I am running Explore 8 and all my menu bars are blacked out.  To see what I 
mean you can go here http://berwyned.com/screen.html

Any ideas on what when srong and how I can fix it?
 

This problem has been going around for a long time.  It shows up on my 
computer every once and a while.  I do not know if it is the video card, 
video drivers, or IE 8.  You would think by know somebody at Microsoft would 
have figured it out.
-- 
<Bill>

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.

BerwynEd wrote:
> I am running Explore 8 and all my menu bars are blacked out.  To see
> what I mean you can go here http://berwyned.com/screen.html
>
> Any ideas on what when srong and how I can fix it? 

You would think someone at Stardoc or Alienware would have figured it out.

"Bill Bradshaw" <bradshaw@gci.net> wrote in message 
news:emii#$CqKHA.3748@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> This problem has been going around for a long time.  It shows up on my 
> computer every once and a while.  I do not know if it is the video card, 
> video drivers, or IE 8.  You would think by know somebody at Microsoft 
> would have figured it out.
> -- 
> <Bill>
>
> Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.
>
> BerwynEd wrote:
>> I am running Explore 8 and all my menu bars are blacked out.  To see
>> what I mean you can go here http://berwyned.com/screen.html
>>
>> Any ideas on what when srong and how I can fix it?
>
> 

Go to System Properties>Advanced>Settings>Visual Effects>Custom and blank 
the first four items. It may not be all 4 but it should fix the problem.  Or 
go back to IE7 which also corrects it.  I have XP so do not know if it is 
the same for any other OS.

Frank

"Bill Bradshaw" <bradshaw@gci.net> wrote in message 
news:emii%23$CqKHA.3748@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> This problem has been going around for a long time.  It shows up on my 
> computer every once and a while.  I do not know if it is the video card, 
> video drivers, or IE 8.  You would think by know somebody at Microsoft 
> would have figured it out.
> -- 
> <Bill>
>
> Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.
>
> BerwynEd wrote:
>> I am running Explore 8 and all my menu bars are blacked out.  To see
>> what I mean you can go here http://berwyned.com/screen.html
>>
>> Any ideas on what when srong and how I can fix it?
>
> 

The problem is with IE8 and Windows Classic desktop theme.  I'm using WinXP.  
Right click on the desktop, go to Properties, then Themes.  Change it to 
Windows XP, click apply.  The menu bars should be okay.  Now you can 
immeidately change the desktop back to Windows Classic and the menu bars 
should be visible.  You might have to do this each time you start IE8.  

"BerwynEd" wrote:

> I am running Explore 8 and all my menu bars are blacked out.  To see what I 
> mean you can go here http://berwyned.com/screen.html
> 
> Any ideas on what when srong and how I can fix it?
>  

If you review the many postings you will see it is WinXP and Windows Classic 
theme users that have the problem.  So don't you think maybe it is something 
in the WinXP program that is a problem?
-- 
<Bill>

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.


rob^_^ wrote:
> You would think someone at Stardoc or Alienware would have figured it
> out.
> "Bill Bradshaw" <bradshaw@gci.net> wrote in message
> news:emii#$CqKHA.3748@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> This problem has been going around for a long time.  It shows up on
>> my computer every once and a while.  I do not know if it is the
>> video card, video drivers, or IE 8.  You would think by know
>> somebody at Microsoft would have figured it out.
>> --
>> <Bill>
>>
>> Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.
>>
>> BerwynEd wrote:
>>> I am running Explore 8 and all my menu bars are blacked out.  To see
>>> what I mean you can go here http://berwyned.com/screen.html
>>>
>>> Any ideas on what when srong and how I can fix it? 

Stardoc publish Windows Blinds and AlienGuise (for Alienware). These are 
desktop theme customization programs that tweak the system metrics.

1000% sure.

Other causes are
1. applying XP themes to Vista
2. applying third-party themes that have been incorrectly crafted
3. applying third-party themes that contain font declarations that aren't 
installed on your machine (small font in search results pages). This problem 
seems prevalent in themes from Japanese Authors

again 1000% sure.

Yes. There is a problem with the Three-D objects in the System Metrics 
dialog. Change the background and font color of Three-D objects then go to 
Menu Objects... you will see that Menu objects will inherit the background 
color (because some menus are now also three-D object (toolbars, not classic 
windows menus) but not the font color.

So
Three-D objects - Background=Black, Font color = White
if the user does not check then menu objects will be
Menu objects - Background=Black (Inherited (from the Kernel) from 3D 
objects), font color=Black

Windows Blinds and AlienGuise add entries to the Windows Startup and startup 
menu so the faulty desktop themes are reapplied each time windows is booted 
or the Desktop is refreshed.

Regards.

