Regedit color choice doesn't survive sleep

Electrojim · 30 Jun 2017

Since workspace background and other color preferences are not programmable under Win10, I've taken a tip from an MS Answers forum and made registry changes to do what earlier versions of Windows did through a built-in utility. There are two areas for this: HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Control Panel > Colors, and HKEY_USERS > .DEFAULT > Control Panel > Colors. Both lists have a 'Window' value factory-set to 255 255 255, or blinding white. This becomes the default background color of many application screens, and also in certain message panes. I have no idea how any of this works, but evidently this is a possible way to customize your Win10 experience.

I reset the value in both places to 192 220 192, a sort-of neutral green that I find quite easy on the eyes. It shows up behind email messages, Word documents and other places where I spend a lot of time staring at a screen.

This all works out well when the computer is started, or signed-in after a sign-out, but 'breaks' when coming out of Sleep of Hibernate. In those instances, the background screen color either reverts to white or, if there is an area with lines of text, the background behind the text turns white (and stays white) as you mouse over it. Signing out and back in again fixes this, but what a hassle.

I wonder if someone might have an idea of how this action could be 'stabilized.' In earlier versions of Windows, where you could change background colors through a MS utility, it worked just fine. Is there a way to force the system to revisit and refresh the Registry info when coming out of sleep? Thanks!

dalchina · 30 Jun 2017

Your observation is correct. I use background colours set in the same way- when I moved to Win 8 I resolved the problem in the following outline way:

1. Save the modified theme (with the background colours)
2. On resume from sleep, run a scheduled task to reapply the modified theme

Regedit color choice doesn't survive sleep-1.jpg

Paler yellow theme:

Autohotkey script and note the freeware utility used:
;
; After resume from hibernation, background colour set in registry is lost
; By applying the same theme (from a different theme file) the setting is refreshed
; The required theme files must correspond to those in this script.
;

; How to run this as a scheduled task after resume from hibernation.
; Every time a PC resumes back from hibernate a specific event is created:
; Log Name: System
; Source: Power-Troubleshooter
; Event-ID: 1

; Win 10 64 bits

; The above event can be used as trigger by the task scheduler.
; Open the task scheduler and create a new task.
; Switch to the "Triggers" tab and choose "new". Another panel will open.
; At the top of this panel, you will see a drop-down menu.
; Open it and choose "On an event".
; Choose "System" from the pull down menu at the "Log" entry.
; Choose "Power-Troubleshooter" at the "Source" entry. The "Event ID" should be "1".
; Specify the task as the 'exe' (compiled) form of this script.

; Now your task will execute just after the PC resumes from hibernate.

;
; Apply a theme file saved with the background set
;

;
; Task designed to run after logon - if run too early, no effect.
;
;msgbox, Restore theme about to be executed
;sleep, 5000

run, "D:\GUI tweaks\Theme Switcher\ThemeSwitcher\Themeswitcher.exe" "%AppData%\..\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\Paler yellow background.theme"

Exit

Note: Explorer and some Control Panel backgrounds can be coloured using Quizo's Qttabbar (free).

Note: See too this utility by @Superfly
S.M.A.C.C - Superfly's Mouse Assisted Color Chooser - Windows 10 Forums

Electrojim · 30 Jun 2017

Dalchina, thanks so much for that. I'm not all that computer-savvy and was not able to follow your instructions with confidence, but did use Superfly's S.M.A.C.C., which put my new Theme in the list under Personalizations. Now when I wake from Hibernation, I need only to go to Personalizations/Themes and click on my new Theme. Voila, everything is fixed instantly.

Of course if I had step-by-step guidance for creating the Scheduled Task (and could be sure I didn't screw something up in the process!), that would be ideal. But for now I'm in business and very appreciative of your guidance.

dalchina · 30 Jun 2017

So you need to get Autohotkey (free) then adapt the script to use your theme name.

Also get the free utility referred to in the script.

Compile the script to form an exe file (1 click) - it's that file you schedule as a task. See script comments.

Electrojim · 30 Jun 2017

Thanks for that, Dalchina, but for someone of my limited ability, I'd need detailed, step-by-step instructions. I couldn't write a script if my life depended on it.

dalchina · 30 Jun 2017

The script is written for you- just adapt it for the paths (where things are) and your theme name.

1. Make sure your chosen background colours are set.
2. Save your theme.
3. make note of your them file name.
4. adapt the name in the script accordingly.

Can you do that?

Then download the utility used in the script.

Also download and install Autohotkey (free)

Electrojim · 30 Jun 2017

Okay, Dalchina, that makes it pretty clear. I'll give this a try, but may wait until a friend comes over who can oversee the operation. Again, I'm still a bit hazy on what I'll be doing here. Thanks for your help!

Superfly · 30 Jun 2017

Electrojim;1067090..
but did use Superfly's [I said:

S.M.A.C.C[/I]., which put my new Theme in the list under Personalizations. Now when I wake from Hibernation, I need only to go to Personalizations/Themes and click on my new Theme. Voila, everything is fixed instantly.
.

Good to see the "old girl" still coming in useful... haven't worked on it in ages...

Electrojim · 30 Jun 2017

Hey, Superfly! Yes, the 'old thing' works like a champ. I tried to PM you with a word of thanks for developing this and making it available to the world, but the PM utility says your mailbox is so full it won't take another byte. Good man! It's thanks to utilities like yours that make Win10 palatable to those of us who remember how good MS OSes were, back in the old day.