Windows XP Transparency is Black

[DevgruSeal]

I've been having this problem occasionally, and I can't figure out what triggers it. One minute all the icons are fine, then the next, all the icons in Firefox have a black background instead of the transparency that should be there. The black background extends to other applications as well.

Here's a screenshot I took a while back of an Explorer window for an example.

Yes, it is a custom theme, but I'm certain it is unrelated as the transparency issue is random, plus changing schemes, such as to Windows Classic, or color schemes of RoyalFour does not change anything.

As another example of it being random, is when I first started typing this, the back/forward arrows in Firefox had a black background, but now it no longer does.

I am using Windows XP Professional x64 Edition (Version 2003) Service Pack 2.

I did not have this problem on my old computer, specs in sig, Windows XP Home (32 bit) SP2.

And some extra info...My current PC (with the transparency issue) specs are Q6600 stock speeds, GA-X38-DQ6, 4GB DDR2-800 (2x2gb), 8800GT.

 

[-Psy-]

Same thing happened to this guy.

 

[Raziaar]

Be happy you don't have it like this!

 

[No Limit]

Since custom themes are unsupported by microsoft I would completely ditch them. I don't think pretty looks are worth the hassle. The problem is not that you installed this crap it can be extremely difficult to remove from my past experiances.

Can you post back what windows build version you are using specifically? Go to start > run > type winver

 

[DevgruSeal]

The hassle? I've not had a single hassle at all with this particular custom theme, really. The theme is basically Windows Classic sizes (Title bar, buttons, etc) with the look and feel of XP. It's really useful because it cuts down on the space it takes up, freeing up some screen real estate.

And as I said before, I'm pretty certain the problem isn't the custom theme, considering the transparency issues still happen if I switch to other themes, such as Classic.

I notice the guy in the thread Psycho linked to is also running a x64 edition (from the Program Files (x86) folder). I wonder if this is a x64 related issue, or x64 DirectX9 issue?

My build version is 5.2 (build 3790.srv03_sp2_gdr.070321-2337 : Service Pack 2)

 

[No Limit]

The hassle? I've not had a single hassle at all with this particular custom theme, really. The theme is basically Windows Classic sizes (Title bar, buttons, etc) with the look and feel of XP. It's really useful because it cuts down on the space it takes up, freeing up some screen real estate.

Trust me, it's a hassle because you lost all support as a result. Are pretty colors really worth this? I stick with the windows classic theme, absolutely love it.

And as I said before, I'm pretty certain the problem isn't the custom theme, considering the transparency issues still happen if I switch to other themes, such as Classic.

I notice the guy in the thread Psycho linked to is also running a x64 edition (from the Program Files (x86) folder). I wonder if this is a x64 related issue, or x64 DirectX9 issue?

My build version is 5.2 (build 3790.srv03_sp2_gdr.070321-2337 : Service Pack 2)

Searching around the net the problem you are having seems to be common on nvidia drivers and the 64-bit OS:

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=67608

But I can't seem to find a solution for it. Are you running beta drivers? Are there any new releases for those drivers?

There were others that said they had a similar problem after installing tweak xp, so don't rule this out. But if I had to guess I would say it's a nvidia driver issue.

Have you always had this problem or did it just start recently?

 

[VirusType2]

This could work:

Installing Service Pack 3 will fix any system files and icons.


Note that it will also revert icons and Uxtheme.dll, so if you have an unsigned theme hack, it will remove it.

 

[DevgruSeal]

Trust me, it's a hassle because you lost all support as a result. Are pretty colors really worth this? I stick with the windows classic theme, absolutely love it.

Actually yes. I rarely have used Microsoft support in the past, and when I do need support, such as now, I find the tech community to be far more helpful than some customer service rep.

Searching around the net the problem you are having seems to be common on nvidia drivers and the 64-bit OS:

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=67608

But I can't seem to find a solution for it. Are you running beta drivers? Are there any new releases for those drivers?

There were others that said they had a similar problem after installing tweak xp, so don't rule this out. But if I had to guess I would say it's a nvidia driver issue.

Have you always had this problem or did it just start recently?

From what I can remember, its just started recently.

I'm going to try one of the suggestions they posted in that thread you linked, about installing the 177.66, and see if that helps. A couple of people reported it worked, so I'll give it a try.

 

[-Psy-]

Trust me, it's a hassle because you lost all support as a result. Are pretty colors really worth this?

Nope but a smaller taskbar is definitely worth it especially on a laptop screen.

 

[No Limit]

Nope but a smaller taskbar is definitely worth it especially on a laptop screen.

How much smalled could you possibly make it? And if it bugs you that much just turn on auto-hide. Maybe I'm missing something here.

 

[DevgruSeal]

So far, after using the 177.66 drivers suggested via that nvidia forum discussion, everything seems to be fixed. Haven't spotted any transparency problems yet.