"Bill Bradshaw" <bradshaw@gci.net> wrote in message 
news:uQVa9#OqKHA.3824@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> If you review the many postings you will see it is WinXP and Windows 
> Classic theme users that have the problem.  So don't you think maybe it is 
> something in the WinXP program that is a problem?
> -- 
> <Bill>
>
> Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.
>
>
> rob^_^ wrote:
>> You would think someone at Stardoc or Alienware would have figured it
>> out.
>> "Bill Bradshaw" <bradshaw@gci.net> wrote in message
>> news:emii#$CqKHA.3748@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>> This problem has been going around for a long time.  It shows up on
>>> my computer every once and a while.  I do not know if it is the
>>> video card, video drivers, or IE 8.  You would think by know
>>> somebody at Microsoft would have figured it out.
>>> --
>>> <Bill>
>>>
>>> Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.
>>>
>>> BerwynEd wrote:
>>>> I am running Explore 8 and all my menu bars are blacked out.  To see
>>>> what I mean you can go here http://berwyned.com/screen.html
>>>>
>>>> Any ideas on what when srong and how I can fix it?
>
> 

Thanks for all the suggestions.  Changing the themes on the fly seems to work 
but did come back the next time I started IE8 in the Classic desktop.  when I 
checked the cutom set up as someone else mentioned I did not have any of the 
first 4 boxes checked.  Will keep my eye on that suggestion.   I think I will 
just go back to IE7 and be done with it.  I tend to prefer Mozilla anyway.

What really seems to be troubling is that I have another machine with IE8 
and Classic desktop view and IE8 works OK.  All-in-all I am glad to hear that 
other are having the same problem and just maybe it will get microsofts to 
fix list.  

"AlPomey" wrote:

> The problem is with IE8 and Windows Classic desktop theme.  I'm using WinXP.  
> Right click on the desktop, go to Properties, then Themes.  Change it to 
> Windows XP, click apply.  The menu bars should be okay.  Now you can 
> immeidately change the desktop back to Windows Classic and the menu bars 
> should be visible.  You might have to do this each time you start IE8.  
> 
> "BerwynEd" wrote:
> 
> > I am running Explore 8 and all my menu bars are blacked out.  To see what I 
> > mean you can go here http://berwyned.com/screen.html
> > 
> > Any ideas on what when srong and how I can fix it?
> >  

I am not trying to pick a fight.  I have this problem once and a while on my 
computer running WinXP and Windows Classic theme.  In fact had it today.  I 
do not have the Blinds or Guise program.  I have no problem with IE8 on my 
computer that runs Windows 7 Pro.
-- 
<Bill>

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.

rob^_^ wrote:
> Stardoc publish Windows Blinds and AlienGuise (for Alienware). These
> are desktop theme customization programs that tweak the system
> metrics.
> 1000% sure.
>
> Other causes are
> 1. applying XP themes to Vista
> 2. applying third-party themes that have been incorrectly crafted
> 3. applying third-party themes that contain font declarations that
> aren't installed on your machine (small font in search results
> pages). This problem seems prevalent in themes from Japanese Authors
>
> again 1000% sure.
>
> Yes. There is a problem with the Three-D objects in the System Metrics
> dialog. Change the background and font color of Three-D objects then
> go to Menu Objects... you will see that Menu objects will inherit the
> background color (because some menus are now also three-D object
> (toolbars, not classic windows menus) but not the font color.
>
> So
> Three-D objects - Background=Black, Font color = White
> if the user does not check then menu objects will be
> Menu objects - Background=Black (Inherited (from the Kernel) from 3D
> objects), font color=Black
>
> Windows Blinds and AlienGuise add entries to the Windows Startup and
> startup menu so the faulty desktop themes are reapplied each time
> windows is booted or the Desktop is refreshed.
>
> Regards.
>
> "Bill Bradshaw" <bradshaw@gci.net> wrote in message
> news:uQVa9#OqKHA.3824@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> If you review the many postings you will see it is WinXP and Windows
>> Classic theme users that have the problem.  So don't you think maybe
>> it is something in the WinXP program that is a problem?
>> --
>> <Bill>
>>
>> Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.
>>
>>
>> rob^_^ wrote:
>>> You would think someone at Stardoc or Alienware would have figured
>>> it out.
>>> "Bill Bradshaw" <bradshaw@gci.net> wrote in message
>>> news:emii#$CqKHA.3748@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>> This problem has been going around for a long time.  It shows up on
>>>> my computer every once and a while.  I do not know if it is the
>>>> video card, video drivers, or IE 8.  You would think by know
>>>> somebody at Microsoft would have figured it out.
>>>> --
>>>> <Bill>
>>>>
>>>> Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.
>>>>
>>>> BerwynEd wrote:
>>>>> I am running Explore 8 and all my menu bars are blacked out.  To
>>>>> see what I mean you can go here http://berwyned.com/screen.html
>>>>>
>>>>> Any ideas on what when srong and how I can fix it? 

