I got XP mode to display 24-bit color with integration!

HughShaw · Oct 28, 2009

I read this article and decided to try it out. I did these steps:

1. Open up the Group Policy editor in XP, by going Start --> Run and type in MMC.
2. Add the Group Policy snap-in by going File --> Add/Remove Snap-in --> Add --> Group Policy Object Editor --> Add --> Finish (Local Machine) --> Close --> Ok.
3. Now navigate in the Group Policy Object Editor from Local Computer Policy --> Computer Configuration --> Administrative Templates --> Widnows Components --> Terminal Services and double-click on the 'Limit maximum Color Depth' object.
4. By default the policy is disabled and sets you to 16-bit color. Click on 'Enable' and choose either 'Client Compatible' or 24-bit to enable the highest resolution of 24-bit (True Color) to display via Remote Desktop. Options include 8-bit, 15-bit, 16-bit, and 24-bit.

Then I saved the profile and restarted, and now it's 24-bit with integration on! Looks so much better!

HughShaw · Oct 28, 2009

C'mon guys, 24-bit is much better than 16-bit. It won't be long until someone discovers how to get 36-bit color with integration on.

muzicman61 · Oct 28, 2009

HughShaw said:
C'mon guys, 24-bit is much better than 16-bit. It won't be long until someone discovers how to get 36-bit color with integration on.

What would be the point? The eye can't distinguish that many colors anyway. 24bit ~ 16.7million and at optimum estimates, the eye could possibly do 7 million colors/shades.

HughShaw · Oct 28, 2009

Well to me there's a big difference in some XP programs that run better with 36 bit. 16 bit is too low, but 24 bit looks a lot better. Give it a try, your icons will look smoother and especially if you added themes the colors will be noticeably better.

I have a widescreen LCD and it's almost like 36 bit...

muzicman61 · Oct 28, 2009

I'll agree there is a big difference between 16 bit (65,536) and 24 bit (16.7 million). However you can't possibly tell any different between 24 bit and 36 bit (68.7 billion).

HughShaw · Oct 29, 2009

XP Mode with 32 bit color + integration is possible!

I found an easier way to get 24 bit colors with integration on here.
1. Run regedit in XP.
2. Navigate to [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services].
3. Add a DWORD Value named "ColorDepth" w/o parenthesis.
4. Right-click it, modify, then put "4" in the Value data.
5. Restart XP mode.

On another note, if you clicked the link above, you'll notice that he said 32-bit color is possible with XP mode, but you'll have to make extensive changes to the RDP!

swarfega · Oct 29, 2009

HughShaw said:
I read this article and decided to try it out even though it refers to Remote Desktop. I did these steps:

1. Open up the Group Policy editor, by going Start --> Run and type in MMC.
2. Add the Group Policy snap-in by going File --> Add/Remove Snap-in --> Add --> Group Policy Object Editor --> Add --> Finish (Local Machine) --> Close --> Ok.
3. Now navigate in the Group Policy Object Editor from Local Computer Policy --> Computer Configuration --> Administrative Templates --> Widnows Components --> Terminal Services and double-click on the 'Limit maximum Color Depth' object.
4. By default the policy is disabled and sets you to 16-bit color. Click on 'Enable' and choose either 'Client Compatible' or 24-bit to enable the highest resolution of 24-bit (True Color) to display via Remote Desktop. Options include 8-bit, 15-bit, 16-bit, and 24-bit.

Then I saved the profile and restarted, and now it's 24-bit with integration on! Looks so much better!

HughShaw said:
I found an easier way to get 24 bit colors with integration on here.
1. Run regedit.
2. Navigate to [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services].
3. Add a DWORD Value named "ColorDepth" w/o parenthesis.
4. Right-click it, modify, then put "4" in the Value data.
5. Restart XP mode.

On another note, if you clicked the link above, you'll notice that he said 32-bit color is possible with XP mode, but you'll have to make extensive changes to the RDP!

