Vista Tutorial - Vista Taskbar now a light gray

McCheesy · 10-11-2008

I am running Vista Home Premium, and when I turned on my computer, my taskbar was a light gray. I took a picture:

If I open a full screen window (such as Firefox), my taskbar goes back to the normal black color, but if I don't have a full screen window it is that light gray color.

How can I change it back?

**barman58** · 10-11-2008

Hi McCheesy, and welcome to the vista forums,

it's a little difficult to see exactly from the image you attached but it may just be a result of the Transparency level you have set.

right click on your desktop choose Personalise, then Window colour and appearance, and adjust the intensity slider,
see if that changes things.
also check the selected colour and use transparency box
hope this helps

McCheesy · 10-11-2008

None returns me to the original black color. I think it might have been because I uninstalled HP Total Care Advisor. Do you know where I can find that program again?

**barman58** · 10-11-2008

Hi,

I know that MS included an update to it's nVidia drivers this week - if you downloaded that you may want to check if the settings have changed in the advanced - nvidia control panel

McCheesy · 10-11-2008

Quote: Originally Posted by barman58

Hi,

I know that MS included an update to it's nVidia drivers this week - if you downloaded that you may want to check if the settings have changed in the advanced - nvidia control panel

I'm not using nvidia.

**barman58** · 10-12-2008

Hi McCheesy,

Found this that may be the download your looking for ...

HP Total Care Advisor Software Informer: Latest version download, news and info about this Hewlett-Packard program.

**smarteyeball** · 10-12-2008

It's hard to tell from the picture, but it looks like it's switching to a basic theme. When you start FF it may be triggering WDM which returns the Aero-translucency theme. Maybe it's an older app on start-up that is switching off aero.

Just a thought.

**Bare Foot Kid** · 10-12-2008

Hello McCheesy, welcome to Vista forums!

You don't have a problem, that's the way mine does also.
When I don't have a window maximized it's gray, when I maximize it turns black.
Try this: with no windows maximized slide a window under the taskbar to see the transparency.
The transparency lessons when you have a window maximized!

Keep us informed!

Later

Ted

**swingdjted** · 11-20-2008

I have the same problem: Gray taskbar when windows are either restored or minimized and black when maximized. I like the black and hate the gray (a.k.a. "graphite"). Is there a way to adjust settings so that will keep it the black style all the time? The graphite looks bad with my desktop wallpaper, but the black would look good if I could keep it that way.

**mansrm81** · 11-20-2008

Do you have the color intensity turned up all the way

10-11-2008	#1 (permalink)
McCheesy Newbie Join Date: Oct 2008 Vista Home Premium 3 posts	Vista Taskbar now a light gray I am running Vista Home Premium, and when I turned on my computer, my taskbar was a light gray. I took a picture: If I open a full screen window (such as Firefox), my taskbar goes back to the normal black color, but if I don't have a full screen window it is that light gray color. How can I change it back?
My System Specs

10-11-2008	#2 (permalink)
barman58 Post No Evil ;) Join Date: Jul 2008 Windows 7 RC x64 Vista HP x86 1,682 posts	Re: Vista Taskbar now a light gray Hi McCheesy, and welcome to the vista forums, it's a little difficult to see exactly from the image you attached but it may just be a result of the Transparency level you have set. right click on your desktop choose Personalise, then Window colour and appearance, and adjust the intensity slider, see if that changes things. also check the selected colour and use transparency box hope this helps
My System Specs

10-11-2008	#3 (permalink)
McCheesy Newbie Join Date: Oct 2008 Vista Home Premium 3 posts	Re: Vista Taskbar now a light gray None returns me to the original black color. I think it might have been because I uninstalled HP Total Care Advisor. Do you know where I can find that program again?
My System Specs

10-11-2008	#4 (permalink)
barman58 Post No Evil ;) Join Date: Jul 2008 Windows 7 RC x64 Vista HP x86 1,682 posts	Re: Vista Taskbar now a light gray Hi, I know that MS included an update to it's nVidia drivers this week - if you downloaded that you may want to check if the settings have changed in the advanced - nvidia control panel
My System Specs

10-11-2008	#5 (permalink)
McCheesy Newbie Join Date: Oct 2008 Vista Home Premium 3 posts	Re: Vista Taskbar now a light gray Quote: Originally Posted by barman58 Hi, I know that MS included an update to it's nVidia drivers this week - if you downloaded that you may want to check if the settings have changed in the advanced - nvidia control panel I'm not using nvidia.
My System Specs

10-12-2008	#6 (permalink)
barman58 Post No Evil ;) Join Date: Jul 2008 Windows 7 RC x64 Vista HP x86 1,682 posts	Re: Vista Taskbar now a light gray Hi McCheesy, Found this that may be the download your looking for ... HP Total Care Advisor Software Informer: Latest version download, news and info about this Hewlett-Packard program.
My System Specs

10-12-2008	#7 (permalink)
smarteyeball Eye know, eye know Join Date: Oct 2007 Vista Ultimate SP2 x64 : Seven Ultimate x64 1,598 posts	Re: Vista Taskbar now a light gray It's hard to tell from the picture, but it looks like it's switching to a basic theme. When you start FF it may be triggering WDM which returns the Aero-translucency theme. Maybe it's an older app on start-up that is switching off aero. Just a thought.
My System Specs

10-12-2008	#8 (permalink)
Bare Foot Kid Technophile Wannabe Join Date: Feb 2008 Vista 64-bit Ultimate Win7 64-bit Ultimate XP SP3 32-bit Pro 2,126 posts	Re: Vista Taskbar now a light gray Hello McCheesy, welcome to Vista forums! You don't have a problem, that's the way mine does also. When I don't have a window maximized it's gray, when I maximize it turns black. Try this: with no windows maximized slide a window under the taskbar to see the transparency. The transparency lessons when you have a window maximized! Keep us informed! Later Ted
My System Specs

11-20-2008	#9 (permalink)
swingdjted Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Windows Vista Home Premium x64 (6.0, Build 6001) 9 posts	Re: Vista Taskbar now a light gray I have the same problem: Gray taskbar when windows are either restored or minimized and black when maximized. I like the black and hate the gray (a.k.a. "graphite"). Is there a way to adjust settings so that will keep it the black style all the time? The graphite looks bad with my desktop wallpaper, but the black would look good if I could keep it that way.
My System Specs

11-20-2008	#10 (permalink)
mansrm81 Master Join Date: Aug 2008 Vista Ultimate 64bit SP2/ 1,863 posts	Re: Vista Taskbar now a light gray Do you have the color intensity turned up all the way
My System Specs

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