XP Style colors for desktop

I am still working on setting up my XP machine and notice that under display properties -> appearance I have two choices for "Windows and Buttons." If I choose the Windows XP Style - I can only select blue, green, and silver color schemes and no manipulation of the advanced settings (specific colors for a given desktop component) will over-ride the style settings. If I choose - Windows Classic style then I get the same functions I hade in Windows 98 but obviously loose the XP styling (which I like). Is there a way for me to establish a new XP Windows color scheme?

Thanks.

Sam

 

Right click on desktop, choose "Properties ", then "Appearance ", then advanced. Use the drop down menus to pick what you want to change, and then, to the right, a palette of colors. Anyway, that's how you do it in Pro. I don't remember if you have Home or Pro, sorry.

HTH
Johanna
Who is stuck on Luna Blue...

 

Do a search on Google for "windows xp skins ". There seem to be a lot of sites, with lots of possibilities.

Johanna's favorite song is "I'm Mister Blue ..." Me, I like Windows Classic!

 

If I do as Johanna has suggested the colors will not apply. I can tailor all I want and I get "blue" (since that is where I usally start from) ... ...

Now one might think that the colors would be "editable" as they were in previous versions but obviously this posed some security threat and has been "fixed."

I'll go check the skins thing - though I usually don't want to go that far. I just want.... oh what ever (my mother taught me not to whine YEARS ago. I'll be back.

Sam

 

Are you highlighting the color you want? Then click okay, and then "APPLY" on the next screen. It works for me.

Johanna
I have a RED desktop at the moment- ARRGGHHH

 

Oh, and when you are done playing, reboot

Johanna

 

ok...this what I do

right-click desktop -> properties
select appearance
under Windows and Buttons select Windows XP Style
select Advanced
select Active Title Bar
pick two new colors (any two)
select OK
(No Change is visible to the "sample" display)
select Apply (Still no change to sample display)
select OK(to close and apply) -> No change to desktop.

are you doing something different?

 

oh - just in case it matters...

I'm running XP Pro Service Pack 1 and my account has admin priv

 

You did notice the disclaimer that says if you are running anything but Windows Classic, XP default will override your new settings for the titlebar? That came up a few times as I scrolled through the menu of possible changes.

Johanna

 

sigh.... sounds like a registry hack.... there must be a way because MS does it in Windows Plus (rearranges all the colors). Maybe tomorrow. Thanks for looking.

 

The only way of doing what you want is with third party software (or so I thought, read on )...

And it won't allow you to just change the colors used, it's due to the fact that Luna (the official name of the XP theme) is more a "skin" than a theme of matched colors. And themes need to be digitally signed by MS in order to be installed.

If you feel adventurous, you could get ResHack and try to edit the appropriate files yourself - read more here.

Personally, what I use is a small program called StyleXP by TGT Soft, you can find a lot of themes for it here on ThemeXP.

While googling for more info on ResHack, I found this, which hints that you may not need StyleXP however I've never had problems with StyleXP, so I'll probably stick with it.

There's also a program called WindowBlinds, which does the same thing and then some... I tried it once while I was still running Win 98 and found it bloated and sluggish. It may not be so anymore, but those of my friends who've tested it on XP were not impressed.

HTH

 

I've taken a few minutes to download and look at Style XP. It's actually quite fun ...... and does provide the capability (that I thought would have been in Windows) without impacting the system utilization with yet another service running in the background.

I look at the price two ways; 1 - for $20 it does what it says pretty nicely and apears to be a good product. 2 - it's another $20 I get to pay out for a capability that ought to be native.

Every time I start thinking this way I get this little Linux gremlin shows up on my shoulder and says "I can to that..." I know what Linux will do - I just have no idea how to do it. I guess I'm still stuck with the devil I know.

Thanks.

Sam

 

I guess I misunderstood that you wanted to change the appearance of the colors on the message boxes and dialogs, but now I realize you wanted themes, or skins. There are a ton of alternatives- which I can never figure out because Luna is so...well... perfect! I can't think of one other person other than me that actually likes or uses Luna, so if you are out there, speak up so I don't feel so ALONE. Some of the most experienced and knowledgeable posters on this board even use retro Windows Classic on their XP computers- go figure?

Johanna

Evidently, I have stared at the blue bar during boot, inadvertently, and have been hypnotized by the Luna Mind Control in the XP Master Plan...