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Black on Black Display by Accident

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8 replies

by ljohnson

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On a Win XP system, I must have accidentally selected some sort of desktop scheme in which all previously white Windows background areas are now black. Considering the text is also apparently still black, I cannot SEE anything in order to get back to the display properties to change it. Is there some other way of getting the display properties back to the default settings where I can see them again? Graphics show up fine, it's just the formerly white Windows backgrounds that I can't navgigate because I can't see any text to click on.

8 replies

by fwang

If you can, right click desktop, select the last one (Properties), then under first tab (Themes), click on the dropdown list, hit down arrow two or three times, then hit Enter. That will bring you back to defaul XP theme or XP Classic theme.

by ljohnson

Thanks, guys! Unfortunately, I just can't see enough of the inside of the solid black dialog boxes to see what I'm clicking on. I can right-click on the desktop and guess pretty well where Properties is, but once in the solid black Display Properties dialog box, I have no way of knowing what tab I'm on or where the Themes drop down list is, and stabs in the dark result in nothing. I didn't try booting in safe mode because that black theme is restricted to one user profile, and I wouldn't know how to access it from there. Fortunately, all is normal when logging in as Admin, so I tried removing and re-adding that user profile several times, but it always goes back to the black display theme for that user. Any other ideas?

by locolobo

using your admin profile open up the Display Properties dialog box, and see where the cursor is. On mine it is in the Theme drop down box and I can change themes by arrowing down once or twice, then tab 3 times to the OK button and hit Enter.

If that isn't the problem try opening the Display Properties dialog box, tab 6 times to get to the top tab marked Themes. From there right arrow 3 times to the Appearance tab. Now hit the tab key twice to get to the Color Scheme drop down and arrow up or down hopefully the changes will show up somewhere.

If that doesn't work try to figure out where you change the font colors from the Admin profile. Then figure out your "blind" path to get to it.

Good luck!

by ljohnson

Thanks, but I was able to fix it by logging in as Admin and deleting that user profile in additon to the user account and starting over fresh. Fortunately, I had just added the user when I accidentally hit the black theme, so there wasn't anything in it yet. All is now well.

Thanks, everyone!

by mcclenny

This advice saved my butt today. It's just about the most useful and valuable help I've ever gotten on the Internet. Thank you!

by buttersk

I had the same problem. Here is how I fixed it.

Step 1. Remove (close) any open windows that may be in the way of accessing the desktop. Active windows can be closed by hitting ALT-F4. Repeat as necessary.

Step 2. Right click on desktop.

Step 3. Hit up arrow once. This will have the effect of highlighting properties (last menu item) on the pop up menu.

Step 4. Hit to select properties.

Step 5. Hit down or up arrow 1 or more times to select a different theme.

Step 6. Hit to select new theme.

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