Glass taskbar in Win 8.1

Archimede

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Hello :)

Can anyone recommend a way (or a tweak) to obtain a nice glassy taskbar in Win 8.1 like the one in the picture below? I already have all components (start button, clock etc.) but I do not like the boring Win 8 taskbar!

Since I only need the taskbar and no other customizations/themes, I am not considering to install WindowBlinds (only for that it would be absurd).

Thanks :D

Glass taskbar in Win 8.1.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Core 64 bit
Hi there. As you probably know it is a part of Aero, of which some of it MS did not add in 8/8.1. I can't find any direct settings, but I know it has to do with the type of Theme one has. e.g. I downloaded Bing Desktop, which as you can see in my screenshot below has the translucent Task Bar.

Try a basic theme and see what happens.

Screenshot (23).png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
You need 3 components:
1) The AeroGlass software by Big Muscle. It will make all opaque window frames glassy
2) A software that makes the taskbar opaque, and therefore glassy. The two I know of are Classic Shell (developed by me) and StartIsBack. There may be others that achieve the same effect without installing a start menu
3) (optional) Change the default flat image in the theme file with something more interesting. I haven't modified themes since Windows 7, so I don't know what is possible on 8. I'm sure other folks on this forum can help with this

I know this is probably an overkill, but nobody said beauty is easy!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
but I do not like the boring Win 8 taskbar!

ok. So I know you said you don't need any other customizations...
I only ask have you considered anything like this to relieve boredom or add something?

... made this little blurb, added a few tiles for show, taskbar is glassy, and it's in Florida Northbound I-95
anyway, if not helpful, apologies! :(

[video=youtube_share;bcNyjo8Evk8]http://youtu.be/bcNyjo8Evk8[/video]
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.
I know this is probably an overkill, but nobody said beauty is easy!

Thanks for the kind suggestions and (mostly THANKS) for having developed the A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Classic Shell.

To install Aero Glass for Win8 v.1.0 (Big Muscle) I started by disabling Secure Boot in the BIOS (as required).

At the end of the installation I rebooted (as prompted).

After reboot I was "greeted" by the following:

"Your THEMECPL.DLL is incompatible. Contol panel colorization won't be adjusted to transparency effects."

"Your SHELL32.DLL is incompatible. AutoColorization won't be adjusted to transparency effects."

Your DWM is incompatible with Aero Glass! See debug log for more details. Do you want to retry symbols downloading?

... Not really encouraging, uh?

So for the time being I decided to skip this type of "beauty" and I will keep (until something a bit easier will come up) the taskbar as I have it now (see screenshot below).

Thanks once more :D

Screenshot 00003.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Core 64 bit
It looks like you are trying the Windows 8 version of Aero Glass. You need to download the 8.1 version.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
It looks like you are trying the Windows 8 version of Aero Glass. You need to download the 8.1 version.
You are right (I am an idiot... The embarrassed emoticon cannot express it enough)... These errors came up when I installed the wrong version :eek:

When I installed the right version (SHA1: D9F611C54F913165204C0E772E35F6F313414FE5) the results where practically unnoticeable, and yes, I did run the installer as Admin and did install in the root of C.

Thank you again :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Core 64 bit
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