How can we change the menu highlight color in the aero glass theme of Windows 7? I understand how to edit the resources within the aero.msstyles file, however I have yet to locate the menu highlight image. I'm not even sure if it's an image in this file, or if it's values that are located in another file altogether...? I've searched the net (including MDL) for info and/or tutorials about this, but still haven't found anything that addresses it directly. There's lot's of people complaining about the lousy contrast of the aero menu highlight color, but it still seems to be a secret as to how it can be fixed. If I've missed a thread somewhere, please let me know. It would be nice if Microsoft addressed the menu highlight issue in SP1, but I doubt it. Let me know. (I downloaded SP1 today but I don't feel like applying it just yet) By the way... the software I've been using to edit aero.msstyles is: Resource Tuner (to import & export .png resources) Paint.NET (to edit .png images) I also have Windows7 Style Builder 1.5 but it hasn't been much help so far. Any helpful tips you might have on this topic are greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Lol,I forgot how default Aero looks like, mine is changed/customized, so I m not sure what you guys talking about any screenshots ? I use Stylebuilder 1.5 as well and I could help.
Re: Screen Shot This is what a context menu looks like when I right-click a blank area on the desktop. Click image to enlarge As you can (barely) see, I selected "Refresh" on the menu.
Solved! That's it!!! Using Windows Style Builder, I opened a copy of my aero.msstyles file and navigated to: Lists, Menus & Tabs > Menu > PopUpItem and exported the .png file, then edited the pesky light blue portion of the image with Paint.NET. Then imported the newly edited image back into Windows Style Builder and saved the changes to that copy of aero.msstyles. I tried the new file on my system and now my menu highlight looks like this! Click image to enlarge This is how Microsoft SHOULD'VE made the image in the first place! Thanks dareckibmw! Finally I can stop squinting to see my menu selections.
Heh heh! Yeah... It's a wonder how Windows 7 made it through beta testing with the crappy hard-coded color scheme going unnoticed. I thought I was gonna go blind. :| Anyway... if you're looking for the image using Heaventools Resource Tuner, the image number within the actual aero.msstyles file is IMAGE_1107. At least that's what it is on my Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit x86 system. The next image I want to change is this one... Click image to enlarge I couldn't seem to find it using Windows Style Builder, and it's hard to find with Resource Tuner. It's very time consuming exporting resources and zooming them in Paint.Net to see what they actually are just so you can edit the lousy color choice Microsoft made. If anyone knows the image number for this, I'd greatly appreciate it. In the meantime, back to the hunt.
Great! That was IMAGE_842 by the way. Windows Style Builder is kind of confusing to me. I can't seem to find things where I'd expect them when I'm using it. :| Great tool when you can find what you're looking for though. My desktop is WAY messy-er than yours by the way. So no worries. Thanks again.
Here's a sweet theme for people who are lazy and don't feel like editing binaries. Has fluorescent green menu highlights, and super glass aero theme. multiupload.com/40MIDXI2RZ * Put both files in: C:\Windows\Resources\Themes * Then enable by right-clicking Desktop > Properties.
Thanks man, that was quick. Then menu i was referring to is on the screen where it says whether Windows is activated or not, the menu on the left. It's been a while since i used it, but i didn't like the colors because it was hard to read. if you ever wanted to modify that, that would be great.
Actually, there is something else... I'm trying to find the resource to change this... Click image to enlarge The Log off menu. As you can (barely) see, "Shut down" was highlighted during that screen capture. I took a break from searching for the resource in aero.msstyles. Maybe it's in another file altogether...? Got any ideas? I'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance. Cheers!
That highlight is at: Start Menu > Menus > Basic > Toolbar > Button and the background is: Start Menu > Menus > Basic > Toolbar