Taskbar always on top + window white text etc

Jenova

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Hello,
I'm new to Windows 8, I did skipped Windows Vista, did some testing stuff on Windows 7 and now I thought (oh god why? - what a mistake!!!) that I will work in Windows 8 and ditch Windows XP.

I have problem with some tweaks that I can't bypass:

1. Window text colour White - I like dark theme but unfortunately everything that is near black results in unreadable window title. I know that using high contrast themes I could achieve this but they mess up much more then fix (at least for me).

2. TaskBar - disable always on top action - I want to see taskbar all the time but have the ability to move window / application in front of it. I know that there is workaround but I would like to use something different.

3. Disable auto highlight files / directories when mouse is moved. This happens for the file explorer and desktop.

Reagrds
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Debian
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7 4770
    Motherboard
    MSI MPower
    Memory
    2x 4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX 660
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Del 24
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    1920x1200
    Cooling
    Corsair H80
1.
Darker themes, text white...
See some other high-contrast variations and AeroLite themes here:
http://www.eightforums.com/customization/25496-special-themes-aerolite-high-contrast-variations.html

2.
This tutorial on SevenForums should take care of the taskbar always on top:
Taskbar Always On Top - Disable or Enable - Windows 7 Help Forums

3.
See Ease of Acces Center in Control Panel for some options.
I hope the hovering doesn't select files as well...
In Windows 7, whenever I hover over things, the mouse automatically - Microsoft Community
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
Thank You for the reply.

1. This is still hight contras theme and with that all task bar gradient etc. are gone. New look of Ui was main reason why I ditched Windows XP if that's gone then no more need for me to stick with Win8.
I know that "error" is caused by new theme system with is not yet reverse-engenered so we can't change text colour manually but I hoped for something different then the answer that You give me.

2. I already know that one and the problem is that I have many files / directories on my desktop and with this trick they are below / under task bar. It would be good as long as I have like 10 icons on my desktop but I have many.
Another reason is that I have "Unknown Explorer version" with this file.

Also I read that some people that upgraded from earlier version of Windows (don't know with one) have this behaviour so current version of explorer definitely support this but the option to toggle it is removed (do they like to look at task bar that much over M$?). Also Explorer state is saved upon exit so even after overriding manually registry it will be overwritten on explorer exit.

3. Already know this one, it's not what I meant. When moving mouse either in Explorer or on Desktop and hovering over file / directory that file / directory is automatically highlighted (nothing is selected or anything). How do I turn this off?

Another issues (more like my bi@#$% about stuff that not work then actual question - any input on these ones and maybe solution to bypass are more then welcome):

4. Disabling "Computation file size" (or similar) behaviour during file deletion. I mean come one who need information about how fast files are deleted (I mean here number/sec not progress bar)? Deleting like 1 mil. files takes forever and on SO is thread about using rm with rmdir with is more then 3 times faster then Ui deletion. Good work M$ for optimizing Your OS.

4 with I know that can't be bypassed easily are makes me to waste another few days and set up Windows XP.

To be honest only new Ui is ok, and maybe ribbon with can be hide. Rest of new OS settings are just annoyance and I won't even start about Metro Ui - first thing that I did disable.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Debian
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7 4770
    Motherboard
    MSI MPower
    Memory
    2x 4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX 660
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Del 24
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Cooling
    Corsair H80
1. This is still hight contras theme and with that all task bar gradient etc. are gone. New look of Ui was main reason why I ditched Windows XP if that's gone then no more need for me to stick with Win8.
I know that "error" is caused by new theme system with is not yet reverse-engenered so we can't change text colour manually but I hoped for something different then the answer that You give me.

True, those are still high contrast. If you need dark glossy aero based themes or some exotic self-made ones, you'll need to use third party themes since the original ones are pretty limited.

Search for dark themes.
Some examples here:
Dark theme | Winaero
Top 30 Best Windows 8 Themes, Visual Styles and Skins

The drawback is patching system dll's, the main reason I use original ones.
But you're free to try those if nothing else does the job.

For the rest, I'm out of idea's. The jump from XP to 8 is a big one in my opinion: good luck. Looks are always changing, they did it trough Vista and 7 and they keep doing it. You have to adapt or find good theme/customizations that work for you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
Thank You for the reply.

1. This is still hight contras theme and with that all task bar gradient etc. are gone. New look of Ui was main reason why I ditched Windows XP if that's gone then no more need for me to stick with Win8.
I know that "error" is caused by new theme system with is not yet reverse-engenered so we can't change text colour manually but I hoped for something different then the answer that You give me.

