Taskbar Color

[Mike Richter]

I was wondering if there is any way to change the taskbar color (originally
its blues with the green start button) to a different color? If there is any
way to change the color that would be cool as long as it would be with the
windows xp theme instead of windows classic. So if any of you have any
suggestions it would be greatly appreciated.

-Cipher

[mrtee]

www.stardock.com WindowBlinds works for me.

--=20
Just my 2=A2 worth
Jeff
__________in response to__________
"Mike Richter" > wrote in message =
...
| I was wondering if there is any way to change the taskbar color =
(originally
| its blues with the green start button) to a different color? If there =
is any
| way to change the color that would be cool as long as it would be with =
the
| windows xp theme instead of windows classic. So if any of you have any
| suggestions it would be greatly appreciated.
|=20
| -Cipher
|=20
|

[Anando [MS-MVP]]

Hi Mike,

Right click on the desktop and select properties. Flip to the appearance tab
and choose a different color scheme from the "color scheme" drop-down menu.

--

Regards,
Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org
Get secure !
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"Mike Richter" > wrote in message
...
>I was wondering if there is any way to change the taskbar color (originally
> its blues with the green start button) to a different color? If there is
> any
> way to change the color that would be cool as long as it would be with the
> windows xp theme instead of windows classic. So if any of you have any
> suggestions it would be greatly appreciated.
>
> -Cipher
>
>

[§kullywag©-]

On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 23:44:08 -0600, "mrtee" >
wrote:

>www.stardock.com WindowBlinds works for me.


Try "StyleXP". It does everything Stardock does and more, uses less
resources, and in my opinion has a more stable background.
http://www.tgtsoft.com

Try it.... if ya like it, buy it.


§kullywag©-

[Brad Wardell]

"§kullywag©-" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 23:44:08 -0600, "mrtee" >
> wrote:
>
> >www.stardock.com WindowBlinds works for me.
>
>
> Try "StyleXP". It does everything Stardock does and more, uses less
> resources, and in my opinion has a more stable background.

That's untrue. First off, Style XP doesn't actually skin anything. What it
does is patch out Microsoft's digital signing protection to allow unsigned
msstyles to work. And you certainly don't have to pay for that. That's like
paying for one of those cracks to take out CD copy protection for a game.
WindowBlinds works by having its own format that has a great deal more
features. It is also considerably faster performing than msstyles.

Here's an article on the matter:
http://www.joeuser.com/index.asp?AID=1855

As for the user's original question, there are 3 different color styles
included with Windows (blue, silver, green). If those don't suit you, you
can download WindowBlinds at http://www.windowblinds.net which, amongst
other things, allows you to change the color of Windows on the fly (in the
registered version).

There is also a program called SkinStudio (http://www.skinstudio.net) that
lets you change the the actual graphics.

Here are some examples of visual styles applied via WindowBlinds:

http://www.xpthemes.com/skins.asp?library=1

Hope this helps.

Brad
--
---
Product Manager: Object Deskop (www.objectdesktop.com)
Stardock - http://www.stardock.com




>
>
> §kullywag©-

[§kullywag©-]

On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 00:14:13 -0500, "Brad Wardell"
> wrote:

