Running a software that turns of Aero, like the game "Half Life".
Uninstalling graphics driver or running Windows on virtual machine without any "guest additions".
Turning off Aero from the "Advanced System Settings" dialogue box.
Switching to Windows Basic, Windows Classic, or High Contrast theme.
On Windows Visa and 7, Aero would be turned off under the following circumstances: Turning off Aero would disable features like taskbar thumbnails and glass. In Windows Vista and Windows 7, Aero could be easily turned off either by the user or automatically by the system. It is known for its glass window boarders, taskbar thumbnails, full-screen screen magnification, and Fade effects when opening, closing, and minimizing Windows. Windows Aero is a theme introduced in Windows Vista that takes advantage of hardware acceleration to draw Window elements.