Some setting is causing grey background on emails

[parkconnector]

Something changed and I have been trying to figure out what. In Outlook 2003,
all emails appear to have grey background. The opening page of Outlook Today
is now even in grey. Even signatures have grey background with logos boxed in
white. I have <none> selected as stationary. Others receive my emails
appearing normal, white background. But all I receive are in grey, even ones
to myself that looked to be blank stationary or white when I send them out.
It has got to be a preference or display setting somewhere. I have even gone
back to try different display settings for my XP, but all result in the
message box as grey.

What did I (or my kids) do?

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

the color is controlled by the windows color scheme - try resetting it to
the default. (control panel, display)

 

[parkconnector]

Diane, there is no specifically "default" choice. I have tried all Theme
choices offered, including Windows XP and Windows Classic, but the grey
message box persists. Also the various choices under the Appearance tab, did
not change the grey.
Help?

 

[Michael9753]

The setting has nothing to do with Outlook!
Microsft in their wisdom have decided that if you change the color settings in Internet Explorer, then the colors should also change in Outlook! How pathetic is that idea?
You have probably set IE to use your colors rather than Windows colors.
In Internet Explorer go to Tools | Internet Options |Colors and change background to White.
Alternatively, if you tick the Use Windows colors, it should also fix it.

 

[kokonut]

Thank you. I tried it and it worked. It was so frustrating to see this every time I open emails.