The Active Network
ActiveMac Anonymous | Create a User | Reviews | News | Forums | Advertise  
 

  *  

  Why aren't console windows themed on Windows XP?
Time: 00:01 EST/05:01 GMT | News Source: Microsoft | Posted By: Kenneth van Surksum

Knowledge Base article 306509 explains that this behavior exists because the command prompt window (like all console windows) is run under the ClientServer Runtime System (CSRSS), and CSRSS cannot be themed.

But why can't CSRSS be themed?

CSRSS runs as a system service, so any code that runs as part of CSRSS creates potential for mass havoc. The slightest mis-step could crash CSRSS, and with it the entire system. The CSRSS team decided that they didn't want to take the risk of allowing the theme code to run in their process, so they disabled theming for console windows. (There's also an architectural reason why CSRSS cannot use the theming services: CSRSS runs as a subsystem, and the user interface theming services assume that they're running as part of a Win32 program.)

In Windows Vista, the window frame is drawn by the desktop window manager, which means that your console windows on Vista get the glassy frame just like other windows. But if you take a closer look, you will see that CSRSS itself doesn't use themed windows: Notice that the scroll bars retain the classic look.

The window manager giveth and the window manager taketh away, for at the same time console windows gained the glassy frame, they also lost drag and drop. You used to be able to drag a file out of Explorer and drop it onto a command prompt, but if you try that in Windows Vista, nothing happens. This is a consequence of tighter security around the delivery of messages from a process running at lower integrity to one running at a higher integrity level (see UIPI). Since CSRSS is a system process, it runs at very high security level and won't let any random program (like Explorer) send it messages, such as the ones used to mediate OLE drag and drop. You'll see the same thing if you log on as a restricted administrator and then kick off an elevated copy of Notepad. You won't be able to drag a file out of Explorer and drop it onto Notepad, for the same reason.

Write Comment
Return to News

  Displaying 751 through 753 of 753
Prev | First
  The time now is 12:58:34 AM ET.
Any comment problems? E-mail us
#751 By 4240821 (82.115.4.100) at 1/1/2026 11:32:13 PM
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6890248
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6889944
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6889850
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6889774
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6889605
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6889492
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6889438
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6889391
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6889291
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6889246

#752 By 4240821 (82.115.4.100) at 1/4/2026 8:40:04 AM
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6912334
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6912292
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6912237
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6912209
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6912161
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6912106
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6912077
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6911969
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6911903
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6911831

#753 By 4240821 (82.115.4.100) at 1/4/2026 5:31:23 PM
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6863422
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6863347
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6863296
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6863210
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6863139
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6863099
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6863031
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6862957
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6862925
https://www.pillowfort.social/posts/6862888

Write Comment
Return to News
  Displaying 751 through 753 of 753
Prev | First
  The time now is 12:58:34 AM ET.
Any comment problems? E-mail us
User name and password:

 

  *  
  *   *