Cody, I share your frustration. I too am trying to customize the Windows
Vista Basic Theme and I just want to change the active title bar color to
something more distinguishable. I can't! It gets covered up by blue. But I
see it peek out if I minimize and restore the window. It accepts the values
I put into the Advanced... menu, then changes nothing in the UI. Argh.

Why does Vista give me access to controls that it ignores?


"Code_Joe" wrote:
[color=blue]
> Well thank you for your clarifications. I will give up my search now and
> just deal with the blue until I decide to buy a new laptop. I would love to
> run Aero but it isn't soo easy to upgrade the GPU's on a laptop since they
> are built in and not swapable.
>
> Cody
>
> "Sascha Benjamin Jazbec" wrote:
>[color=green]
> > what you come up with that are colour-schemes, not themes. They would work
> > in Windows 95, too.
> >
> > Even in Windows 3.1 there was scheming-support ;)
> >
> > XP and Vista use themes AND colour schemes,too when vista is in "classic
> > mode."
> >
> > But the OP asked about a new or alternate theme, he is not refering to
> > "classic mode" but to Vista Basic mode ( which is the default mode if no
> > Aero-card is available or no WDDM drivers are installed ) and there is none
> > such theme available officially ( i.e. not signed by Microsoft and therfore
> > not installable ).
> >
> > Vista Basic is what XP's Luna Gui is like.
> > # Classic is Classic on both XP and Vista.. and that has never changed.
> >
> > He would have to tamper with the system if he finds a vista-basic alternate
> > theme ( of course they exist ).
> >
> > Just to make the difference clear.
> >
> > SJ /germany
> >
> >
> > "Daniel E Jameson" <danjam@cyberdude.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
> > news:uLCT8wNTHHA.4832@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...[color=darkred]
> > > My WinXP Classic Mode themes work fine with Visa Classic Mode.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Daniel Jameson
> > > ·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·
> > > If the man tells you to hate another,
> > > It's not so you can benefit at the expense of the other...
> > > It's so he can benefit at the expense of you!
> > >
> > >
> > > "Sascha Benjamin Jazbec" <barefoot_nrw_REMOVETHIS@gmx.net> wrote in
> > > message news:1134BB5B-3E4C-4978-9022-62BC488CFD2A@microsoft.com...
> > >> be happy with that "babyblue".. because . :
> > >>
> > >> Half a year ago when vista was in development, they had a grey theme and
> > >> looked so ugly I cannot decribe it.
> > >>
> > >> It resembled something I call "deadlooking old rubber" - it made vista
> > >> look cheap and very very misdesigned,
> > >>
> > >> The new theme is a bit closer to what Aero is. Of course very very basic,
> > >> it cannot be emulated better.
> > >>
> > >> Because only many testers have complained about that, Ms has redesigned
> > >> the theme to what you have now.
> > >>
> > >> But don't expect any newer "basic theme" from Microsoft - and I wont bet
> > >> on Products like WindowBlinds, because they will also require a Aero
> > >> capable card.
> > >>
> > >> And it is not too easy for ethusiasts to make individual themes for
> > >> vista. Becasue those files are digitally signed and encrypted, u would
> > >> have to change system-files with "cracked ones" - not everybody will do
> > >> that only for a bit different look. And you are right, XP themes do not
> > >> fit Vista. They are absolutely not compatible.
> > >>
> > >> The old XP- way to draw windows on the screen is definately over. It's
> > >> only there for the few like you that have no Aero-card and will have to
> > >> use the themes so long until you put in a new gpu.
> > >>
> > >> The future is Aero /DWM on Microsofts OS and Xgl/Compiz on Linux ( also a
> > >> decent 3D card is required to run Linux with effects )
> > >>
> > >> You should use Aero, there you can choose between every thinkable colour
> > >> to tint the borders wit a mixer.
> > >>
> > >> And you are not "forced" to use transparency, if you don't like it. Aero
> > >> is more than only "glass". :)
> > >>
> > >> SJ / germany
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> "Code_Joe" <CodeJoe@discussions.microsoft.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
> > >> news:479ECD3C-6832-4217-8EA5-E2B46EDFD4C2@microsoft.com...
> > >>> Is there any way to adjust the windows basic theme to change the color
> > >>> of
> > >>> windows? I have tried changing the color and it accepts them but then
> > >>> stays
> > >>> the baby blue color.
> > >>>
> > >>> I do not have a computer capable of running Aero (Built in Intel Video).
> > >>> And this is a laptop so I can not upgrade the graphics card.
> > >>>
> > >>> I really like the start menu and task bar colors. But the baby blue
> > >>> background is driving me crazy.
> > >>>
> > >>> I have tried applying XP themes but they do not work. I have not found
> > >>> any
> > >>> themes for Vista yet or a application to make my own theme. Any
> > >>> suggestions?
> > >>> I would be happy with a black theme similar to the start menu and task
> > >>> bar.
> > >>
> > >[/color]
> >
> >[/color][/color]