Solved Need to change color accent with task scheduler

WickedSick · Feb 1, 2021

Hello.
Recently I've been using a task in task scheduler, which automatically changes my "theme" from dark to light/light to dark.
i wanted to have color accent changed too, alongside of this.
i created one with creativity (I codded it at the bottom of the post) but only works for title bars, and taskbar doesn't seem to change.
Any ideas? i'd be really glad if you help me guys.
I've added codes below:

Auto-dark mode code which works:

Code:

New-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name SystemUsesLightTheme -Value 0 -Type Dword -Force; New-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name AppsUseLightTheme -Value 0 -Type Dword -Force;

Auto-dark mode code PLUS changing accent to a specified color(only works for Title bars)

Code:

New-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name SystemUsesLightTheme -Value 0 -Type Dword -Force; New-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name AppsUseLightTheme -Value 0 -Type Dword -Force; New-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent -Name AccentColorMenu -Value 4282927692 -Type Dword -Force; New-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent -Name StartColorMenu -Value 4282927692 -Type Dword -Force; New-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\DWM -Name AccentColor -Value 4282927692 -Type Dword -Force

FreeBooter · Feb 1, 2021

I have a batch script that will do that.

WickedSick · Feb 1, 2021

FreeBooter said:
I have a batch script that will do that.

Thank you very much for your reply.
But this script only does about "theme", and nothing about accent color and taskbar color.

FreeBooter · Feb 1, 2021

Have you test the commands one at a time to make sure they work?

WickedSick · Feb 2, 2021

FreeBooter said:
Have you test the commands one at a time to make sure they work?

Yes, i did.
they work but only for windows borders

FreeBooter · Feb 2, 2021

Windows 10 allows setting different colors for windows and taskbar

How to set a different color for window frames and the taskbar in Windows 10

winaero.com

WickedSick · Feb 2, 2021

FreeBooter said:
Windows 10 allows setting different colors for windows and taskbar

How to set a different color for window frames and the taskbar in Windows 10

winaero.com

Thank you, but this isn't what i meant.
Let me explain you more:
I want to have a cmd command to edit tile bars and accent colors to a desired color.
So, i'd be able to use it, and create a task in "Task scheduler". then, whenever the task being launched, tile bars and accent color changes to the colors i set.

FreeBooter · Feb 2, 2021

Hopefully other members able to help you.

johngalt · Feb 3, 2021

Use HEX values.

How do I specify editing a DWORD in decimal when writing a .reg file?

I'm making a little batch program that edits screensavers by making a reg file and opening it. However, I need the .reg file to known that these values will be in decimal, not the default hex. Is t...

stackoverflow.com

Although this might have changed, in looking at the same values in my own computer, I see that the values are available in HEX or DEC, but this Stack Overflow post (and other places I looked) seem to indicate that manual entry via a batch command requires the values to be HEX only.

However, I did a little further digging, and this SPiceWorks post has a batch file that converts given values from decimal to HEX and then can be used to insert into DWORD locations, allowing you to easily edit the batch file with your own decimal values and let the batch file always automatically convert to HEX prior to assigning to the DWORD value, if you plan to change the values used by your task scheduler item on a regular basis.

adding a decimal value to the registry using batch

I've created a batch file which basically prompts the user for a value and then creates a .reg file and uses that value to edi... | 21 replies | General Windows

community.spiceworks.com

If you are not changing those values often, simply calculate the HEX equivalents of your decimal values and replace the dec values with the HEX values and you should be good to go.

WickedSick · Feb 7, 2021

johngalt said:
Use HEX values.

How do I specify editing a DWORD in decimal when writing a .reg file?

I'm making a little batch program that edits screensavers by making a reg file and opening it. However, I need the .reg file to known that these values will be in decimal, not the default hex. Is t...

stackoverflow.com

Although this might have changed, in looking at the same values in my own computer, I see that the values are available in HEX or DEC, but this Stack Overflow post (and other places I looked) seem to indicate that manual entry via a batch command requires the values to be HEX only.

However, I did a little further digging, and this SPiceWorks post has a batch file that converts given values from decimal to HEX and then can be used to insert into DWORD locations, allowing you to easily edit the batch file with your own decimal values and let the batch file always automatically convert to HEX prior to assigning to the DWORD value, if you plan to change the values used by your task scheduler item on a regular basis.

adding a decimal value to the registry using batch

I've created a batch file which basically prompts the user for a value and then creates a .reg file and uses that value to edi... | 21 replies | General Windows

community.spiceworks.com

If you are not changing those values often, simply calculate the HEX equivalents of your decimal values and replace the dec values with the HEX values and you should be good to go.

Thank you for your reply.
But still, it doesn't work. i really want this code to work but it doesn't.
I've converted my dec value to hex value: FF484A4C
so my code been like:

Code:

New-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent -Name AccentColorMenu -Value FF484A4C -Type Dword -Force; New-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent -Name StartColorMenu -Value FF484A4C -Type Dword -Force; New-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\DWM -Name AccentColor -Value FF484A4C -Type Dword -Force

but it still doesn't work. it gives me 0x1 code in task scheduler, and the accent color doesn't change a bit.
I've attached the screenshot too.

