Classic Shell: Forum

Like many of you, I hate the W8 front and prefer the classic view - I hate any transparency.

I've downloaded the classic shell and also winaero skin for classic shell 2.0. It's difficult to understand the techie talk but I'd like to ask

a) The task bar text is white and difficult to read. Can I make it black?
b) This question is outside of Classic shell. Is there any way to make the Windows (file) explorer to have a simpler classic look. Similarly, I find the Alt-tab icons so much more difficult to comprehend than the simpler ones that showed you the icons for the program rather than a mini-view of the page.
Jesus, why don't microsoft employ some ordinary people to road test their stuff, older people like me!
Please keep your answers simple if possible. I'm relatively techie compared to most humans but nothing like you lot! Cheers

What you are looking for is a Theme: http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-ti ... -1-themes/
There are other themes available particularly on Deviantart.com

http://cu88.deviantart.com/art/Bel-Mini ... -421414690
This one stands out from your description as a very minimal and plain one.

Hope this helps; and good luck.

a) The Taskbar is also not part of Classic Shell. You cake it opaque using Classic Shell.

Also, from Windows Personalization Control Panel -> Color and Appearance, you can make it black as shown in the screenshot. Unfortunately, that also makes the title bar black and its text unreadable. You can install UxStyle from here: http://uxstyle.com/ It is a free app which will let you apply custom third-party themes. After installing UxStyle, download this theme which contains a fix for the unreadable title bar text:
For Windows 8: http://winaero.com/blog/windows-8-defau ... itle-bars/
For Windows 8.1: http://winaero.com/blog/black-theme-for ... te-titles/

b) There is no easy way to make Explorer have the classic look. You have to do a number of tweaks. But, you can revert to the older Alt+Tab using Alt-Tab Tuner VIII: http://winaero.com/comment.php?comment.news.205 Check the box 'Enable Classic Alt+Tab dialog'.

Note: Classic Shell is not responsible for anything that happens to your PC from use of third party tools recommended here.

_________________
Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

Classic Shell 4.3.0 now lets you customize taskbar color and taskbar text color.

As for a better Alt+Tab, I recommend the freeware VistaSwitcher.

_________________
Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.