Windows 7: Start Menu BG Color

Does anyone know how to change the start menu background color? By default, when you click on the start button [Windows Orb] at the bottom left of your screen, it opens up and the left hand side of the start menu is white. How can I change this to black, so it matches the right hand side of the start menu?

I know that Ave's Vista Style Builder can do it . But dont know properly how to apply that.

Thanks for the info, but I don't want to have to install any third party software. There has to be a way to do this using the Windows registry editior.

Probably not . If it is there, a major attempt to edit that registry entry would be seen.

There are no registry hacks that do this. So far, there isn't a very precise way to do it without third party software. Some people have found the resources to these files in Aero.msstyles using Resource Hacker, but the resource numbers vary on the build. Your best bet is Ave's Style Builder. Well worth the money.

Thanks for the replies, but I still think there is a way to do it, as I've done it in all previous versions of Windows. However, the registry is a bit different in Windows 7. If someone has not already come up with a hack, I'm sure I can with some work. When I find a solution, I'll post here at the forum for others to use.

There is obviously something in the registry that sets the color to white, and if that is the case [which it has to be] then it can be changed. I don't believe there is anything dealing with colors in Windows that simply cannot be changed.

I don't think the color comes from the registry. It is part of an image resource in the msstyles file. It can definitely be changed, but not in the registry.

Thanks for the heads up. How can I navigate to that file and edit it?

Also, are you absolutely sure there is not a key in the registry for this? There was in XP.