2. I already know that one and the problem is that I have many files / directories on my desktop and with this trick they are below / under task bar. It would be good as long as I have like 10 icons on my desktop but I have many.
Another reason is that I have "Unknown Explorer version" with this file.

Also I read that some people that upgraded from earlier version of Windows (don't know with one) have this behaviour so current version of explorer definitely support this but the option to toggle it is removed (do they like to look at task bar that much over M$?). Also Explorer state is saved upon exit so even after overriding manually registry it will be overwritten on explorer exit.

3. Already know this one, it's not what I meant. When moving mouse either in Explorer or on Desktop and hovering over file / directory that file / directory is automatically highlighted (nothing is selected or anything). How do I turn this off?

Another issues (more like my bi@#$% about stuff that not work then actual question - any input on these ones and maybe solution to bypass are more then welcome):

4. Disabling "Computation file size" (or similar) behaviour during file deletion. I mean come one who need information about how fast files are deleted (I mean here number/sec not progress bar)? Deleting like 1 mil. files takes forever and on SO is thread about using rm with rmdir with is more then 3 times faster then Ui deletion. Good work M$ for optimizing Your OS.

4 with I know that can't be bypassed easily are makes me to waste another few days and set up Windows XP.

To be honest only new Ui is ok, and maybe ribbon with can be hide. Rest of new OS settings are just annoyance and I won't even start about Metro Ui - first thing that I did disable.
The never ending story of individual wants of a system that is supposed to satisfy everybody, you just complained about some things that I would complain of if they were missing. Such non-essential things really detract from legitimate concerns about things wital to the operation of OS as whole. On the other hand, if everybody's wishes could be satisfied one and all would complain about the size of the OS and ask what the heck is all in it that it takes several DVD disks and a terabyte HDD.
So I would strongly suggest that people who do not want to take time to change OS and UI to their liking and force OS makers to make them the way I don't want and like, to write their own damn OS or find something better for them.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
@ CountMike

You are mistaken.

First of all, OS is specific kind of software and because of that should be highly customizable to meet personal preferences of each user.
Nowadays practically every OS that use windows as Ui interface allow to do, written by me above, actions like changing window text colour to whatever colour user want to.

About size of OS... You are joking right? Windows 8 is HUGEEEE.. My Windows dir has 20GB. In comparison "/" of my Debian with KDE + XFCE + GNOME has 4.7GB !!! I know that You can say if that is true then switch to Debian 100%, but unfortunately I can't - job don't allow me to do that.

And final point that You are missing is that the functionality that I am, and many others, looking for is already supported by OS. Options that control them are just simply removed. So I don't see Your additional terabyte's of data just to change 2/3 options in Explorer.exe 0o.

Microsoft itself (sorry I don't remember src or url of these info) announced that "Start button" will be back in next release.

So I'm not asking here about "NEW", I'm asking about way to access functionality that is already IN. And to be honest it's such simple task

I'm not troglodyte that I's not open to "NEW", but I do ridicule ridiculousness because new features of Windows 8 are ridiculous and some other easy to add option that are actually useful are missing.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Debian
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7 4770
    Motherboard
    MSI MPower
    Memory
    2x 4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX 660
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Del 24
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Cooling
    Corsair H80
@ Jenova
I was not directly saying that you are wrong, my point is that if all those individual wishes are met OS would be really huge and un-menegable for others. What one would like to see, others would be bothered by it. I for one, do not like all those pretty pictures and flashy icons, do not need all that little customizing on the GUI. I just ignore and if possible uninstall most of those programs included with windows. Now with Metro (whose apps i do not use for most part) I just use it as a launch platform for programs. I see desktop maybe once or twice a day. Various programs are what the computers are for, GUI is just the way to get to them. Turn the computer on, click on Firefox, check mail and news, do what I need to do,click on the program I need to use at the time, use it and so on. Grand kids come and play a game etc. and nobody even sees the desktop. Task bar is on autohide and has just a few programs needed to be accessed absolutely fast pined on it. For file manipulation I use Total Commander which is always running in the background and is much better than Explorer even with 2 instances at the time. There are much better programs (even freeware) out there than those applets included with windows. OS should be just what it's name implies, Operating System, interface between programs and hardware with enough drivers and system files so the programs could be made without need for their own direct contact with hardware like it used to be in the beginning. Somebody writes a program for the OS an OS handles everything else. Those programs have their own look and interface and actually do not use most or any of the GUI OS provides.
What I'm trying to say is that Windows become so chock-full of little things that most people do not even know about or do not care about but it become a selling point and an excuse for higher price.
"New and improved" become a battle cry for everything nowadays, for basically same stuff, from detergent to computers and most of it is just packaging without much substance.
Just look at Linux, kernel is basically the same throughout but hundreds of distros become just a mess.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
@CountMike
Which all due respect I do still think that You are missing the point.

