Published by

**Brink** · 09 Aug 2007

How to Change the Color Scheme in Vista

Information

This will show you how to change the Color Scheme in Vista to either one of the Windows Aero (All Vista editions except Home Basic), Windows Vista Standard (Only the Vista Home Basic edition), Windows Vista Basic, Windows Standard, Windows Classic, High Contrast White, High Contrast Black, High Contrast #2, and High Contrast #1 options for your edition of Vista.

Note

These services with these default settings are responsible for the desktop theme. If these are disable, you would have nothing but the Windows Classic color scheme. To change these, see: How to Disable or Enable Vista Services With a Advice Guide

Desktop Window Manager Session Manager (Default setting: Started and Automatic)
Themes (Default setting: Started and Automatic)

Warning

There may be slight differences in the available color scheme options you see in the screenshots below based on what edition of Vista you have and what your graphics card can support.

Tip

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS FOR: WINDOWS AERO Color Scheme
See: Windows Help and Support: Troubleshoot problems with Windows Aero

NOTE: The Windows Aero color scheme is not available for the Vista Home Basic version.

1 GHz 32 bit or 64 bit CPU processor.
The computer needs at least 1 GB of RAM.
A graphics card with support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB of memory.
The graphics card must support Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
The graphics card driver must support Windows Vista Display Driver Model (WDDM)
The computer display color depth must be set to 32 bits per pixel.
The Desktop Window Manager Session Manager and Themes Services need to be set as Started and Automatic.
Update or refresh the WEI score.

Here's How:

1. Right click on a empty area of your desktop and click on Personalize. (See screenshot below)

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2. Click on the Window Color and Appearace link. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: The left screenshot is the normal window, and the right screenshot is with the Windows Classic color scheme.

3. To Change the Window Color and Appearance Settings -

Warning

You will not see this window screenshot below if the color scheme Windows Aero (In all Vista editions except Home Basic) or Windows Vista Standard (Only in Vista Home Basic edition) has not been selected in step 4 below. Instead you will see the window in step 4 below. If you want to see the Window Color and Appearance window again, then you will need to change the color scheme to one of the above again based on your edition of Vista. Go to Step 4.

A) Click on Open classic appearance properties for more color options. (See screenshot below)

B) Click on a color you want to use for the windows, Start menu, and Taskbar borders.

C) For Enable transparency, see: How to Enable or Disable Aero Glass Transparency

D) Adjust the Color intensity by sliding the bar to the left to decrease the intensity and to the right to increase the intensity.
NOTE: If the Color intensity is set to far to the right, then the window borders and taskbar may be to dark to be transparent if enabled.

4. To Change the Color Scheme -

A) Click on the Color scheme you want to highlight it and click OK. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: The Windows Aero color scheme is not available for the Vista Home Basic edition. The Vista Home Basic edition will have the Windows Vista Standard color scheme instead. (See right screenshot below)
WARNING: If these color scheme options are grayed out, then see: How to Allow or Prevent the Color Scheme to be Changed in Vista

5. Close the window from below step 2.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**vista2007** · 03 Jan 2009

You can get DeskHack from this website: Use Vista DeskHack, to choose Vista themes as you wish | Vista Home; then download and save to your Desktop. Extract all files to any folder in any drive and run DeskHack as Administrator. Choose a version if you either have a 32-bit or 64-bit operating system.

Yours sincerely,
Michael

**abz** · 14 Aug 2009

Hi

My colour scheme is not opening up to this screen:

Instead it's opening up this one:

How do you change it so that it opens up to the previous screen?
It's really annoying me because it takes much longer for me to change the appearance this way.
I have Vista Home Basic 32bit. I have tried changing from windows vista basic to windows vista standard but it wont work, because every time I open up 'Change color scheme' or something like that, it has changed back to windows vista basic, even though I pressed apply, then ok.
I have tried to restart my computer straight after changing the color scheme but that doesn't work.
I've looked everywhere on how to do it but can't find the answer.
PLEASE HELP!

**Brink** · 15 Aug 2009

Hello Abz, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Sorry, but The Windows Aero color scheme is not available in the Vista Home Basic edition. You will only see the Windows Color and Appearane window if your Vista edition (all except Basic) supports Windows Aero.

Shawn

**princessvampire** · 10 Sep 2009

I've got the same problem as abz, but i've got windows vista home premium, and when i'm trying to switch to vista aero it just jumps to vista basic. ;/

**Brink** · 10 Sep 2009

Hello PrincessVampire, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Does your system meets the requirements in the yellow tip box at the top of the tutorial to be able to support Aero?

**princessvampire** · 10 Sep 2009

Yes.
I double checked.

**Brink** · 10 Sep 2009

Since your system specs meet requirements as you say, then you might see if reinstalling the latest graphics driver and updating your WEI score may help.

**princessvampire** · 10 Sep 2009

After updating my WEI score , I've got:

Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T6400 @ 2.00GHz 4.9 3.8 Determined by lowest subscore Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB 5.3 Graphics Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family 4.1 Gaming graphics 1759 MB Total available graphics memory 3.8 Primary hard disk 200GB Free (286GB Total) 5.5

**xbabby95g** · 20 Nov 2009

Hi, I used to be able to change my color scheme, but recently I noticed that my changes have been reverted. I am unable to change it back. I run windows vista standard (I think), and my WEI is 3.4, my graphics is 3.4 and my processor is 4.9. I know this is a semi-old post but I really would appreciate any help.

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