>
>"§kullywag©-" > wrote in message
...
>> On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 23:44:08 -0600, "mrtee" >
>> wrote:
>>
>> >www.stardock.com WindowBlinds works for me.
>>
>>
>> Try "StyleXP". It does everything Stardock does and more, uses less
>> resources, and in my opinion has a more stable background.
>
>That's untrue. First off, Style XP doesn't actually skin anything. What it
>does is patch out Microsoft's digital signing protection to allow unsigned
>msstyles to work. And you certainly don't have to pay for that. That's like
>paying for one of those cracks to take out CD copy protection for a game.
>WindowBlinds works by having its own format that has a great deal more
>features. It is also considerably faster performing than msstyles.
>
>Here's an article on the matter:
>http://www.joeuser.com/index.asp?AID=1855
>
>As for the user's original question, there are 3 different color styles
>included with Windows (blue, silver, green). If those don't suit you, you
>can download WindowBlinds at http://www.windowblinds.net which, amongst
>other things, allows you to change the color of Windows on the fly (in the
>registered version).
>
>There is also a program called SkinStudio (http://www.skinstudio.net) that
>lets you change the the actual graphics.
>
>Here are some examples of visual styles applied via WindowBlinds:
>
>http://www.xpthemes.com/skins.asp?library=1
>
>Hope this helps.
>
>Brad
Sales down at Stardock? Resorting to hocking your wares in the groups
again?
Your argument is old, and untruthful. StyleXP uses the SAME process
Windows itself does. Your referral to "cracking" the system is
misleading at best. You almost make it sound illegal or dangerous to
your system. It is neither. Evidently MS has no problems with it, or
a lawsuit would have surely have come to pass by now.

StyleXP's patch is free. The upgraded (pay) version allows you to ALSO
change bootscreens and adjust transparency which the upgrade version
(pay) of Window Blinds does not. So YES, it does do more.

Your referance to "skinning" somehow being better than the native
ability of Windows is laughable. Your product has had more bugs, than
the RAID test shop, and your change-log is proof.

When StyleXP first surfaced, you spent quite a bit of time here trying
to "warn" people away from it, and towards your product.
Why? COMPETITION. Something Stardock did not have before.
Using a help group to further your own career is trite.

I did not try to "make a sale" for StyleXP, I only gave my honest
opinion. And my opinion remains the same. I have used BOTH StyleXP,
and WindowBlinds in the past. I would not let WindowBlinds ever touch
my pc again. WindowBlinds is buggy and unreliable in my OPINION.
And I'm not making a cent by saying so.

The one part of my reply you so conveniently snipped "try it, if ya
like it, buy it". In my opinion the poster should try each, and see
which one works best for HIM.
I know die-hard WindowBlinds fans........ if it works for you.... more
power to ya. I'm not converting heathens here.

Pay for your advertising, or push off.


§kullywag©-

[mrtee]

And the last version of WB you used was? And on what platform?

Bootscreen http://www.stardock.com/products/bootskin/ it's free.

--=20
Just my 2=A2 worth
Jeff
__________in response to__________
"=A7kullywag=A9-" > wrote in message =
...
| >Brad
| Sales down at Stardock? Resorting to hocking your wares in the groups
| again?
| Your argument is old, and untruthful. StyleXP uses the SAME process
| Windows itself does. Your referral to "cracking" the system is
| misleading at best. You almost make it sound illegal or dangerous to
| your system. It is neither. Evidently MS has no problems with it, or
| a lawsuit would have surely have come to pass by now.
|=20
| StyleXP's patch is free. The upgraded (pay) version allows you to ALSO
| change bootscreens and adjust transparency which the upgrade version
| (pay) of Window Blinds does not. So YES, it does do more.
|=20
| Your referance to "skinning" somehow being better than the native
| ability of Windows is laughable. Your product has had more bugs, than
| the RAID test shop, and your change-log is proof.
|=20
| When StyleXP first surfaced, you spent quite a bit of time here trying
| to "warn" people away from it, and towards your product.
| Why? COMPETITION. Something Stardock did not have before.
| Using a help group to further your own career is trite.
|=20
| I did not try to "make a sale" for StyleXP, I only gave my honest
| opinion. And my opinion remains the same. I have used BOTH StyleXP,
| and WindowBlinds in the past. I would not let WindowBlinds ever touch
| my pc again. WindowBlinds is buggy and unreliable in my OPINION.
| And I'm not making a cent by saying so.
|=20
| The one part of my reply you so conveniently snipped "try it, if ya
| like it, buy it". In my opinion the poster should try each, and see
| which one works best for HIM.
| I know die-hard WindowBlinds fans........ if it works for you.... more
| power to ya. I'm not converting heathens here.
|=20
| Pay for your advertising, or push off.
|=20
|=20
| =A7kullywag=A9-

[§kullywag©-]

On Wed, 18 Feb 2004 06:09:47 GMT, "mrtee" >
wrote:

>And the last version of WB you used was? And on what platform?
>
>Bootscreen http://www.stardock.com/products/bootskin/ it's free.

