All text boxes are black, can't read anything!

by cakeordeath May 26, 2007 1:09AM PDT

We have Windows XL. I had downloaded atheme fI saw on this site, but my husband didn't like it, so I got rid of it. I wanted to just have Windows Classic as our new them, but when I cllicked on it, everything went black. The box I am typing in now is bllack, and I can't see what I'm typing, so bear with me please. The desktop background is black, favorites box is black. All the icons appear to be there, but we can't read what they are. I can log onto to IE (we have Time Warner Cable). I ran TWC's Freedom virus scan, it can back negative. What can we do? I can bring up the properties box, but can't see what the options are! Help, please.

Discussion is locked

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See if you can get the computer to the boot to the

by retired May 26, 2007 4:12AM PDT

Windows Advanced options screen by tapping the F8 key while booting, try Last known good configuration. If that still does not do it reboot and tap the F8 key again this time choosing Safe mode and try a system restore.

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Thank you for replying! We've already done ro

by cakeordeath May 28, 2007 11:06AM PDT

those things, and everything else we can think of, no luck. Any other advice, before we call the Geek Squad?

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Re: All text boxes are black, can't read anything!

by Tufenuf May 28, 2007 11:18AM PDT

cakeordeath, Go into Display Proprtites and under the "Appearance" tab click the "Advanced button", in the narrow Item: window choose "Window" and in the "Color 1" box choose White, click OK/Apply/OK.

Tufenuf

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Thank you, we have tried that--the properties box...

by cakeordeath May 29, 2007 12:27AM PDT

and the text therein is all black--we can't see what we are supposed to click on. The box I am typing in now is all bblack, I am typing pretty much blind. I've never even heard of this before. Guess i't the Geek Squad for me. Thanks again to everyone who tried to help.

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A malware theme?

by linkit May 29, 2007 3:57AM PDT

What is "Windows XL" and where can you get it?

Uninstall the theme.

Download and install AVG Anti-Spyware http://free.grisoft.com/doc/avg-anti-spyware-free/lng/us/tpl/v5
Update AVG Anti-Spyware.

Boot to SAFE MODE.
Uninstall the theme.
Turn off System Restore.
Complete an AVG Antivirus scan.

LAST RESORT:
If you want to save the money that Geek Squad will charge, you could backup important files and settings, and then perform a clean install XP (XL???).

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Re: black boxes

by Kees Bakker May 29, 2007 6:04AM PDT

Themes and desktop settings are user dependent. Just use any not-affected user (could even be the secret administrator accessible only in Safe Mode) to create a new user with 'normal' settings and transfer all files.

That's why it's recommended to have an admin-user on the system that's only being used for administrative purposes like this, and not for normal use.

If you have to do a clean install of Windows XP to normalize the situation, note the above paragraph.

Hope this helps.

Kees

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Thank you Kees Bakker, that worked for us! And Linkit---

by cakeordeath May 29, 2007 11:13AM PDT

as I said, I was typing black on black, so should be forgiven a typo under the circumstances, don't you think? I do know it's XP, note that 'p' and 'L' are close enough that such a typo would be easy to make. Thanks.

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Typos are always forgiven in my book

by linkit May 29, 2007 2:42PM PDT

You are absolutely forgiven for typos, especially considering your situation.

Sometimes we learn that a person actually downloaded a pirated or tweaked version of Windows that has a slightly different name. These pirated copies can cause all sorts of problems and strange behavior.

Glad your problem is fixed!

All text boxes are black, can't read anything!

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