How to change the background color of Windows 8 Explorer

mynameisshounak

New Member
Messages
3
Hello,

I am facing a couple of problems

(1) I want to change the background color of the Explorer. I am using Windows 8.

I have opened "regedit" --> Control Panel --> Colors.

I am unable to understand which value of DWORD to set in and which one to change. I want to change the color of the explorer to grey so that it does no hurt my eye. Please guide me with the exact value.

(2) I want to change the brightness of Windows 8. I am using Acer Aspire E1- 510. Earlier I have questioned, but I was asked to download some driver and update. But it is not happening. I am not very good in hardware settings etc. In "regedit" is it possible to edit anything and decrease the OVERALL BRIGHTNESS OF THE LAPTOP?. If so please guide me.

Thanks a lot.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built/ Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX-6300
    Motherboard
    MSI 970A-G43
    Memory
    Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GTX 750 ti
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    HP w2207h
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The only way I know how to change Explorer backgrounds is with WindowBlinds.

screenshot_111.jpg

Mine is olive green right now----

screenshot_111.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
Hello Chuck,

Changing the DWORD value to 200 200 200 it is changing the color of regedit window. What I am looking is the WHITE background color of the window which loads be default. While clicking on MyComputer --> Open, the white background that opens. After restarting it has become grey but the regedit window only not the Windows8 Explorer.

Kindly guide.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Oh, sorry about that. I will look into it a little more, meanwhile, have you tried Mr. Bailey's suggestion?

-Chuck
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built/ Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX-6300
    Motherboard
    MSI 970A-G43
    Memory
    Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GTX 750 ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2207h
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200 Hybrid Internal Hard Drive
    Crucial M500 240GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 500 Watt 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro Series H55 Quiet Edition Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    CM Storm Devastator - Red
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    Really fast.
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
    Other Info
    Logitech G230 Headset
Keep in mind, WindowBlinds isn't free & it is complicated.
They have a forum if you need help with it if you do try it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built/ Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX-6300
    Motherboard
    MSI 970A-G43
    Memory
    Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GTX 750 ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2207h
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200 Hybrid Internal Hard Drive
    Crucial M500 240GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 500 Watt 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro Series H55 Quiet Edition Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    CM Storm Devastator - Red
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    Really fast.
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
    Other Info
    Logitech G230 Headset
Free 30 day trial.

$9.99 to buy---

screenshot_111.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
You could invert contrast on the fly, as an option, pressing left Alt + left Shift + PrtScn

EDIT: You'll need to check mark this setting though:

1.PNG
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion
  • PC2
    Tablet - Windows 10 Home
I experienced the same issue, which is fine because I also want a grey background for other apps. It's just that I can't find the registry entries for the color background of the file explorer main and tree windows.

I notice that in some sites which offer Win 8 skins this is possible.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    None
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-4690
    Motherboard
    MSI H97M-G43
    Memory
    8 GB 1866 MHz Kingston HyperX Fury Black
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    Inno3D N770 GTX770 2 GB DD5 256-bit
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
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    Samsung SyncMaster S23B300
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel SSD 250 GB
    Seagate 2 TB
    WD 2 TB
    WD Mybook 2 TB
    PSU
    Corsair HX750W
    Case
    Antec 900
    Cooling
    Intel Water Cooling
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120
    Mouse
    A4Tech X7
    Internet Speed
    50 GB
    Browser
    Cyberfox 64-bit
    Antivirus
    Avira Free
Toning down the brightness is probably the best practice, or setting a light grey background. Inverting black on white for long term isn't so healthy for the eyes as black backgrounds tend to 'swallow up' the white text and messes with your eye focus.
Had a link somewhere; I'll find it.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion
  • PC2
    Tablet - Windows 10 Home
Hi, I've finally got a 'permanent' change of background colour in many areas (permanent as in 'it's not lost after resume from hibernation'). Excluding explorer (of course). Here it is in outline:

The basic method is:
a. Change the two registry entries commonly documented to your preferred RGB mix.
b. Save the theme
c. When you resume from hibernation, run a small program -freeware- (I used Win Aero's themeswitcher) to reassert your existing theme

That's the trick - the background colour is lost on resuming unless you reselect the same theme.
You can try that manually, but the real trick is

Use task scheduler to run Win Aero's Themeswitcher on resuming from hibernation.

Yes, using 'Event' + System, Power-Troubleshooter, 1 as a trigger, you can run a task on resuming.
(Not log on or unlocking your workstation - these won't work here).

Thus your colours effectively remain set. See pale yellow in the image.

Picpick.jpg

That's Win 8.1 with Aero Glass, and Y'z shadow.
Now, replace explorer with a configurable tabbed dual pane file manager, and match the colour and you're more or less there..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP G60 214EM
    CPU
    Athlon QL62
    Memory
    4Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    8200M
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Avast
Hello,

I am facing a couple of problems

(1) I want to change the background color of the Explorer. I am using Windows 8.

I have opened "regedit" --> Control Panel --> Colors.

I am unable to understand which value of DWORD to set in and which one to change. I want to change the color of the explorer to grey so that it does no hurt my eye. Please guide me with the exact value.

(2) I want to change the brightness of Windows 8. I am using Acer Aspire E1- 510. Earlier I have questioned, but I was asked to download some driver and update. But it is not happening. I am not very good in hardware settings etc. In "regedit" is it possible to edit anything and decrease the OVERALL BRIGHTNESS OF THE LAPTOP?. If so please guide me.

Thanks a lot.

The simplest solution to (1) is to select a high-contrast theme from Personalization. Then, click on Colors to access options for various colors for various 'components', like background.

I never explored high-contrast themes in Windows 7, because the OS offered plenty of customizations, including specific fonts. Windows 8/8.1 trash-binned those choices. And high-contrast themes do offer some relief from the white glaring backgrounds. Third-party applications seemed immune to the high-contrast themes, however.

Solution to (2) ought to be found in the laptop user's manual. It probably consists of a fn key concurrently with a 'light bulb' key on the laptop keyboard.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP G60 214EM
    CPU
    Athlon QL62
    Memory
    4Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    8200M
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Avast
I've not seen anyone with a solution for explorer, except by, say, using Windowblinds. Personally, I don't want to go that way.

Try a different file manager- dual pane, tabbed, configurable... lots of options for colours etc. There are a good many, although you'll never escape explorer completely.

xyplorer.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP G60 214EM
    CPU
    Athlon QL62
    Memory
    4Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    8200M
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Avast
Here's how I got away from the blinding white:
 

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    personalization.PNG
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  • colors.PNG
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
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