IE8 Menu blacked out

After my (2) computers have been up and using programs for a while, the menu
bar in IE8 is blacked out and you cannot see anything. As usual for a
Microsoft Windows program, shutting down and restarting resolves the issue
but this is getting very tiresome.

What is wrong, either with my PCs or with IE8 please?

 

Hi,
1. Check for an incompatible browser add-on.
IEBlog Troubleshooting and Internet Explorer’s (No Add-ons) Mode:
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/07/25/678113.aspx

928426- Internet Explorer 7 may exit immediately when it includes an add-on
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928426

2. Windows XP or Vista?
Try a different theme (Display properties.)

3. Disable any third-party program which applies themes or changes the
appearance of windows (such as Stardock WindowBlinds.)

4. The fact that the problem occurs after the computer has been in use for a
while hints at malware. Are adequate security programs installed and
updated?
-
Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]

 

I have this problem once and a while with IE8. I run my WinXP Pro SP3
computer using the Windows Classic theme. When this happens I change
the theme to Windows XP. Then I go back and change the the theme back
to Windows Classic. When it happens again try changing the themes back
and forth. I would like to know what theme you use. Personally I do
not believe this has anything to do with add ons but is a programming
problem.

 

Hi Bill,

Yes and no. The Hotbar Addon could cause this issue, but yes there is a
problem with desktop themes also. There are also a few other legacy IE
addons that do the Toolbar skinning thing and also some XP versions of
Stardocs windows blinds and some Desktop themes from Alienware (which are
distributed with their PC's)

Quick fix.... examine your colors for Menu objects. Choose a contrasting
color for the Menu Fonts.

(In IE8 the menu bar is both a 3D object and a Menu object... when you
change the color schemes of 3D objects the background color of Menus is also
changed, but the Menu font color is not inherited, so if your Menu font
colors were previously black (default) and you change the 3D Object
background color to black you end up with black on black menu bar and menus
in IE8).

I have written a technet article on this which should be available soon.

Regards.

 

I agree on it's a programming problem, I haven't installed any toolbar
or themes addons and there was no problem with IE7.

/John

 

Ken
This workaround solved the issue.
Only thing you have to note is that if you have customized your theme, you
need to save it before doing this workaround (so that you can restore the
modified theme). Because this workaround changes the theme completely.

 

Original thread:
http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...&dg=microsoft.public.internetexplorer.general
or
http://www.google.com/url?url=http:...groups&usg=AFQjCNG4aRLEDNnA_WfiwCFfTMo497kt7w

 

i found that it was my accounting software theme setting. reset them back to windows classic checkbook blue.. and fixed

ie8 menu blacked out fixed..

So saying that, you to check any programs that are using window programs.....As it was my Quickbooks software. I had be playing around with the colour setting. to try and make it look better than blue...lol

not saying this is the fix, just think you need to check other program you are running,