I dont have terminal services listed in either methods.

HughShaw · Oct 29, 2009

I'm not entirely sure why, but maybe you can go to Add/Remove Programs, click Add/Remove Windows Components tab, then make sure you have Networking Services checked. Or maybe you didn't enable integration which might automatically install it.

swarfega · Oct 30, 2009

Sorry to say but I wasnt able to find it that way either.

HughShaw · Oct 30, 2009

You probably disabled it when disabling unnecessary services. Open up "services.msc" find "Terminal Services" right-click it and put it on "Automatic". Also make sure you have "Remote Procedure Call" on automatic.

Edit: And if all else fails, you can just create your own Terminal Services folder and put in the required entries. I've attached a screenshot of how it should look like as well as the reg file should you need it.

logicearth · Oct 31, 2009

The difference between 24bit color and 32bit color is the later has alpha channels. This is of course when concerning Windows or most systems for that matter.

...the term “32-bit color” is most often a misuse referring to 24-bit color images with an additional eight bits of non-color data (I.E.: alpha, Z or bump data), or sometimes even to plain 24-bit data.

swarfega · Oct 31, 2009

HughShaw said:
You probably disabled it when disabling unnecessary services. Open up "services.msc" find "Terminal Services" right-click it and put it on "Automatic". Also make sure you have "Remote Procedure Call" on automatic.

Edit: And if all else fails, you can just create your own Terminal Services folder and put in the required entries. I've attached a screenshot of how it should look like as well as the reg file should you need it.

Thanks for the suggestions. I checked services and TS isnt listed there. There are two remote procedure calls services listed (RPC) and (RPC) Locator. First one is on automatic other is manual.

When I go into XP Mode, I now find only 16-bit colour option listed and Im unable to slide the resolution slider.

HughShaw · Nov 1, 2009

Umm, buddy, you're opening up regedit and services.msc in Windows 7. Try opening up regedit in XP!

swarfega · Nov 1, 2009

lol! Nowhere did anyone say it had to be the registry IN XP Mode so I naturally assumed Win7 registry.

Your hack has worked though, so thanks a lot

Between yours and me finding cleartype, XP Mode is looking rather nice.

Xanaduce · Nov 4, 2009

Thanks, saved me a ton of trouble, especially since the app I use needs I.E. 6 and minimum 24 bit. Saves a ton of trouble.

HughShaw · Nov 4, 2009

Glad I could help though I can't take credit. I can only share the knowledge.

Jaq · Nov 7, 2009

It works - just follow HughShaw's instructions!
You do have to click the standard - or expanded tab in the terminal window to see the command list.

Nice work!

regger · Nov 9, 2009

The first method worked perfectly for me and gave me 24 bit color in XPM. Thanks a lot!

regger · Nov 9, 2009

I spoke too soon! Everything was fine and I had 32 bit color. Then I shut the virtual machine off, or tried. It wouldn't shut off, after about 10 minutes I hibernated it, then reset the machine. When I tried to get back into XPM it took a loooooonnnnngggg time to start the virtual machine and finally told me it could not enable integration features. It let me try again with the same result so I continued and got a small screen called Windows XP Mode Windows Virtual Machine with no desktop and a few commands Action, USB, Tools and CRT+Alt+Del. In tools all I could do was choose settings and I could not find any setting in there to put it back to 16 bits. The Integration Features in Tools was grayed out. So I cannot get into my XPM now. Any suggestions?

regger · Nov 9, 2009

Well, that was interesting. Finally I got the machine to let me force a shutdown and after that, when I restarted it, it goes into my XPM screen again and I still have 24 bit colour. I tested it several times and its working again. Whew!

I got XP mode to display 24-bit color with integration!

New member

Attachments

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

da Cleaner

My Computer

New member

My Computer

da Cleaner

My Computer

New member

Attachments

My Computer

New member

My Computer

da Cleaner

My Computer

New member

My Computer

da Cleaner

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer