IE8 and black toolbars - not a full solution!!

Discussion:

(too old to reply)

Reg M

2008-10-20 10:01:20 UTC

Hi,
Thought I had got this cracked but found the problem reappears a
day or so later.

I went to Control Panel/Display/Themes and changed from my customised
theme to Windows Classic. Allowed the change to establish itself and
then changed back to my preferred theme. IE8 then displayed correctly.

Have found since that the although the change remained during that
day, when I opened IE the next day the problem had reappeared.

Re-ran the solution and IE8 is displaying properly again but for how
long??

Although I am a beta user I am not a beta tester, if you know what I
mean. Perhaps someone can pass this on to MS unless a solution unknown
to me has been found

Reldel

2008-10-20 11:01:01 UTC

Permalink

Open IE8, go to the top right of the screen and press the maximize button.
In Vista, alternately pressing this button changes the appearance of IE8 from
the Vista Theme to black toolbars for some reason.

Post by Reg M
Hi,
Thought I had got this cracked but found the problem reappears a
day or so later.
I went to Control Panel/Display/Themes and changed from my customised
theme to Windows Classic. Allowed the change to establish itself and
then changed back to my preferred theme. IE8 then displayed correctly.
Have found since that the although the change remained during that
day, when I opened IE the next day the problem had reappeared.
Re-ran the solution and IE8 is displaying properly again but for how
long??
Although I am a beta user I am not a beta tester, if you know what I
mean. Perhaps someone can pass this on to MS unless a solution unknown
to me has been found

Reg M

2008-10-20 11:22:16 UTC

Permalink

On Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:01:01 -0700, Reldel

Post by Reldel
Open IE8, go to the top right of the screen and press the maximize button.
In Vista, alternately pressing this button changes the appearance of IE8 from
the Vista Theme to black toolbars for some reason.

.snip...

Still using XP SP3 Home and afraid to say in that it does not work.
Reg

Robert Aldwinckle

2008-10-21 05:52:15 UTC

Permalink

Post by Reg M
On Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:01:01 -0700, Reldel

.snip...
Still using XP SP3 Home and afraid to say in that it does not work.
Reg

Is the problem symptom something that gets progressively worse?
E.g. not really "black" just unusably dim?

If your symptom is just an artifact of continuous processing by your
video driver you might be able to find a simpler workaround using
High Contrast mode. E.g. press LeftAlt+LeftShift+PrintScrn
(assuming that default is defined); otherwise use the Control Panel's
Accessibility applet, etc.

FWIW I have a similar symptom that affects whole windows, not just
parts of them. A workaround I have found is having a cmd window open
which magically makes all other windows (but only in the background
unfortunately) much brighter (which seems completely backwards).
That workaround only works when no window is maximized or in Fullscreen mode.
I suspect my video driver (ATI Radeon) isn't completely compatible with XP.
My symptoms are specific to IE8--it happens noticeably to OE and WLMail too.

BTW there are a few annoyances when using High Contrast mode,
the biggest one IMO being that my Taskbar size goes back to default
height but I think it has also caused a few WLMail crashes. ; )

Good luck

Robert
---

Reg M

2008-10-21 09:38:34 UTC

Permalink

On Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:52:15 -0400, "Robert Aldwinckle"

Post by Robert Aldwinckle

Post by Reg M
On Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:01:01 -0700, Reldel

.snip...
Still using XP SP3 Home and afraid to say in that it does not work.
Reg

Is the problem symptom something that gets progressively worse?
E.g. not really "black" just unusably dim?
If your symptom is just an artifact of continuous processing by your
video driver you might be able to find a simpler workaround using
High Contrast mode. E.g. press LeftAlt+LeftShift+PrintScrn
(assuming that default is defined); otherwise use the Control Panel's
Accessibility applet, etc.
FWIW I have a similar symptom that affects whole windows, not just
parts of them. A workaround I have found is having a cmd window open
which magically makes all other windows (but only in the background
unfortunately) much brighter (which seems completely backwards).
That workaround only works when no window is maximized or in Fullscreen mode.
I suspect my video driver (ATI Radeon) isn't completely compatible with XP.
My symptoms are specific to IE8--it happens noticeably to OE and WLMail too.
BTW there are a few annoyances when using High Contrast mode,
the biggest one IMO being that my Taskbar size goes back to default
height but I think it has also caused a few WLMail crashes. ; )
Good luck
Robert
---

Hi Robert,
All of the toolbars - menu, favorites, command and status bar are
completely blacked out. The address and search bar is clear and
usable. The blacked out bars are usable but until you put the
cursor on a particular item (text doesn't show) and click it you
cannot tell precisely which one you have. I think this started with
IE7 and wonder whether there is a connection with a Windows Update
Patch. Haven't gone down that road yet. The part solution I found via
Control/Display/Themes works for a day or until the next time the
computer is switched off and on. There is probably a registry entry
which having been set is clearing itself once the computer is
restarted.
Reg

Robert Aldwinckle

2008-10-21 21:57:24 UTC

Permalink

Post by Reg M
Hi Robert,
All of the toolbars - menu, favorites, command and status bar are
completely blacked out. The address and search bar is clear and
usable. The blacked out bars are usable but until you put the
cursor on a particular item (text doesn't show) and click it you
cannot tell precisely which one you have.
I think this started with IE7

That's interesting. Up to now the symptom has been presented
as something new due to IE8.