Version number I do not know (been some time). Had my system trashed
by different versions for 98, and Me. Tried the then current release
available for XP before I first tried StyleXP. I found it slow, and
caused my system to momentarily hang when opening windows...... I
have been using StyleXP since beta, and have not looked back.
If Stardock has worked out the bugs, and created a more stable
software, more power to them. They lost me some time ago.
But that doesn't excuse Brad's efforts to discredit his competitor
here in favor of his own software.


§kullywag©-

[mrtee]

Yeah, and Ford advertises for Chevy.

--=20
Just my 2=A2 worth
Jeff
__________in response to__________
"=A7kullywag=A9-" > wrote in message =
...
| On Wed, 18 Feb 2004 06:09:47 GMT, "mrtee" >
| wrote:
|=20
| >And the last version of WB you used was? And on what platform?
| >
| >Bootscreen http://www.stardock.com/products/bootskin/ it's free.
|=20
| Version number I do not know (been some time). Had my system trashed
| by different versions for 98, and Me. Tried the then current release
| available for XP before I first tried StyleXP. I found it slow, and
| caused my system to momentarily hang when opening windows...... I
| have been using StyleXP since beta, and have not looked back.
| If Stardock has worked out the bugs, and created a more stable
| software, more power to them. They lost me some time ago.
| But that doesn't excuse Brad's efforts to discredit his competitor
| here in favor of his own software. =20
|=20
|=20
| =A7kullywag=A9-

[Brad Wardell]

"§kullywag©-" > wrote in message
...
> On Wed, 18 Feb 2004 06:09:47 GMT, "mrtee" >
> wrote:
>
> >And the last version of WB you used was? And on what platform?
> >
> >Bootscreen http://www.stardock.com/products/bootskin/ it's free.
>
> Version number I do not know (been some time). Had my system trashed
> by different versions for 98, and Me. Tried the then current release
> available for XP before I first tried StyleXP. I found it slow, and
> caused my system to momentarily hang when opening windows...... I
> have been using StyleXP since beta, and have not looked back.
> If Stardock has worked out the bugs, and created a more stable
> software, more power to them. They lost me some time ago.
> But that doesn't excuse Brad's efforts to discredit his competitor
> here in favor of his own software.

I am not discrediting a competitor. You stated that Style XP does more than
"Stardock". This is demonstratably incorrect.

I also provided a link to where the user could download BOTH WindowBlinds
AND a uxtheme patcher. In other words, I provided links for both
WindowBlinds and the "competition".

Brad

>
>
> §kullywag©-

[Brad Wardell]

"§kullywag©-" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 00:14:13 -0500, "Brad Wardell"
> > wrote:
>
> >
> >"§kullywag©-" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 23:44:08 -0600, "mrtee" >
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> >www.stardock.com WindowBlinds works for me.
> >>
> >>
> >> Try "StyleXP". It does everything Stardock does and more, uses less
> >> resources, and in my opinion has a more stable background.
> >
> >That's untrue. First off, Style XP doesn't actually skin anything. What
it
> >does is patch out Microsoft's digital signing protection to allow
unsigned
> >msstyles to work. And you certainly don't have to pay for that. That's
like
> >paying for one of those cracks to take out CD copy protection for a game.
> >WindowBlinds works by having its own format that has a great deal more
> >features. It is also considerably faster performing than msstyles.
> >
> >Here's an article on the matter:
> >http://www.joeuser.com/index.asp?AID=1855
> >
> >As for the user's original question, there are 3 different color styles
> >included with Windows (blue, silver, green). If those don't suit you,
you
> >can download WindowBlinds at http://www.windowblinds.net which, amongst
> >other things, allows you to change the color of Windows on the fly (in
the
> >registered version).
> >
> >There is also a program called SkinStudio (http://www.skinstudio.net)
that
> >lets you change the the actual graphics.
> >
> >Here are some examples of visual styles applied via WindowBlinds:
> >
> >http://www.xpthemes.com/skins.asp?library=1
> >
> >Hope this helps.
> >
> >Brad


