How do I change the colour of the taskbar without any external programs?

[Ichigo]

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/1987/helpme3yk.jpg

I want to change the taskbar colour to match the rest of the windows/wallpaper.

But I can't.

Help.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

switch to classic view? i dunno i have stylexp

 

[scottws]

Right-click desktop | Properties | Appearance | Advanced | 3D Objects | Color 1

 

[Ichigo]

Originally posted by: scottws
Right-click desktop | Properties | Appearance | Advanced | 3D Objects | Color 1

Didn't work. Taskbar is the same colour.

 

[bruceb]

What Scottws said is correct
I just tried it on my laptop with xp home

Works fine

Just select 3d objects from the advanceed tab,
then the color1 button, pick a color, hit
ok, apply .. it will take a few seconds for xp to
reset everything

 

[nweaver]

didn't work on my XP Pro box

 

[scottws]

I have only tested it with the Windows Classic Theme on XP Pro. If you are using Luna, then obviously it won't work. As far as other themes installed via StyleXP or the replaced uxtheme file, then I can't guarantee that my instructions will work.

But my instructions worked for me.

 

[ivwshane]

Originally posted by: nweaver
didn't work on my XP Pro box

Same here on pro.

 

[scottws]

Just tested on Windows 2000 at work, and again changing the color of the 3D Objects selection changes the Taskbar color at will. It also changes the window border and dialog box color.

 

[Ichigo]

I'm not using Classic, but a custom theme called Watercolour. Is there no way to change the taskbar's colour like this?

 

[Markbnj]

Didn't work on my XP Pro install either. I think that it doesn't take effect if you have a theme set.

Edit: I noticed later that it did change the color of some other objects (such as context menus, so I guess those are '3d objects'). Didn't change the start bar, though, and I think that is because my XP theme uses a brushed aluminum texture that I presume is tiled onto the start bar.

 

[bruceb]

Windows & Buttons are set to: Windows Classic
Color Schemes is set to: Windows Normal

Definitely works that way ... did not try other schemes

 

[scottws]

Well, I don't know what it is. I don't have any trouble changing the color of the taskbar.

Here are my settings:
Windows and Buttons: Windows Classic style
Color Scheme: Windows Standard
Font Size: Normal

Again, this is Windows XP Professional SP2.

It works fine. I even went to the Themes tab, changed the Theme to Windows Classic and it made no difference. I was able to change the Taskbar color (the theme changed to "Modified Theme" when I changed the color of 3D Objects). Of course, if the Luna interface is in effect ("Windows XP" theme or "Windows XP style" windows & buttons), the Taskbar color isn't dictated by 3D Objects, Color 1 but rather one of the three Color Scheme settings.

Sorry most of you can't replicate this, but yeah, the Taskbar color changes for me at will.

 

[ivwshane]

It works only if you use the classic windows theme. When I tried it with the classic theme it changed too many other things to be usefull.