How to Update or Refresh the WEI Score in Windows 7

The Windows Experience Index measures the capability of your computer's hardware and software configuration and expresses this measurement as a number called a base score. A higher base score generally means that your computer will perform better and faster than a computer with a lower base score, especially when performing more advanced and resource-intensive tasks. 

Each hardware component receives an individual subscore. Your computer's base score is determined by the lowest subscore. For example, if the lowest subscore of an individual hardware component is 2.6, then the base score is 2.6. The base score is not an average of the combined subscores.


This will show you how to update or refresh the Windows Experience Index (WEI) score in Windows 7 to help measure the capability of your computer.

 to Update or Refresh the WEI Score in Windows 7

   Information

The Windows Experience Index measures the capability of your computer's hardware and software configuration and expresses this measurement as a number called a base score. A higher base score generally means that your computer will perform better and faster than a computer with a lower base score, especially when performing more advanced and resource-intensive tasks.

Each hardware component receives an individual subscore. Your computer's base score is determined by the lowest subscore. For example, if the lowest subscore of an individual hardware component is 2.6, then the base score is 2.6. The base score is not an average of the combined subscores.

For more information about WEI, see: Engineering Windows 7 : Engineering the Windows 7 "Windows Experience Index"

This will show you how to update or refresh the Windows Experience Index (WEI) score in Windows 7 to help measure the capability of your computer.

   Tip

In Windows 7 the WEI score ranges from 1.0 to 7.9.

The WEI log file is located at: C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT\winsat.log

   Warning

You will need to update your WEI score after you have installed Windows 7, and have a minimum of 2.0 in both Graphics & Gaming graphics in order to have the Aero features enabled.

Here's How:

1. Open the Control Panel (icons view).

A) Click on the Performance Information and Tools icon.

B) Go to step 5.

OR

2. Open the Start Menu.

3. Right click on the Computer button, and click on Properties. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You could also just press the Windows Key + Pause/Break key to open System Properties.

4. Click on the System rating is not available, Windows Experience Index, or Your Windows Experience Index needs to be refreshed link. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: The left screenshot is to score the WEI for the first time, the middle screenshot is to just update the WEI, and theright screenshot is to refresh the WEI usually after a change in the hardware or certain drivers (ex: video).

5. Click on the Rate this computer button, Re-run the assessment link, or Refresh Now button. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: The left screenshot is to score the WEI for the first time, the middle screenshot is to just update the WEI, and theright screenshot is to refresh the WEI usually after a change in the hardware or certain drivers (ex: video).

6. You will now see this status window. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: To get the best score possible while the WEI is updating, it is best to let the computer sit idle with nothing else opened or running in the background.

7. When finished you will see your updated WEI base score. (See left screenshot below step 5)

How to Turn Aero Peek On or Off in Windows 7

Turn Aero Peek On or Off in Taskbar and Start Menu Properties

1. Right click on the Start button and click on Properties.

A) Go to step 3.

OR 

2. Right click on a empty area on the taskbar and click on Properties.

3. Click on the Taskbar tab. (See screenshot below)

4. To Turn Off Aero Peek

A) Uncheck the Use Aero Peek to preview the desktop box. (See screenshot above)

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Turn On Aero Peek
NOTE: By default, Desktop is turned on in Windows 7.

A) Check the Use Aero Peek to preview the desktop box. (See screenshot below step 3)

6. Click on OK. (See screenshot below step 3)

 OPTION TWO 

Turn Aero Peek On or Off with Show Desktop Button on Taskbar

1. Right click on the button at the far right of the taskbar. (See screenshot below)

2. To Turn Off Aero Peek

A) Right click on the far right taskbar button and select Peek at desktop to uncheck it. (See screenshot above)

3. To Turn On Aero Peek
NOTE: By default, Preview desktop is checked in Windows 7.

A) Right click on the far right taskbar button and select Peek at desktop to check it. (See screenshot below step 1)

 OPTION THREE 

Turn Aero Peek On or Off in Visual Effects

NOTE: This option will also enable or disable taskbar thumbnail live previews.

1. Open the Visual Effects settings.

2. To Enable Areo Peek

A) Check the Enable Aero Peek box. (See screenshot below step 4)

B) Go to step 4.

3. To Disable Areo Peek
NOTE: This will gray out the settings in OPTION ONE and OPTION TWO above.

A) Uncheck the Enable Aero Peek box. (See screenshot below step 4)

4. Click on OK.

 OPTION FOUR 

Turn Aero Peek On or Off Using a REG File Download

NOTE: This option will not work if Aero Peek was disabled using OPTION THREE above.

1. To Enable Aero Peek

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Enabled_Aero_Peek.reg

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Disable Aero Peek

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Disabled_Aero_Peek.reg

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer.

7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.