Taskbar and Start Menu will not change color

[Guest]

I just got a Dell computer with Windows Vista Home Premium. When I go to
"Window Color and Appearance" and click on the color, the only thing that
changes is the window. The taskbar and Start Menu stay black. I noticed
other posts regarding this issue. Has anyone found a solution to this
problem?

Thanks very much!
Mary Ellen

 

[Guest]

It's not really black, it's the same color you choose in the Window Color
properties, but a lot darker. When you make the color brighter, the taskbar
will become more colored.

 

[Guest]

I tried it. The taskbar looked transparent, but it was still black. Same
for the Start menu. The window still was the only place that the color
changed--from dark to light orange.

 

[Guest]

Yeah I noticed that here too, even on the brightest color possible the
taskbar still stays very dark. It's just part of the skin and cannot get any
brighter than this.

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Mary Ellen

What you are seeing is correct when you use the built-in Aero theme. You can
changed the colors all you want and it will not make any difference to the
Taskbar. The only thing you can do to the Taskbar is change the transparency
level. This is just the way this theme was designed. Hopefully, they will
release newer themes for Vista.

You do have third party options, if this is important to you.

Stardock WindowBlinds:
http://www.stardock.com/products/windowblinds/

Vista Desktop » Vista Themes, Styles, Skins, Customize, Microsoft, MSStyles,
Icons, Wallpapers, WindowBlinds, Styler Toolbar , XP Customization,
Download, Aero Glass:
http://vistastyles.org/category/vista-desktop/

 

[Jane C]

Hi Mary Ellen,

If you have open windows maximised on the desktop, then the taskbar will
appear black. If you make them smaller, then you will see more variation in
the colour of the taskbar.

Changing the desktop wallpaper will also change the appearnace of the
taskbar. For instance, I have a transparent purple taskbar, using the pink
colour scheme and the "big pebbles" wallpaper. I rarely maximise any open
windows on the desktop. If I do maximise a window, then the taskbar loses
transparency and goes dark.