibility modes and the rest.
One such major modification was removing my current Quicktime, and installing Quicktime 4 in its place - this made Vista not want to run vista aero, so I was stuck with Windows Vista Basic (The visual theme that looks like XP).

Now that I no longer need the Lego software, I have uninstalled it all except the Control panel "Lego USB Tower" which it won't let me uninstall. It says, "error deleting control panel applet." and then freezes and won't respond. I have also downloaded the newest Quicktime, but I still cannot change the theme to Vista Aero, it's not even on the list in Appearance Settings. Does anyone know why?
Aero was the best part about Vista... I don't have it now ... help please!

[AIBaon]

.....Anyone have ANY ideas?

[Broni]

How are you trying to delete Control Panel applet? There is no Delete option for Control Panel applets.
You can prevent them from starting, though: http://www.softwaretipsandtricks.com/windowsxp/articles/55/1/Remove-Control-Panel-Applets (this is for XP, but same procedure applies to Vista).

[AIBaon]

So I want to do more than just delete the icon from the control panel, I want it gone. If I open the applet, it has a button to uninstall it, which doesn't work.

http://screencast.com/t/eZHWqcqwoqS



I'm afraid that removing the control panel applet will simply remove it from showing from view.

[Broni]

I'm afraid that removing the control panel applet will simply remove it from showing from view.

No. It'll prevent the applet from loading.
After that you can search your computer for Lego ".cpl" file, and delete it.

[fgdn17]

"so we had to modify a few things, run installers in compatibility modes and the rest."

and is this maybe the reason for  "error deleting control panel applet." , modifying a few things  ?

and/or maybe the control panel applet NEEDS to be uninstalled FIRST...!!!?

[Broni]

it has a button to uninstall it, which doesn't work

[AIBaon]

Okay, so I removed it and searched lego.cpl, deleted everything that was in that folder.

It still shows in the control panel, I'm assuming I need to reboot. I'll do that soon.

[Broni]

Yes, you need to reboot for registry changes to take effect.

[AIBaon]

Okay, I just rebooted, It's still there, except now when I try to uninstall it, it first says what it did before, "error deleting control panel applet." and then immediately after clicking ok, it says "Uninstallation successful, you may now unplug your Lego USB Tower."


But more to the main objective, Appearance settings still doesn't have Aero.

[Broni]

Do you have any restore point from before installing that Lego thingy?

[AIBaon]

Okay, I just rebooted, It's still there, except now when I try to uninstall it, it first says what it did before, "error deleting control panel applet." and then immediately after clicking ok, it says "Uninstallation successful, you may now unplug your Lego USB Tower."


But more to the main objective, Appearance settings still doesn't have Aero.

[AIBaon]

Do you have any restore point from before installing that Lego thingy?

Nope, in hindsight, I should have... but didn't. Everyone has 20/20 hindsight though.

[Broni]

Go Start>Run ("Start Search" in Vista), type in:
sfc /scannow
Click OK (hit Enter in Vista).
Have Windows CD/DVD handy.
If System File Checker (sfc) will find any errors, it'll ask you for the CD/DVD.
If sfc won't find any errors in Windows XP, it'll simply quit, without any message.
In Vista you will receive the following message: "Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations".

Navigate to C:\Windows\Logs\CBS folder. You'll see CBS.log file.
Usually, it's pretty big file, so upload it here: http://www.flyupload.com/, and post download link.

[AIBaon]

Okay, so I don't have a Windows CD handy, but I'll have access to it when I get back to School (Jan. 12)

Should I still run this?