How to change start menu colour/image on Universal?

[GaZ]

Okay, so I've trawled the net in search of a definitive answer to this, and I know it has something to do with the tdyater image file, but I can't get mine to change.

To cover my back I decided to make the file in 3 different formats, and with 3 different names. So in my windows folder I now have:

tdywater.gif
tdywater_480_640.gif
tdywater_640_480.gif
tdywater.jpg
tdywater_480_640.jpg
tdywater_640_480.jpg
tdywater.png
tdywater_480_640.png
tdywater_640_480.png

And still the background of the start menu is just clear, with my background picture visible underneath. This isn't helpful since my background image is very busy and no font colour can make the menu clearly visible. Is there a certain size the image has to be? I'm trying to use a 640x640 image. And is there anything I need to alter in the registry to make the picture appear?

Basically I am trying to use a plain white image, so would also be happy if someone could inform me of a registry key that can change the colour of the start menu.

Thank you

[gquipster]

Hi,

tdywater = Today screen picture
stwater = Start menu picture

My start menu picture is a darkened version of the picture I use for my today screen but you can have anything you want.

G

[GaZ]

I have to disagree. Though that would be logical based on the file names, I have just done a little test, and my today screen background is governed by stwater_480_640.jpg (for portrait) and stwater_640_480.jpg (for landscape).

If I rename those files to tdywater, then the default windows background appears. And none of these files, be it stwater or tdywater have any effect on the start menu at all.

I sense something odd i happening with my device, since the way you said it sounds like it should be right.

But having said that, I did originally read somewhere (think it was ppcsg) that the correct filenames for portrait and landscape backgrounds were the ones I am uing, hence why I use them, and hence why they work. So basically it's just the start menu I'm struggling with.

[gquipster]

I quote from "How to Create an Extended Theme" from Spb Pocket Plus:

http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/pocketplus/themetutorial.html?en

# Select your Today screen image (tdywater.gif) from the folder you created. Press Next.
# Select your Start menu image (stwater.gif) from the folder you created. Press Next.

These have been the standard filenames for the images for as long as I can remember...

G

[GaZ]

I quote from "How to Create an Extended Theme" from Spb Pocket Plus:

http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/pocketplus/themetutorial.html?en

# Select your Today screen image (tdywater.gif) from the folder you created. Press Next.
# Select your Start menu image (stwater.gif) from the folder you created. Press Next.

These have been the standard filenames for the images for as long as I can remember...

G

Well bugger the standard. If you read my posts you will see that is not the case on my device. Suppose I'll just keep trying :cry:

[gquipster]

Are you just copying the images onto the device or using a TSK theme file?

I could never get it to work just copying the images.

This was the program which was recommended to me for building TSK files:

http://www.codeppc.com/telechargements/themegence/themegence.htm

Or do what I did for my first theme and use a CAB editor and just change the images in an existing theme :)

Not doubting you that it's not working on your device, just not a lot I can do but offer you the information which I have.

Hope this helps

G

[GaZ]

Found a way round it :D

1. Make the theme using the standard microsoft theme generator
2. Apply it on the device
3. delete tdywater.gif
4. Insert my own tdywater_480_640.jpg and tdywater_640_480.jpg files
5. Bingo!

Only thing is, I have to re-do most of that (from step 2 onwards) every time I soft reset, because by default my universal is showing stwater as the background image (ie: a think white bar which I have as my start menu background). It only recognises tdywater after applying a theme

[liverman666]

Just use Wisbar!! :lol:

[jamesluo]

Found a way round it :D

1. Make the theme using the standard microsoft theme generator
2. Apply it on the device
3. delete tdywater.gif
4. Insert my own tdywater_480_640.jpg and tdywater_640_480.jpg files
5. Bingo!

Only thing is, I have to re-do most of that (from step 2 onwards) every time I soft reset, because by default my universal is showing stwater as the background image (ie: a think white bar which I have as my start menu background). It only recognises tdywater after applying a theme
Thanks