Change Windows colors in registry

Question

Hi
Changing Windows colors in registry neither works here
HKCU/Control Panel/Colors
nor here
HKCU/Control Panel/Desktop/Colors
That means for example, that you can change the ActiveBorder color in the usual color dialog box: The registry value does not change in both of the above registry places.
Or
You can change the ActiveBorder color directly in the registry in both of the above registry places: The Windows ActiveBorder color does not change, even after a reboot.
Obviously the color is saved in a different registry-path.
Where exactly the Windows colors are saved in the registry, when you change them manually?
Patrick

Answer 1

Windows7 was the last OS to feature full "Advanced Appearance" dialog. For Windows8, developers aggregated these
controls, providing simplified interface with magnification and themes selection. Sadly, this deferred expert users from genuinely customizing system's appearance. I am unsure
about current development stage, but there is hope that upcoming OS will have these
Advanced Settings incorporated into *.themes files; allowing greater customization power than pre-Win7 and enabling
users to create and share their own system Theme Packs (including backgrounds, screensavers, colors, metrics and their dynamics). If we are lucky, release of application and/or metro-app to facilitate creation, editing and management of Theme Packs should
be in order too.
At present (Windows10
TechPreview) we only have Control Panel page 'Display', providing multi-screen magnification control and some text formatting.
To manually customize colors (and appearance) in Win8, Win8.1 &
TechPreview, refer to article:
Access Advanced Appearance Settings in Windows8 (METHOD
2)  Take advice from
Niki and check author's
TIP: better transplant settings from Win7.
MANUAL REGISTRY
EDITING
MISTAKES
MIGHT DAMAGE SYSTEM!!!
For color options see registry entries in:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\Colors
                          TechNet Library:    Descriptions
of other relevant registry entries    
Locating USER keys in registry
>>> When finished, reload system for changes to take effect. <<<
Have to agree with Noel: after Bill Gates left, Microsoft was pulled towards sales and monetization. (might be one of those
things transcending Cause&Consequence-Relationship, though). Basic research of company's history would reveal some failed/suspended ideologically ambitious
and technologically progressive projects from 20th century - wish they renew some of those.
With general folks mass-entering digital sphere, last decade had a few good years for social media and
googly entertainment; - for serious IT? -not
so much. At the same time, Intel signed some dubious licenses with Apple, effectively preventing them
from developing PC graphic drivers for PowerVR-sgx5 chips. What later on, combined with Metro resolution limitations and UAC enforcement, was very convenient for MS Surfaces' sales. Thankfully,
now Bill Gates is back and Microsoft has "always so good" future goals, again.
Washington Post - Ensuring Continuous Innovation of Technology
Be the first to get Windows 10 - might be the last OS you install!