RE: IE6 lost all background colors

From: DaveC (DaveC_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 12/26/04 

Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2004 13:29:08 -0800

Bravo! I've been pulling my hair out for weeks trying to figure out why font
and button obects are waay oversized and certain websites' backgrounds would
display as white.

Unchecking the "high contrast" button fixed all of that. So since when does
font size, messed up colors, and oversized objects have much to do with "high
contract"? If anything, only the colors. Heck, that darned "high contrast"
button even caused my own wall paper not display.

The settings affecting IE's display properties. which affects most of the
entire GUI of the OS, are all over the place!

Hey here's one, ever figure out how to alter your start menu icon sizes? How
about the text sizes? Because it's far from intuitive! For starters, the
initial XP start menu are "icons" and thus are sized the same as your desktop
icons. Now click on "all programs". Hmm, those "icons" are not the same size
are they? Why, because those are actually "caption buttons" according to the
OS and in actuality, they very well may be caption option objects. But when
one accidenty, or otherwise changes the windows theme or font size, the
system will destroy ALL of your settings made in the appearance tab.So to
those who like to customize your destops, first, SAVE the settings and
second, never change windows theme or "global" font size as you will have
everything reset.

Here's another example: The system tray icons, what are THOSE considred to
be? Well apparently those too are considered caption buttons so your caption
button setting sizes the window control (maximize, close etc) button, system
tray icon, and the start menu secondary level icon sizes.

Even across applications, the settings can effect the same object
differently i.e. menu size.

Then there's that strange note in the "advanced appearance" dialog about the
settings only work for "windows classic" theme and will be ignored for all
others except for older programs. Well that ties into the menu size setting
effecting older progams differently than newer (notepad.exe comes to mind as
an older app who's menus ignore the setting.

The funny thing is, over the years, I have never been able to find where the
appearance setting objects are defined, and what effects what. Maybe i just
haven't been looking in the right places. I mean, how many people actually
know what a "pallete title" is? I do and am aware of only one program (paint)
which actually has one.

You don't have to look very deep into Windows to see the kinds of hacks MS
threw into the GUI.

[/rant mode]

I feel better now! And I'm going to be remembering that "high contract"
checkbox from this moment forward!

-=Dave=-

"DesignbyDemeter" wrote:

> Hold the phone - I found the solution for both text & background: It varies
> just slightly from what I read so far....
>
> Control Panel/Accessibility/Display/
> Ensure box is not check - then click "Advanced"
> Ensure shortcut box is not clicked AND
> where it reads" Your current high contrast shceme is:"
> Make sure there is nothing in there that starts with
> "high contrast" or suggests a large font size"
>
> Whoo- hoo! :)
>
> "DesignbyDemeter" wrote:
>
> > I am having the same problem with additional symptom. IE opens up with
> > expanded sized display, columns not formatting correctly, backgrounds and
> > font not being recognized. It has been this way since I turn the PC on (Dell)
> > out of the box.
> >
> > None of the boxes are checked in "accessibliity" and it has been like this
> > before I ever added third party software.
> >
> > Because of this, my main browser is Firefox (which I can't always use
> > because of programming issues with certain forms), or :::shiver:::
> > Netscape-as a last resort. It would be much easier to IE for a number of
> > reasons which are irrelevant, but this has been problematic from day one.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Laura
> >
> > "Steve R" wrote:
> >
> > > Saw a thread from August 2004 about missing backgrounds in IE6 that was
> > > solved by unchecking the High Contrast box in Accessibility. I have the same
> > > problem, but the High Contrast box wasn't checked, also checking and
> > > unchecking "use windows colors" in Internet Options has no effect.
> > > I tried installing the Firefox browser but that has the same problem;
> > > however when I access my machine via PC Anywhere I see the background colors.
> > > Running XP Pro 5.1 with SP2 h
> > > Appreciate any help.
> > > Steve

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