Simple (I think) Windows XP Problem

[connect]

Hi,

My Dad has Windows XP on a Sony computer.

When he first booted up many months ago the desktop looks different to what it does now. When you look along the bottom where the start button, programs open, and shortcuts are (task bar is it called?) It looks like it does in Windows 98. It is all in grey.

When he first got it the desktop was different. Along the bottom it was green and the start button looked like a little bubble button. When you clicked start the menu would come up and at the top would be his name and a picture of a car or something.

Personally I like Windows 98 and the Windows 98 look he has on XP. But he doesn't. How do I get it back to what it was to start with? I have tried everything I can think of but can't do it.

Whatever it is doesn't seem to be in a simple properties or appearance menu. Please help me, It's driving him crazy which in turn is driving me crazy!!!

Thanks for any help in advance.

Peter

[Super Stu]

You've switched from the classic user interface to the funky (read: apple clone) Luna. To switch back and forth, right click on the desktop, select properties. On the default tab (theme) you'll see a drop down box. Select "windowsXP" for the fancy looking one or "windows classic" to make it look like 98.

[KingMike]

Edit : meh stu beat me to it.

Right click on his desktop then go to properties then themes.

If he wants the XP theme then click it from the drop down menu.

Also by right clicking on the tool bar ( the bottom strip which shows all your opened windows eg this page ) it will bring up further options.

Right click and then properties in the list to bring up more stuff then click on the Start Menu thing ma jig to have it to the picture and name when you click start. I presume you have it on the classic start menu. This can be changed by using the process above.

If that doesnt make sense ill make you some print screens for a visual step by step.

[connect]

Hi,

I have tried that already and just tried it again but with no luck. The background changes to the Windows XP fields picture but the tool bar / task bar or whatever it's called stays they same Win 98 grey color.

I really don't understand why it won't change. Perhaps something has buggered up some how and now it won't change back. A windows update? A system reset? What do you reckon I should do now?

Thanks

[Super Stu]

I'd be tempted to do a search for a Q article on it then, unless someone here has direct experience of this problem.

If Windows has b0rked (ho ho) and someone has a fix (ho ho), there'll be a Q article on it.

(search knowledge base)

[fragmast3r]

go into display properties (right click on desktop, then properties then themes) change it from classic under themes to windowsxp

thats why its grey

[connect]

Yes I have done that. It's in Windows XP theme and it is still grey.

The background picture is of some fields which is the XP theme but the bar is stil grey which is 98

[fragmast3r]

that will teach me to skip the first 10 posts then

[connect]

that will teach me to skip the first 10 posts then

[Valken]

"b0rked" is my all time favourite haXXor/l33t speak word EVER.

[Dazzla]

If you can't go to display properties - Appearance and under windows and buttons choose "Windows XP style" then maybe a system file is wrong.

Next thing to try is go to start - run and type "services.msc" without the quotes and make sure the themes service is running and set to automatic. If it is, then the next thing to try is to put the Windows XP CD in the drive and go to start - run and type "sfc /scannow" without the quotes and Windows XP will replace any damaged system files like uxtheme.dll (which runs the themes).

[connect]

Thanks I will try that later on today. I'll let you know what happens.