Windows 7: How does one change the Taskbar Color

I'm not pleased with the default color (light grey) that Windows 7 presents. That color practically 'washes out' some of my icons in the quick launch, and the notification areas of the taskbar. I'd like to make the taskbar background color a dark blue to match my Active Window Title Bar color.

I've tried various freeware utilities and MS Control Panel (themes) to attempt to modify the taskbar's color and transparency. All of those approaches have been unsuccessful (after reboot the light grey color remains). Note that in each case, I've remembered to Save the modified theme.

At this point I'm scouring the registry to find entry(s) that might pertain, but that too has failed to yield any success- have tried multiple REGEDIT FINDs (Taskbar, color, transparency, and others) to no avail.

I've also followed the instructions for right-clicking on the Desktop then Personalization that just takes you to Control Panel's Personalization window as if you had manually traversed thru Control Panel manually.

Is anyone out there who is aware of registry keys that might "get me home", or utility that has shown success.

Facts:

Win 7 SP1 Build 7601 (all current updates applied)
Samsung hi-res 22-inch flat screen.



Control Panel >> Personalization >> Windows Color...

I'm currently using a default (blue white) Windows Classic (non-Aero) high contrast theme with personalized colors, wallpaper, screen saver, and sound.

Sure hope that there's someone out there who has been down this road. I'm hopeful that someone is able to provide some guidance.

Thanks in advance.

welcome to seven forums
right click on the desktop and select personalize, then click the window color link and then select the color you want ,



if you click the show color mixer you can get a different more personal choice color


remember to save the changes!

Welcome to the Seven Forums
Using that Classic theme you are limited to using Windows Color and Appearance look at Option 2 step seven will show you how to use it Window Color and Appearance - Change to change to color of the taskbar go to 3D Object and change to color their be aware that will change the color in many places.
Jerry

Hi, if you want to customise Windows Classic to look better I suggest you download TuneUp Utilities to remove Gradient Title Bars, if anyone knows how to do this manually I would be happy to hear.

Then right click on the Desktop and select Personalise, click Windows Colour, it should open a dialogue box.

3D Objects - The main interfact, will also change the taskbar.
Active Titlebar - Changes the color of the titlebar (the bar at the top of the screen).
Active Window Border - The border around your Active Window.
Application Background - Not sure, but I think it is your background around your application :P
Border Padding - Changes the size of the borders.
CaptionButtons - Changes the size of the Titlebars.
Desktop - Changes the colour of your Desktop.
Disabled Item - Not sure.
Hyperlink - Changes the colour of the Hyperlink.
Icon - Changes the size of the Icons and the font and font size of Icons.
Icon Spacing Horizontal - The Icon spacing's width.
Icon Spacing Vertical - The Icon spacing's length.
Inactive Title Bar - Same as active title bar, but when you have a folder or application or anything opened you see a Title Bar, if you have an application open where you can see the Title bar behind that that will go to the colour you selected - Font is customisable too.
Menu - The colour, font and font size of the Menubar (File, Edit, Copy, etc).
Message Box - Changes the colour of the text on the Notepad typing box for example.
Pallette Title - Again unsure, but only fonts are customisable.
Scrollbar - Changes the colour of the Scrollbar in Windows Explorer or maybe your Browser (customise Size too).
Selected Items - Change the colour of Highlighted text (first box is the background, second is the text colour).
ToolTip - Colour and font of the boxes like (Device has been safely unplugged)
Window - ......

Please correct me where I am wrong

Joe.

Hi Joe -

Why are you using Classic Theme which is closest to Win2000's file cabinet graphics?

The reason I ask is that if the system supports Aero then the resources used are not that much more, so disabling is never a step suggested to conserve low resources.

Your posted specs would definitely support Aero.

You can troubleshoot aero by typing it in Start Search box.

Hi there, I tested this on my other PC:
1GB Ram, my netbook has this theme too, I have modified it a lot an now I really like it

My humble thanks to all of you who responded- outstanding interest and support from you all. I chose to follow the suggestion of FaceofJoe421...life is a series of decisions, some are good and others not. While, as Joe admitted, there are some undesirable side effects (via the wisdom of Microsoft designers), those side effects are tolerable. Joe, your suggestion to use the 3D selection was SPOT ON! My kudos to you. Forgot to mention Bongo (Jerry) also for making the same suggestion.

In response to gregrocker, I made my decision based upon what I knew (familiarity), that is, I danced with them that brung me. I had used the classic pull-down menu many times in the past when customizing on Windows XP.
Randy

Thank you Lairbear, glad you got it working, welcome to the Sevenforums