Change Taskbar Flash Color?

[Gamerkd16]

There has to be a way to do this. In the registry or something. I want to change the color of the taskbar notification flash. Right now it's orange. I want it green like the start menu. See picture below:

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/892/taskbarflashcl2.th.jpg (http://img244.imageshack.us/my.php?image=taskbarflashcl2.jpg)

Is this possible?

[Saggy]

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/1004248898?s

That link talks about how to change your Start button color, but instead of replacing STARTBUTTON_BMP files, replace TASKBANDFLASHBUTTONGROUPMENU_BMP and TASKBANDFLASHBUTTON_BMP. I'm not sure what theme your using, so you'll have to figure out which msstyle file to edit on your own. Hopefully that helps.

[legionaire45]

Looks like he is using Royale Noir, which is a signed Windows theme.

[Saggy]

I don't have Royale Noir on my computer, I just have the original Royale theme, but if you want, I can write up a quick tutorial (with pics if needed) on how to change the flash color.

[Gamerkd16]

I tried what you suggested and I thought it was going to work. I saw the blink bitmaps in there and they were orange. I changed the color and replaced, it didn't work. So I thought I'd change the theme then change it back. Now I can't get it back at all. None of the Royale's show up anymore. I don't know what is wrong.

But yes. A tutorial would be appreciated.

E: I got the theme back.

[Saggy]

I can't get the tutorial done at the moment, but in about 2 hours I should. I'll edit this post when I'm done.

[Gamerkd16]

I can't get the tutorial done at the moment, but in about 2 hours I should. I'll edit this post when I'm done.
Ok, cool. Thanks for the heads-up.

[Saggy]

Customizing your Windows Taskbar Flash
Tutorial By Saggy

First, you'll want to download a program called Resource Hacker, which you can get here: http://www.download.com/Resource-Hacker/3000-2352_4-10178587.html

You'll then want to navigate to your C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes folder and copy the directory of the theme that you want to edit. In this tutorial I'll be using "Royale".

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6631/copycs8.jpg

Then just paste it and rename it to whatever you want. I'll name it "TutorialTheme"

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/3514/renamewy4.jpg

Open up the TutorialTheme folder, and you should see a .msstyles file. Rename that file to the name of your folder, which in this case is TutorialTheme.

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/9806/rename2rl4.jpg

Now, open up Resource Hacker, then open up the .msstyles file you just renamed.

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6704/resourcehackerpg0.jpg

In the left hand column, expand the Bitmap Tree and look for the folders ROYALE_TASKBANDFLASHBUTTONGROUPMENU_BMP and ROYALE_TASKBANDFLASHBUTTON_BMP and expand them.

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/3107/resourcehacker2xr2.jpg

Right click on the "1033" resource and select "Save [Bitmap : ROYALE_TASKBANDFLASHBUTTONGROUPMENU_BMP : 1033]". Save it on your desktop or in your documents and name it whatever you want. Do this for the other "1033" resource.

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/4249/resourcehacker3qx7.jpg

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4001/savedq5.jpg

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/6043/savedwp1.jpg

Open the two bitmap files you created in Photoshop.

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/5038/photoshoplv3.jpg

Edit them to your liking, just make sure that whatever you do, don't paint over any of the pink. What I did was using the Magic Wand tool, select the orange, created a new layer, painted over the selection with a green (#01a301) set the layer to multiply, then flattened then merged the layers. Save these files as a bitmap and name them whatever you like.

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/5266/photoshop2ym3.jpg

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8305/saved2ps9.jpg

Go back to Resource Hacker and replace each Bitmap resource with the ones that you just edited respectively, by selecting one of the 1033 resources then selecting Action>Replace Bitmap.

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/7704/resourcehacker4zs1.jpg

A dialog box will come up which will look something like this:

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/2769/replacexy0.jpg

Click "Open file with new bitmap..." and select the respective image for the resource you are replacing and hit "Replace". Do this for the other one as well. Hit File>Save and exit out of the program. When you save it'll automatically create a backup of the file you just modified.

Now, go to your desktop, right click and select "Properties". When the dialog box pops up, go to the "Appearance" tab. Under "Windows and Buttons" select which ever one is a duplicate, in my case, I had two "Media Center Style" themes to choose from, you'll just have to see which one is the edited one (usually the latter of the choices).

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/1382/themechoicepo7.jpg

Then, the final outcome:

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8326/voilanz3.jpg

Of course you can then tweak any minor things like color to your liking afterwards, now that you know what you are doing. Hope this helps, and don't forget to +rep :P

[Gamerkd16]

Well I did everything you said in the tutorial, but it doesn't seem to work. I don't get a duplicated title:

Here's a video of what I'm doing and how it's going wrong.
http://files.filefront.com/CamCapture1e38a52d+Screenavi/;11644713;/fileinfo.html

[Saggy]

If possible, can you send me your Editied Theme folder? I would like to test and see if the same problems occur on my computer.

EDIT: I downloaded the RoyaleNoir theme and I found that once you edit it, it doesn't make a duplicate. You just have to hit Properties on your desktop, select Royale from windows and buttons, and choose Royal Noir. Hopefully it should work, because it did for me.

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/4025/noirvoilavy6.jpg

[Gamerkd16]

What theme did you use along with that?

For me it makes it a modified Zune.

[Saggy]

Huh? I just used the Royale Noir theme.

[StankBacon]

ugh, just send him the damn file, he obviously cant do it.


pretty nice tutorial tho.

[Saggy]

ugh, just send him the damn file, he obviously cant do it.


pretty nice tutorial tho.
I'm helping him over AIM, for some reason the theme doesn't show up. He did it right, it's just not working for him, yet it does for me.