The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    automatically enable transparency?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by zoopzoop, Nov 6, 2009.

  1. zoopzoop

    zoopzoop Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    163
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    i got windows 7 i was wondering how it would be possible to enable transparency when my laptop charger when plugged in and disable it when it is not?
     
    zoopzoop, Nov 6, 2009
    #1
  2. Kocane

    Kocane Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    395
    Messages:
    1,626
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Isn't the power you'll save extremely small?
     
    Kocane, Nov 6, 2009
    #2
  3. zoopzoop

    zoopzoop Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    163
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    yeh i suppose but ill still like to turn it off anyway :D
     
    zoopzoop, Nov 6, 2009
    #3
  4. jnjroach

    jnjroach Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    431
    Messages:
    307
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Use the PowerSaver Power Plan and it will do that for you...
     
    jnjroach, Nov 6, 2009
    #4
  5. GoodBytes

    GoodBytes NvGPUPro

    Reputations:
    742
    Messages:
    3,108
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    - Go under "Power Saver mode"
    - Plug your laptop in, turn ON transparency.
    - Unplug your laptop, and turn OFF transparency.

    Now unplug it, and it should turn it back on when you are plug-in, and turn it off when unplug (on battery).

    you save little battery by disabling the transparency if you have an Intel X4500HD graphic card or a Geforce 6200 or above and the equivalent from ATI.
     
    GoodBytes, Nov 7, 2009
    #5
  6. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

    Reputations:
    2,637
    Messages:
    6,370
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    You'll need a program that will switch between themes based on the laptop's power status. VistaBatterySaver did this under Vista. I think there is a Win7 version floating around on an earlier thread.....
     
    surfasb, Nov 7, 2009
    #6
  7. GoodBytes

    GoodBytes NvGPUPro

    Reputations:
    742
    Messages:
    3,108
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    That is to switch from Aero to Aero Basic. Personal I lose battery life when I use Aero Basic, as it uses the CPU to render instead of the GPU. In result my CPU tend to go at higher speeds for just moving or scaling a windows. Doing Aero, is peace of cake for my GPU, as long as I don't do Flip 3D, it stays at minimum speed, which is what is already the case when using Aero Basic.. as it can't go slower.

    So again, if you have a descent dedicated GPU, stay with Aero.
     
    GoodBytes, Nov 7, 2009
    #7
  8. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

    Reputations:
    2,637
    Messages:
    6,370
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Interesting observation. Both my HP and Dell get better battery life under Aero Basic. It's like 6-12 minutes.
     
    surfasb, Nov 7, 2009
    #8
  9. GoodBytes

    GoodBytes NvGPUPro

    Reputations:
    742
    Messages:
    3,108
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Well I guess it depends on the laptop technology in conserving battery and graphic card, and also how much you move windows around, and scale them, and if you have or not a wallpaper, and so on.
    I use move scale a lot of Windows as I use Aero Snap often.
     
    GoodBytes, Nov 7, 2009
    #9
  10. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

    Reputations:
    2,637
    Messages:
    6,370
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Yeah, I tested this back under Vista. Haven't tried it under 7.
     
    surfasb, Nov 8, 2009
    #10
  11. Deathwinger

    Deathwinger Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    385
    Messages:
    2,423
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Get the program, Battery Care.

    Set the power plans to, balanced on Plugged in and Power Saver on Battery.

    Problem Solved.
     
    Deathwinger, Nov 8, 2009
    #11
  12. Luke1708

    Luke1708 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    352
    Messages:
    3,799
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    guys. w7 already supports this by default...as mentioned above, activate power saver profile. then unplug your laptop and activate basic theme. then when you plug in activate aero theme..that's pretty much it. it will automatically do the swapping.
     
    Luke1708, Nov 8, 2009
    #12
  13. GoodBytes

    GoodBytes NvGPUPro

    Reputations:
    742
    Messages:
    3,108
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Under Windows 7, my laptop does already that (power saver on battery, and balance when plug-in).. No program needed.
     
    GoodBytes, Nov 8, 2009
    #13