Any helps would be appreciated.

p.s: Are those codes enough for changing the accent and windows menu color?
I've seen them changing when i switch to another color with "Windows Setting", but not quite sure if they're the correct ones.

johngalt · Feb 8, 2021

As for the codes, I'm honestly not sure. This might require a deeper dive into figuring out which registry entries actually change, depending upon which parameters you change in Windows settings.

As for the Hex not working - something is off to begin with. I'm not sure where to go with this. I suppose the first place to go is this

Are you always going to use the same colors, or change it up every now and again?

Reason I ask is that, while TS cannot directly enter a .REG file, it can call a Batch file that *does* enter a .REG into the registry. So, instead of trying to do it all from the batch, set up the colors, export that reg key(s) as reg file(s) (and if multiple are required, be sure to combine them into a single .REG file), change the colors to your alternate setting, export again to a new name, and then set TS entries for 2 diff bat - once for loading one of the .REG entries and the other for loading the other.

In the first link, there is a post on how to add the .REG file into the registry using a batch file, and also, the very bottom shows the structure of the .REG file itself.

The actual beauty of doing it this way is that you can do this for numerous color combinations, not just 1, or 2, and really get into the customization, without actually having to write out a batch file for adding items to the registry natively, and worrying about the code structure, copying / pasting the exactly correct values, etc.

What do you think?

WickedSick · Feb 9, 2021

johngalt said:
As for the codes, I'm honestly not sure. This might require a deeper dive into figuring out which registry entries actually change, depending upon which parameters you change in Windows settings.

As for the Hex not working - something is off to begin with. I'm not sure where to go with this. I suppose the first place to go is this

Are you always going to use the same colors, or change it up every now and again?

Reason I ask is that, while TS cannot directly enter a .REG file, it can call a Batch file that *does* enter a .REG into the registry. So, instead of trying to do it all from the batch, set up the colors, export that reg key(s) as reg file(s) (and if multiple are required, be sure to combine them into a single .REG file), change the colors to your alternate setting, export again to a new name, and then set TS entries for 2 diff bat - once for loading one of the .REG entries and the other for loading the other.

In the first link, there is a post on how to add the .REG file into the registry using a batch file, and also, the very bottom shows the structure of the .REG file itself.

The actual beauty of doing it this way is that you can do this for numerous color combinations, not just 1, or 2, and really get into the customization, without actually having to write out a batch file for adding items to the registry natively, and worrying about the code structure, copying / pasting the exactly correct values, etc.

What do you think?

Thanks for your answer.
After a lot of digging and using an app named Regshot, comparing two snapshots of my registry, I'm finally able to do the job.
(I explained everything in the bottom for anyone who was in the same issue)
The only problem is, my output is a .bat file.
since i elevate it with Highest permission(Admin) in the task scheduler, could this lead to a security hole in the future? or any thing to worry or its totally safe?

For those who need codes, here is an example:
Open up notepad, and paste these lines:
Then save it as a .reg file.
(Change the paragraph in "[ ]s" to yours, use Regedit.exe)

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_USERS\S-1-xxxx\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent]
"AccentPalette"=hex:9b,9a,99,00,84,83,81,00,6d,6b,6a,00,4c,4a,48,00,36,35,33,\
  00,26,25,24,00,19,19,19,00,10,7c,10,00
"StartColorMenu"=dword:ff333536
"AccentColorMenu"=dword:ff484a4c

[HKEY_USERS\S-1-xxxx\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\DWM]
"AccentColor"=dword:ff484a4c
"ColorizationColor"=dword:c44c4a48
"ColorizationAfterglow"=dword:c44c4a48

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize]
"SystemUsesLightTheme"=dword:0
"AppsUseLightTheme"=dword:0

johngalt · Feb 13, 2021

Technically, not really, since the batch file itself would have to be manipulated in order to cause problems - and to do so would require access to your system in a manner that allowed direct access to the TS in the first place - at which point you've already got a much larger problem lol.

TS is designed, by default, to allow (and program installers, and the OS itself) to run tasks with elevated privileges, and is secure enough for your purposes. That doesn't mean don't use security, of course - just that in order to be used as any sort of real attack vector, a malicious actor would need (real) access in the first place - either by compromising your system directly, or indirectly, through, say, a malicious install routine masquerading as a legitimate one.

I'm grossly oversimplifying, there, but you get the idea.

As for RegShot - I should have mentioned it and I completely forgot - great little utility for injecting .REG snippets into your machine partially or wholly. Good call.

WickedSick · Feb 14, 2021

johngalt said:
Technically, not really, since the batch file itself would have to be manipulated in order to cause problems - and to do so would require access to your system in a manner that allowed direct access to the TS in the first place - at which point you've already got a much larger problem lol.

TS is designed, by default, to allow (and program installers, and the OS itself) to run tasks with elevated privileges, and is secure enough for your purposes. That doesn't mean don't use security, of course - just that in order to be used as any sort of real attack vector, a malicious actor would need (real) access in the first place - either by compromising your system directly, or indirectly, through, say, a malicious install routine masquerading as a legitimate one.

I'm grossly oversimplifying, there, but you get the idea.

As for RegShot - I should have mentioned it and I completely forgot - great little utility for injecting .REG snippets into your machine partially or wholly. Good call.

I see.
I use Windows Security itself, and im kinda strict on installing apps over the internet, so i think as you said, there wouldn't be a comprimise to my acess to drives ==> access CMD or TS.
Thank you for your help, i think problem is solved now.

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