How to Change Windows XP Start Bar to Black

Change the Windows XP Start bar to black and view white text with startling contrast. The start button and the entire Windows XP taskbar take on a deep black color with the appearance of empty space. Taskbar icons bear the same color with bright white outlines and text. The setting affects the taskbar and menu bar on all open windows. It also reverses the colors of text documents created on the computer.

Instructions

1. Click Start > Control Panel > Display.

2. Click the "Appearance" tab. That changes the dialog box to show drop-down menus for Windows and Buttons, Color Scheme and Font Size.

3. Click "Windows and Buttons." The only choices offered are Windows XP or Windows Classic styles. Click the "Windows Classic Style" choice.

4. Click "Color Scheme" on the drop-down menu. This offers several color combinations. Choose the "High Contrast Black" selection.

5. Click "Apply" in the lower right hand corner of the dialog box. A window with a "Please Wait" message will appear for a few seconds before the color change takes effect.