How to have the same theme customization freedom as with XP?

[IndustrialOne]

I'm trying to get rid of the blinding white backgrounds and making them a darker color with brighter text. I refuse to use the nauseating classic theme or the high contrast black or the depressing custom black themes found online.

How do I get to this screen? http://www.pallareviews.com/wp-conte..._Windows_7.png Clicking Windows Color on Personalize instead gives me http://www.pallareviews.com/wp-conte...0_04-41-40.png which doesn't do anything.

Using 7 Ultimate.

 

[Bernardus]

Right click on your desktop en choose personalize.
There you find the option to change the colour of the taskbar or the old XP theme.

You have to choose Windows basic first.

With Richt click in the taskbar and properties you could disable earo peak for the next start.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/disable-aero-on-windows-vista/

 

[IndustrialOne]

I can't get picture #1 no matter if I choose Windows Basic or anything else.

It's not the taskbar that's important but the blinding whites in windows explorer which I wish I could have an option to CHANGE to something darker but it's not possible without using someone elses custom built theme. I'm yet to be convinced of the contrary. That first picture I posted is the only avenue I haven't tried yet and it's because I can't seem to get there.

 

[Bernardus]

Perhaps this will help you

Changing the background colours in Windows 7 - YouTube

 

[IndustrialOne]

No, I don't get that window when I click Window Colors. I get the second picture I posted instead.

 

[Bongo]

Welcome to the Seven Forums

According to this tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/282-window-color-appearance-change.html that window only shows up when you are on a Aero theme, so my first question is are you using an Aero theme not a Basic theme?

Jerry

 

[Bernardus]

Well it seems that you switched to Windows basic.
Can't you than follow the steps in the Video?

 

[IndustrialOne]

Welcome to the Seven Forums

According to this tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/282-window-color-appearance-change.html that window only shows up when you are on a Aero theme, so my first question is are you using an Aero theme not a Basic theme?

Jerry

I tried with all themes.

Well it seems that you switched to Windows basic.
Can't you than follow the steps in the Video?

I did.

 

[Bongo]

Do Option 2 of this tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html it will not harm any data or programs you have installed it will try to find and repair any corrupt system files that you have. You may need to do this up to 3 times with a reboot after each scan.

Jerry

 

[IndustrialOne]

Do Option 2 of this tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html it will not harm any data or programs you have installed it will try to find and repair any corrupt system files that you have. You may need to do this up to 3 times with a reboot after each scan.

Jerry

It found corrupted files which are said to be logged in CBS.log. Can you tell me quickly how to view files in the Windows directory again? I'm not familiar with 7 that doesn't run as Admin by default like XP.

 

[Bongo]

Option Three of that same tutorial tells you how to access that log and put it on your desktop as a text file.

Jerry

 

[IndustrialOne]

Ok as expected it repaired a few DLLs I intentionally modified to remove that stupid padding in the details view as well as to install Luna XP theme. However, I restarted with these corrections and the problem remains. You said I have to do this 3 times? Fine, attempt number two:

 

[IndustrialOne]

Yup, same problem still.

 

[Bongo]

Does your system meet these basic requirements for aero?

Tried to refresh your WEI http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/263-windows-experience-index-update-refresh-score.html

NOTE: If Aero is not enabled, then you will not see the Window Color and Appearance screen in step 3A of OPTION TWO below.

• Aero is not included in Windows 7 Home Basic or Windows 7 Starter editions.
• 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor
• 1 GB of system memory
• A graphics card with support for DirectX 9 graphics with at least 128 MB of memory.
• The graphics card must support Pixel Shader 2.0 and the Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM).
• Activate Windows 7.
• You must be have True Color (32 bit) set instead of High Color (16 bit).
• The Themes and Desktop Window Manager Session Manager Services are set to Start and Automatic.
• The desktop composition and Animated controls and elements inside windows options enabled in Visual Effects.
• Refresh or update your WEI score.
• You must be using a "Aero" theme.​

 

[Bernardus]

You may ask him as well if the system performance index allows the aero theme?

 

[IndustrialOne]

Couldn't do it.

I'm running 7 in a VM btw with 1GB of RAM.

 

[Bernardus]

Well that explains why the aerotheme won't work.
Somehowe your PC is to slow.
Sometimes you may solve this with updates of drivers.
Even one component could drag your pc under the limits.
And than your stuck with windows basic.
Think you have an old PC cause 1 GB for W 7 is the underlimit.
You shure need more mem like at least 2 GB.
Also it should be fast enough.

 

[IndustrialOne]

No I'm running it in a VM. I can assign more RAM. My PC which is 7 times slower than this one was able to run Vista with Aero so I assure you this PC is more than adequate. I leave the judging to you though. If 1GB is too little for Aero I'll give it more. The minimum requirements do say that only 1GB is required though.

 

[Bernardus]

Yes minimum yeah, but less mem may slow down your pc considerable as I found out.
And that may sink your performance index.
This index is just a wet finger in the air and very much disputable.
Also the videocard may cause problems.
If your not running 64 bits you may ad some 3 GB mem. max.
It won't address higher with 32 bits.

The failure you make is comparing with Vista.
Windows 7 requires much more en has that annoying index.

 

[IndustrialOne]

I tried with 2GB RAM, it still failed. I can't assign all 3GB because then I'll have nothing left for my host system. This piece of garbage Firefox that I'm posting on this forum with takes up 300MB of RAM alone.