Post by Reg M
and wonder whether there is a connection with a Windows Update Patch.

Possibly. Did you get any updates to your video driver that way? <eg>

Post by Reg M
Haven't gone down that road yet. The part solution I found via
Control/Display/Themes works for a day or until the next time the
computer is switched off and on. There is probably a registry entry
which having been set is clearing itself once the computer is
restarted.

I would expect a change to Themes to involve extensive changes
in the registry. You could use RegMon (or ProcMon) to capture those.
Then after you restart check that list of changes to see which ones
aren't holding. BTW both tools also provide a Boot Logging feature
which might enable you to detect any related changes which are
being made during the boot.

BTW did you try toggling High Contrast mode on and off?
Any difference? ; )

Good luck

Robert
---

Reg M

2008-10-22 12:06:23 UTC

Permalink

On Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:57:24 -0400, "Robert Aldwinckle"

Post by Robert Aldwinckle

That's interesting. Up to now the symptom has been presented
as something new due to IE8.

Post by Reg M
and wonder whether there is a connection with a Windows Update Patch.

Possibly. Did you get any updates to your video driver that way? <eg>

I would expect a change to Themes to involve extensive changes
in the registry. You could use RegMon (or ProcMon) to capture those.
Then after you restart check that list of changes to see which ones
aren't holding. BTW both tools also provide a Boot Logging feature
which might enable you to detect any related changes which are
being made during the boot.
BTW did you try toggling High Contrast mode on and off?
Any difference? ; )
Good luck
Robert

Would you believe it? All of a sudden the matter has become academic,
at least for me. For the last couple of days IE8 has been displaying
correctly without any intervention from me. Cannot think for the life
of me what, if anything, I did other than the solution I have already
stated.

If any thought occur I will get back and let you know, likewise if it
decides to go back to the black toolbars.

The joys of computing!! :-)

Reg

Reg M

2008-10-23 08:06:42 UTC

Permalink

On Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:06:23 +0100, Reg M
<onceabusman-***@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

...snip..

Post by Reg M
Would you believe it? All of a sudden the matter has become academic,
at least for me. For the last couple of days IE8 has been displaying
correctly without any intervention from me. Cannot think for the life
of me what, if anything, I did other than the solution I have already
stated.
If any thought occur I will get back and let you know, likewise if it
decides to go back to the black toolbars.
The joys of computing!! :-)
Reg

One day later and back to black toolbars again :-(
Interesting this is not.
Reg

PreachJohn

2008-12-09 07:27:00 UTC

Permalink

Post by Reg M
On Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:06:23 +0100, Reg M
....snip..

One day later and back to black toolbars again :-(
Interesting this is not.
Reg

IE8 which I feel I was tricked/forced into loading, and WLHotmail which
brute forced a half baked beta on me, both sport these blacked out, next to
useless toolbars. I keep rebooting til I get it right. Once or twice at most
so far. The problem seems to manifest only on a reboot necessitated by
updates.

Dividebyzer0

2009-03-11 15:42:04 UTC

Permalink

There is a very quick solution: press these keys at the same time:

Left-Alt + Left-Shift + Print Screen key. You will get a Pop-Up window
Click OK

This enables the "High Contrast Display Mode" normally used for people with
low vision issues. Instantly fixes --> BLACK TEXT ON BLACK BACKGROUND <--
No need to uninstall or reinstall anything or even to reboot.

--> Please Microsoft <-- read this and find out why this works so you can
offer a more Practical solution to the average end users out there. (I found
this after 1 month of trying everything suggested here and elsewhere)

org_karebear

2009-05-29 23:55:02 UTC

Permalink

I have tried everything that, I can to resolve this issue and it still
persists. If any one can tell me how to fix this, I would be greatful. I
think that those putting out this stuff, should make sure it works better
than it usually dose.JMO.