You are assuming, and that's correct, that normal user will use web browser, email client and probably play some games. But what about power users or developers? There are people, like me, who are using PC for their jobs. So to me OS it's tool that will allow me to earn money (not directly, but still). And, as in any job really, one seeks for the tools that are best suited for their needs. And I could simply move into Linux world, but unfortunately majority of my clients need Windows software. Granted I could use Wine / VM's etc. but VM's are simply slower then normal install, don't have all API's correctly supported (like OpenGL etc. - speed issue also here) and I also use software that is not available, yet, on Linux so...just a meter of time, but that's not important.

I'm using Windows 8 for 1 month now, was used Windows XP for like 6 years or more, before that Windows 2k, Windows ME (practically not at all), Windows 98, Windows 95, Win311. And on Windows8 it's first time that I ever used "themes" - not really because all "flashy" stuff is turned off, no way to turn off themese. Normally I disable everything and use "Windows Classic" mode. But Windows8 don't have "Classic Window" mode.
Also I did skip Windows Vista and 7 (did some work in it) because new Ui and icons (same story with Windows8) are just ugly for me.

And in my experience I see that starting from Windows Vista they constantly bringing into OS features that are just unnecessary and constantly removing features that are actually useful.

Simply example:
File explorer - in Windows XP when entering directory we could see total size of all elements in that directory. Now that option is removed. Ms explanation and official statement was "it's confusing for user" ... no comments from me on this one.

Another one - arrange icons by date will tiger always Descending order, even thought I did set up lastly Ascending order.

Yet again - try do delete over smb 1mil files... good luck to us all ... or do that when You are going away from PC. Half of that time is "Computation items". No comments .... Same for local files. I do have SSD's and file operation because of that seams slow (Indexing turned off of course).

And another one - translucent selection rectangle. Can be disabled but only for Desktop. Explorer don't honour these settings.

For me, because I did pay for OS this means that I will have bridge between hardware and software and also a way to modify / access and interact with files. Using third party software for this is just IMHO face slap but unfortunately these days its seams that this is only way to have fast file access.

Why do I comes strong on these small details? Because, as You said, it's just don't matter for the person who use web browser and PC not so much. Me, I'm developer and need to spend min. 8h / day in front of PC - 10h is norm, and task that normal user don't do, like regular work data backups - manipulation (sometimes very large amount of files - frameworks etc.), application testing on various OS's, including MacOSX and Linux, heavily file usage like file copy / delete etc. are my daily task's. Some task that seams to You or maybe "average" user not important (and I do agree that i.e. when deleting 100 files it's fast enough) are important to me. And now I can see that performance of i.e. deletion is slower on Windows 8 then on Widows XP or Debian.

I do realise that this is probably not the place to discus this but this discussion actually motivates me to send letter to Microsoft :) so maybe not all is in vain but probably my suggestions won't make into Windows and if they do then I will need to pay for Windows again (9 maybe?) :p.

Anyway @CountMike please don't take it personally, I just explain why Your reply in my opinion is mistaken and don't see whole picture and most of errors are Explorer related anyway.

Regards
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Debian
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7 4770
    Motherboard
    MSI MPower
    Memory
    2x 4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX 660
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Del 24
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Cooling
    Corsair H80
I'm certainly not taking this personally and appreciate comments. It's just that after many, many years of handling all kinds of OSs feel that main selling point became those " Bells and whistles " instead of concentrating on kernel and the main engine of OS. Making it easier for SW developers would spur a lot more people to write software that addresses particular needs. Although most of my working life (retired now) I worked with computers in industrial environment I also used them at home before PC and had to deal with all the DOS and Windows since day one and could see them being more and more bloated with all kinds of unnecessary stuff that some people like and others find distracting.
Now when I am supplementing pension income by repairing computers, I see that more and more people are getting confused with all that "mambo-jumbo" (they call it) and most do not even know that much of the stuff even exists, let alone how to use it. The ones "in the know" will always find the way to do all the customizing they want and an extra click or two to make it easier to do onetime changes, does not make large difference.
So, I wish, I wish upon a star that MS would provide a clean OS that I could ad to all kinds of stuff I like and need without having to jump thru the hoops to get past their "Great" ideas. But alas, they would not listen to millions of people, so trying to call their attention by oneself, no matter how good the idea is, is just waste of time and effort.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
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