Hi,

Yep no bar fights... intended..

Here's a link to an article I wrote
http://iecustomizer.com/Resources/Articles/BlackToolbars.aspx

It will show you the steps to reproduce black toolbars through XP to Win7. I 
know it exists, no doubt about it, but it is not limited to IE as the 
article explains. You don't necessarily have to have installed any third 
party desktop themes or software.

I may be wrong or there may be other reasons so let us know if you cannot 
fix it by either restoring Windows Classic or XP Themes or changing the Font 
color of Menu objects in the Windows Colors Control Panel.

Regards.

"Bill Bradshaw" <bradshaw@gci.net> wrote in message 
news:O560bTWqKHA.5116@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> I am not trying to pick a fight.  I have this problem once and a while on 
> my computer running WinXP and Windows Classic theme.  In fact had it 
> today.  I do not have the Blinds or Guise program.  I have no problem with 
> IE8 on my computer that runs Windows 7 Pro.
> -- 
> <Bill>
>
> Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.
>
> rob^_^ wrote:
>> Stardoc publish Windows Blinds and AlienGuise (for Alienware). These
>> are desktop theme customization programs that tweak the system
>> metrics.
>> 1000% sure.
>>
>> Other causes are
>> 1. applying XP themes to Vista
>> 2. applying third-party themes that have been incorrectly crafted
>> 3. applying third-party themes that contain font declarations that
>> aren't installed on your machine (small font in search results
>> pages). This problem seems prevalent in themes from Japanese Authors
>>
>> again 1000% sure.
>>
>> Yes. There is a problem with the Three-D objects in the System Metrics
>> dialog. Change the background and font color of Three-D objects then
>> go to Menu Objects... you will see that Menu objects will inherit the
>> background color (because some menus are now also three-D object
>> (toolbars, not classic windows menus) but not the font color.
>>
>> So
>> Three-D objects - Background=Black, Font color = White
>> if the user does not check then menu objects will be
>> Menu objects - Background=Black (Inherited (from the Kernel) from 3D
>> objects), font color=Black
>>
>> Windows Blinds and AlienGuise add entries to the Windows Startup and
>> startup menu so the faulty desktop themes are reapplied each time
>> windows is booted or the Desktop is refreshed.
>>
>> Regards.
>>
>> "Bill Bradshaw" <bradshaw@gci.net> wrote in message
>> news:uQVa9#OqKHA.3824@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>> If you review the many postings you will see it is WinXP and Windows
>>> Classic theme users that have the problem.  So don't you think maybe
>>> it is something in the WinXP program that is a problem?
>>> --
>>> <Bill>
>>>
>>> Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.
>>>
>>>
>>> rob^_^ wrote:
>>>> You would think someone at Stardoc or Alienware would have figured
>>>> it out.
>>>> "Bill Bradshaw" <bradshaw@gci.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:emii#$CqKHA.3748@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>> This problem has been going around for a long time.  It shows up on
>>>>> my computer every once and a while.  I do not know if it is the
>>>>> video card, video drivers, or IE 8.  You would think by know
>>>>> somebody at Microsoft would have figured it out.
>>>>> --
>>>>> <Bill>
>>>>>
>>>>> Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.
>>>>>
>>>>> BerwynEd wrote:
>>>>>> I am running Explore 8 and all my menu bars are blacked out.  To
>>>>>> see what I mean you can go here http://berwyned.com/screen.html
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Any ideas on what when srong and how I can fix it?
>
>
> 

Bill Bradshaw wrote:

> I am not trying to pick a fight.  I have this problem once and a while on my 
> computer running WinXP and Windows Classic theme.  In fact had it today.  I 
> do not have the Blinds or Guise program.  I have no problem with IE8 on my 
> computer that runs Windows 7 Pro.

From what I recall reading in past posts, those using the Classic theme and
having the blacked out problem were due to those users updating their video
drivers.  Newer doesn't mean better.  It just means some code to fix old
problem and new code that might cause new problems.  You may have to walk
through old versions of your driver software to revert incrementally back
through them to see when the problem goes away.  

Interesting article.  For me the problem is very intermittent.  So it does 
not really bother me.  It just shows up every once and a while and then goes 
away.
-- 
<Bill>

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.

rob^_^ wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Yep no bar fights... intended..
>
> Here's a link to an article I wrote
> http://iecustomizer.com/Resources/Articles/BlackToolbars.aspx
>
> It will show you the steps to reproduce black toolbars through XP to
> Win7. I know it exists, no doubt about it, but it is not limited to
> IE as the article explains. You don't necessarily have to have
> installed any third party desktop themes or software.
>
> I may be wrong or there may be other reasons so let us know if you
> cannot fix it by either restoring Windows Classic or XP Themes or
> changing the Font color of Menu objects in the Windows Colors Control
> Panel.
> Regards.