Post by Dividebyzer0
Left-Alt + Left-Shift + Print Screen key. You will get a Pop-Up window
Click OK
This enables the "High Contrast Display Mode" normally used for people with
low vision issues. Instantly fixes --> BLACK TEXT ON BLACK BACKGROUND <--
No need to uninstall or reinstall anything or even to reboot.
--> Please Microsoft <-- read this and find out why this works so you can
offer a more Practical solution to the average end users out there. (I found
this after 1 month of trying everything suggested here and elsewhere)

PA Bear [MS MVP]

2009-05-30 00:06:15 UTC

Permalink

Start by beginning a new thread about your problem (whatever it is) & state
your full Windows version in your first post.

Post by org_karebear
I have tried everything that, I can to resolve this issue and it still
persists. If any one can tell me how to fix this, I would be greatful. I
think that those putting out this stuff, should make sure it works better
than it usually dose.JMO.

Post by Dividebyzer0
Left-Alt + Left-Shift + Print Screen key. You will get a Pop-Up window
Click OK
This enables the "High Contrast Display Mode" normally used for people with
low vision issues. Instantly fixes --> BLACK TEXT ON BLACK BACKGROUND <--
No need to uninstall or reinstall anything or even to reboot.
--> Please Microsoft <-- read this and find out why this works so you can
offer a more Practical solution to the average end users out there. (I
found this after 1 month of trying everything suggested here and
elsewhere)

Coleslaw

2010-02-13 05:52:01 UTC

Permalink

Post by PA Bear [MS MVP]
Start by beginning a new thread about your problem (whatever it is) & state
your full Windows version in your first post.

Post by Dividebyzer0
Left-Alt + Left-Shift + Print Screen key. You will get a Pop-Up window
Click OK
This enables the "High Contrast Display Mode" normally used for people with
low vision issues. Instantly fixes --> BLACK TEXT ON BLACK BACKGROUND <--
No need to uninstall or reinstall anything or even to reboot.
--> Please Microsoft <-- read this and find out why this works so you can
offer a more Practical solution to the average end users out there. (I
found this after 1 month of trying everything suggested here and
elsewhere)

For those who still run into this problem with the final release, this is
how I fixed mine when it did this same thing.

XP:
- Right click anywhere on desktop.
- "Properties"
- "Appearance"
- "Windows and Buttons" -> make "Windows XP Style"

Vista:
- Right click anywhere on desktop.
- "Personalize"
- "Theme"
- Change Theme to "Windows Vista"

tobibeer

2010-02-15 20:47:01 UTC

Permalink

So much for the classic theme? No way! I'd rather put ie in the bin.

Tobias.

Post by Coleslaw

Post by PA Bear [MS MVP]
Start by beginning a new thread about your problem (whatever it is) & state
your full Windows version in your first post.

Post by Dividebyzer0
Left-Alt + Left-Shift + Print Screen key. You will get a Pop-Up window
Click OK
This enables the "High Contrast Display Mode" normally used for people with
low vision issues. Instantly fixes --> BLACK TEXT ON BLACK BACKGROUND <--
No need to uninstall or reinstall anything or even to reboot.
--> Please Microsoft <-- read this and find out why this works so you can
offer a more Practical solution to the average end users out there. (I
found this after 1 month of trying everything suggested here and
elsewhere)

For those who still run into this problem with the final release, this is
how I fixed mine when it did this same thing.
- Right click anywhere on desktop.
- "Properties"
- "Appearance"
- "Windows and Buttons" -> make "Windows XP Style"
- Right click anywhere on desktop.
- "Personalize"
- "Theme"
- Change Theme to "Windows Vista"

Som30ne

2010-02-19 07:58:01 UTC

Permalink

Post by tobibeer
So much for the classic theme? No way! I'd rather put ie in the bin.
Tobias.

Well, Just happened to me.
I went to windows xp style and back to classic, and it seems to resolve the
problem.
I just need to check if it survives a restart . . .

mechanic24

2010-03-27 13:59:01 UTC

Permalink

Evidently the microsoft people can't fix this or they simply don't care.
I got this information somewhere else, but try this because it fixed the
problem.
There are two things that you need to do.

Right click "my computer" select the advanced tab click performance settings
button and on the
visual effects tab change from "let windows choose whats best for my
computer" to
"adjust for best performance". Apparently windows doesn't know what's best
for your computer.

The next thing you should do is Click start, control panel, administrative
tools, services.
That brings up the "Services" list. Scroll down to "themes", single click it.
Click the "stop" option, double click "themes" which opens the properties
window.
Change from "automatic" to "manual".

It doesn't have anything to do with drivers or reinstalling internet
explorer or
going back and forth changing themes.

I found this to be effective and haven't had a problem since.
If this doesn't fix the porblem for you, you can always change the setting
back.

My system is XP sp3.

Post by Som30ne

Post by tobibeer
So much for the classic theme? No way! I'd rather put ie in the bin.
Tobias.

Well, Just happened to me.
I went to windows xp style and back to classic, and it seems to resolve the
problem.
I just need to check if it survives a restart . . .