> Your argument is old, and untruthful. StyleXP uses the SAME process
> Windows itself does. Your referral to "cracking" the system is
> misleading at best. You almost make it sound illegal or dangerous to
> your system. It is neither. Evidently MS has no problems with it, or
> a lawsuit would have surely have come to pass by now.

By that argument, any warez site that exists must have Microsoft's okay.

Read your Microsoft EULA. What Style XP does is patch uxtheme.dll's
CryptverifySig() API so that unsigned msstyles can be used. In addition,
you stated, incorrectly, that Style XP does everything "Stardock" does and
more.

>
> StyleXP's patch is free.

No. It's $19.95. The URL I provided includes a link to a uxtheme patch that
actually is free for those users who don't mind patching uxtheme.dll.

>The upgraded (pay) version allows you to ALSO
> change bootscreens and adjust transparency which the upgrade version
> (pay) of Window Blinds does not. So YES, it does do more.

Boot screen changing is free on the net. Style XP's boot screen changing,
btw, patches the Windows XP kernel. Try applying Fixpack 2 to a system whose
kerne's been patched.

Also, getting back to the original user's question:

WindowBlinds can change the color of a visual style on the fly. It can also
skin command prompts. It can also change the toolbar icons of Internet
Explorer and Exploer. It can also change the progress dialog animations.
This is just a handful of the additional features WindowBlinds provides.

>
> Your referance to "skinning" somehow being better than the native
> ability of Windows is laughable. Your product has had more bugs, than
> the RAID test shop, and your change-log is proof.

Updating software with new features and enhancements is not something most
people would consider a negative.

Let the users decide for themselves which suits them better.

Here's a link to some of the highlights of WindowBlinds.
http://www.stardock.com/products/windowblinds/wb4/

WindowBlinds, btw, is Microsoft certified for Windows XP and is what
Microsoft has licensed to add additional visual styles to Windows with the
Xbox visual style along with others:

Here's the official XBox visual style that Microsoft licensed WindowBlinds
for:
http://www.xpthemes.com/skins.asp?library=1&SkinID=3121

Brad

[Thorsten Matzner]

Dan > wrote:

>I know I have seen some postings on this but I can't seem to find tha answer. My taskbar in XP changed from blue to gray along with the Start button. It can't be corrected by "settings". Any ideas??

See "How to Restore the Operating System to a Previous State in
Windows XP" (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306084).

--
(tm)

[Thorsten Matzner]

Dan > wrote:

>I know I have seen some postings on this but I can't seem to find tha answer. My taskbar in XP changed from blue to gray along with the Start button. It can't be corrected by "settings". Any ideas??

See "How to Restore the Operating System to a Previous State in
Windows XP" (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306084).

--
(tm)

[Thorsten Matzner]

Dan > wrote:

>I know I have seen some postings on this but I can't seem to find tha answer. My taskbar in XP changed from blue to gray along with the Start button. It can't be corrected by "settings". Any ideas??

See "How to Restore the Operating System to a Previous State in
Windows XP" (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306084).

--
(tm)

[Thorsten Matzner]

Dan > wrote:

>I know I have seen some postings on this but I can't seem to find tha answer. My taskbar in XP changed from blue to gray along with the Start button. It can't be corrected by "settings". Any ideas??

See "How to Restore the Operating System to a Previous State in
Windows XP" (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306084).

--
(tm)

[Thorsten Matzner]

Dan > wrote:

>I know I have seen some postings on this but I can't seem to find tha answer. My taskbar in XP changed from blue to gray along with the Start button. It can't be corrected by "settings". Any ideas??

See "How to Restore the Operating System to a Previous State in
Windows XP" (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306084).

--
(tm)