Selection colour in explorer!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cubalistic
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Cubalistic

Searched the internet but couldn't find it, posted already something but no
decent replies. It would be nice to see some feedback from Microsoft if you
can change the selection colour in explorer. I cannot imagine that Microsoft
doesn't provide this option. So how on earth do I change the selection colour
(e.g. like when selecting files in Explorer) from the lite lite lite
hardly-invisbile-difference-with-white blue into something more visible when
using the Aero gui?

Thanks!
 
Hi,

Right click the desktop, choose personalize. Go to Windows Color and
Appearance, click the line to Open Classic Windows...... Click the Advanced
button, choose 'selected item' from the dropdown to alter the default.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
Here is my analytical explaination I have given before in this newsgroup:

In classic mode you can change the color, thats easy. But if you want aero
then
see the below:

the themes are based on msstyles.. that color you are seeing is
actually a bitmap embedded inside the msstyle file and within vista you
cannot change it.. you cannot change it because that would mean that
you would need to extract the bitmap change its color and rebuild the
msstyle.

a non free option is to get the trial of windowblinds (stardock) and
after the trial pay 20 dollars

you can try the trial now and find hundreds of themes on
www.wincustomize.com but this also means you would need to use a compleatly
different theme,
or learn to use a tool that stardock has, to change the vista theme (yes its
possible)


HOWEVER there is a FREE way to change it theoretically
but I did not mention this because all these solutions DO NOT WORK with
SP1 that is just around the corner

but just so you will have an eye open for a new version here is the
info

A program that unlocks the ability for Vista to use 3rd party themes is
called vistaglazz
and then you can find other themes at www.deviantart.com
or learn to edit the theme yourself...



here is the site of Vistaglazz.. but THIS IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SP1
so DONT install it unless they release a new version of Vistaglazz

http://www.codegazer.com/vistaglazz/


this unlocks the ability to use third party visual styles (msstyles)
(themes) with vista...

Since I have seen this request by many people, I might take the time to make
a new theme
from the aero one, with the ONLY change of the highlight color to make it
more visible...

But I will do that ONLY when a new version of vistaglazz is out..

and of course this tool (vistaglazz) is not supported by Microsoft.

WindowBlinds however is a "Partner" of microsoft.. but it installs its own
themeing engine
while vistaglazz only unlocks the ability for vista to use changed themes.
 
that applies ONLY if you use the CLASSIC theme

GESH! Ready MY reply to the OP and learn
 
what you say is BUNK, have you actually TRIED doing what you say??? LOL

Its WRONG
 
I gave you the correct answer in my POST you can keep searching all you
want, but it will make no difference

I know what Im talking about. Read it again.
 
So is it really not possible at all? Didn't Microsoft think about the fact
that 7% of world men population has the most common form of color blindness?
I can hardly distinguish whether a file is selected or not in Vista...not a
joke when you like photography and tries to store 1200 pics a month... Can't
we get any formal reply of Microsoft on this? Changing the theme is the only
solution?

Thanks.
 
They will tell you to use the CLASSIC theme...and change the colors as you
want them to be.

I have been ranting about the HORRIBLE colors of VISTA AERO even BEFORE it
was officially released...

You will not get a reply from microsoft so dont even try...

You can either use CLASSIC that supports changing colors but is BORING,
buy WINDOWBLINDS and use a different theme,
or wait for the new VISTAGLAZZ (if they ever make one), and I can promise
you I will make that change in the theme for everyone because
I have seen this same request at least 10 times in this newsgroup and I
undestand how big a problem this is.

I have been a designer for more than 15 years and 10 seconds after seeing
vista I could not believe my eyes on how many BASIC STUPID Mistakes they
have made in this user interface

At least they should have made more themes...
 
Cant MS make a quick fix or something? Whats the point of having aero, if i
cannot differentiate between selected and unselected file....same problem in
Outlook selected elements...
nicholas
 
ijnicholas said:
Cant MS make a quick fix or something? Whats the point of having aero, if i
cannot differentiate between selected and unselected file....same problem in
Outlook selected elements...
Click to expand...

I agree! The selection bar is so light it's nearly invisible
sometimes.

Right-click the desktop and choose "Personalization". I don't have a
Vista machine in front of me, but I'm pretty sure that you'll find an
option in there somewhere to change the selection color.
 
I agree! The selection bar is so light it's nearly invisible
sometimes.

Right-click the desktop and choose "Personalization". I don't have a
Vista machine in front of me, but I'm pretty sure that you'll find an
option in there somewhere to change the selection color.
Click to expand...

If it's there, I've not found it. And I've looked EVERYWHERE.
 
Paul Montgomery said:
If it's there, I've not found it. And I've looked EVERYWHERE.
Click to expand...



I don't think that changing the colour would be impossible to do, with a
little effort.

I've just opened the XP .msstyle file for the Royale Noir theme with
Resource Tuner, and it showed all the graphic files that I became familar
with when I used to edit themes using StyleBuilder. It also contains a lot
of .ini files, containing RGB colour codes.

With a bit of time and experimentation you could pretty easily change the
colour for selections. It's probably just a graphic file with alpha
transparency.

The only problem that I can think of, is that the edited theme file will no
longer be signed, so a hacked uxtheme.dll file (or whatever the Vista
equivalent is) would be needed. As there are people making their own Vista
themes on sites like Deviantart.com, that should not be a problem either.

I might have a go soon, as I want to make a couple of small changes to the
Royale Noir theme that I use on XP.

ss.
 
Paul Montgomery said:
If it's there, I've not found it. And I've looked EVERYWHERE.
Click to expand...


Right-click on desktop, choose Personalize. Then click on Window Colour and
Appearance. At the bottom of the next window click on "Open classic
appearance properties for more color options". Click on "Advanced" and in
the drop-down box under Item select "Selected Items" and change the color!
 
Right-click on desktop, choose Personalize. Then click on Window Colour and
Appearance. At the bottom of the next window click on "Open classic
appearance properties for more color options". Click on "Advanced" and in
the drop-down box under Item select "Selected Items" and change the color!
Click to expand...

I'm not running Classic Appearance.
 
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