Can I change the colour of the blue bar in xp without installing spyware?

[mrmark]

I used to have the classic style installed, but now Ive gone back to the new XP style which I like... but the blue bar at the top of every box is really garish (spelling?).

Is there a way I can change this without installing a spamming/adware program?

I tried going through the desktop/appearance/advanced settings, but made no difference.

Thanks!!!

 

[Spud]

Right click on your Desktop
Properties
Appearances
Advanced

Change the colour of anything you like.

 

[mrmark]

Right click on your Desktop
Properties
Appearances
Advanced

Change the colour of anything you like.

i tried... but it only seeems to work if im using the classic xp style, not the rounded blue xp style

 

[BoneCrusher]

i tried... but it only seeems to work if im using the classic xp style, not the rounded blue xp style

Nah it works on that too. Hit the advanced button and you can select anything you want to change. Just keep screwing around in there till you stumble across what you want. Active tittle bar is what you are most likely looking for though ... sounds like what you described to me anyway. I use red to test with. Shows up to my eyes mo better.

I like the rounded blue XP style like you do ... and that is what I tested it out on so know it will work if you hit the advanced button, then click the drop down and select "Active Tittle Bar" pick a color that is mo better fo yo eyes hit okay, then hit apply and exit after it resets.

 

[mrmark]

eek, thanks for the input, but changing the active title bar seems to have no effect on the setting i have windows on for some reason.

when I try changing the active title bar colour, it does it in the preview box, but not in windows once I press apply.

bit of a bummer

 

[BigDyl]

You've been hacked.

 

[DOMS]

You can use this. It'll set you back a whopping $20.

 

[Spud]

Hmm, tried it too and the colour change only appears for the half second while minimizing the window.

 

[mrmark]

You've been hacked.

why do you say this?

 

[jkhnwspec]

Have a look at the site below.

http://www.wincustomize.com/

 

[maniclion]

I have been using the program DOMS suggested for a long time. Have you tried different themes?

 

[mrmark]

thanks for the input everyone.

i cant find free themes. the only ones i could find forced me to install a spam program so i declined.

any links would be great!

 

[gsxrK3]

Oh you will like this. It requires no extra program or anything so it's really clean, but it takes a few steps.
First download this...http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=140707
It's listed twice, click the second one. UXTheme Multipatcher v.40

Run that and restart.

Now your computer is ready, Go here to browse and download Visual Styles.

http://browse.deviantart.com/customization/skins/windows/visualstyle/

This is where it gets slightly complicated, but it's still easy.
When you find and download a visual style, they come zipped. A lot of times they have extra files you don't really need. The only file you need is the one with the .msstyles extension.
So just grab that sucker, and put it in a folder with the exact same name.
For Example: "vista.msstyles", put that in a folder called "vista".
Now, put that "vista" folder in this directory on your computer

C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes

BOOM You're done. Now you can go to your Desktop Properties (Appearance Tab) where you changed the appearance before, and "vista" should be listed there.

Now when you want new ones just go to that deviantart site above, download one, put the .msstyles in its own folder, and put that in the C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes folder and it should be listed. =D

 

[mrmark]

gsxrK3 thanks!!! ill give that a go tonight.

i owe ya