Windows XP theme and appearance settings

[Stuart K]

Hi everyone,

I wonder if anyone could explain the very strange
Appearance settings in Windows XP Pro (i.e. if you right
click on the Desktop, go to Properties and then choose the
Appearance tab in the dialogue). Why is it that you have
to switch to Windows Classic style to change what I
consider to be some fairly elementary settings? There's
even a warning message that saying if you use the Windows
XP 'theme' you cannot use the 'advanced' settings (like
changing the colour of your background is 'advanced'
huh?). I just don't get it. I'd like to make some simple
changes like changing the background colour and the icon
label horizontal length, but I don't want to switch to
Windows Classic style just do this (and lose the nice new
appearance of title bars and things like that). Why
should I have to choose?

Does anyone know a way around this sad state of affairs?
Is there some 3rd party software that might circumvent
this (perhaps some Power GUI tool of some sort).

To cut a long story short...I want to keep MOST of the
Windows XP display settings (i.e. most of the defaults
that belong to the Windows XP theme), but I need to be
able to tweak a few, such as desktop colour. Is there any
hope for me?

Any help greatly appreciated,
Stu

P.S. I think it is just these weird kind of quirks that
make so many people dissatisfied with what is really a
rather good O/S. It's the dumb stuff and poor attention
to detail that really gets you down in your day to day use
of the software.

 

[GateKeeper]

I'm not sure I understand your problem. I was able to change the
desktop background color, and I think you could probably change other
settings as well. The warning I saw said that if you choose Windows and
Buttons settings other than Windows Classic, those settings will
override whatever you chose. In other words, the new Windows XP Style
will determine the appearance of windows and buttons. I don't think it
will affect the other settings though.

 

[Stuart K]

Thanks for the reply,

However, I find that when I change the other settings
(e.g. change desktop background colour), they basically
take no effect. Whether this is a bug or relates to my
original issue, I just don't know :0(

S

 

[Keith Miller]

You don't see the desktop background color if you have wallpaper. Try changing the window color.

Keith

 

[Alex Nichol]

I wonder if anyone could explain the very strange
Appearance settings in Windows XP Pro (i.e. if you right
click on the Desktop, go to Properties and then choose the
Appearance tab in the dialogue). Why is it that you have
to switch to Windows Classic style to change what I
consider to be some fairly elementary settings? There's
even a warning message that saying if you use the Windows
XP 'theme' you cannot use the 'advanced' settings (like
changing the colour of your background is 'advanced'
huh?). I just don't get it.

That is not really true. With a XP Style, you can change background
color (of the Desktop on the Desktop page, for a window in that
Advanced button). The warning is overstated - there are a few things
you cannot change within one of the limiting Themes - principally the
colors of window frames/Title bars. But most things you *can* change -
Menu color for example, window background, fonts, sizes of most
components. Try and see: it is the result that matters, just note the
warning and do not be surprised when changing Tile bar color does not
stick

 

[cynthia]

I am also having difficulty trying to figure out how to change the
default color of the different window from tan to grey. Any ideas.
When I go to advanced setting I could not find a catagory that
corresponded to the "window color"

 

[Alex Nichol]

I am also having difficulty trying to figure out how to change the
default color of the different window from tan to grey. Any ideas.
When I go to advanced setting I could not find a catagory that
corresponded to the "window color"

Display - Appearance - click Advanced, and click in the middle of the
illustrated window (or in Item choose 'Window'). Change the color
(down arrow by the color patch) - you will probably want to use 'other'
to set up a Custom one