Instructions: Extract to the SC directory and execute when you want to play the game.
http://download351.mediafire.com/xm0ydbzimpng/wnjzgigjytd/SC_ColorFix_v1.1.rar

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Feb 8 2010, 11:47 pm by Ciara.

I can't see it because I would need to be registered in that forum.

Is it the .bat method that kills your explorer.exe before starting the game?

For me, using win98/me as compatibility mode + using alt tab (if they are wrong) works all the time.

Oops, I fixed it.
Everyone can download it now.

Why is this neccessary? Does Windows 7 somehow screw up SC's colors?

Window 7 screw the color every time you start SC.
I had read somewhere that opening the Resolution window fixed the problem. The very first time I tried it, it worked just fine, but after, it wouldn't change a thing.
I tried to use Falk's program but it doesn't seem to work... I guess I'll keep that fruity lobby that prevents me from reading clearly what people are writing and all this beautiful water

The problem is that in Windows 7 the taskbar is composited in a differ manner. This may also be a problem on Vista, not sure (I've got Win7 on my laptop).

The fix, naturally, is to kill explorer.exe, as that makes the taskbar go away. Then when you finish playing SC, use File - New Task (Run...) in task manager and type in explorer.exe to restart it. Simple, works every time.

Try running in compatibility mode like Ahli suggested You don't have to download anything or kill explorer, which you really shouldn't do because it can harm your computer.

In fact, when I do the "Resolution window" solution, all it leaves, is a hard-to-read lobby and some colourful-water in-game. The rest is really just perfect.
Does your solutions also leaves these inconvenients?

@payne
Yes.

I tried several compatibility modes that didn't help at all. Didn't try the Win98 one though, I shall give that a go tonight.

The resolution dialog box doesn't work for me at all. Possibly something to do with running on a tablet laptop which has the tablet extension turned on - that's my only guess.

My "Resolution Window" thingy is the one you obtain from a right-click directly in the Desktop. Is that what you've used?

I know the problem you guys are talking about. Everytime I lan with my friends, we usually play AOE2. Almost all of them have Windows 7 and get a color problem with AOE2. What they have discovered is that all you need to do is End Task your explorer.exe thing (not internet explorer, mind you).

I am sure that since both AOE2 and SC are 2d games made in the 90s, this will fix your color problem.

Edit: oh man, someone already posted the solution.

I'm posting this for the record because I haven't seen this solution here, yet.
So sry for posting in old topics, but this thread suited most.

I've tested it and it worked for me. Without this & without compatibility mode I had the color bugs all the time.
I'm still using the Win 98/ME compatibility mode to make tabbing out of the game not screwing the colors again.

http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=23214533160&sid=3004
that's my source (indirect), sry, it's German

Chose the one depending on your system (x86 machines are 32 bit machines).

for x86


for x64


Copy the one you have in a *.reg file (create new text document, paste code inside, rename the file and its extension) and execute. Worked for me and some others.
If there is no difference for you, you can still find and delete the registry entry with the information you copied.

In addition to that I still recommend using ddemulate (fixes bnet GUI), win98/ME compatibility mode (if it fixed the color bug for me before, it just can't be wrong to use it) and disabling color cycling in SC options (fixes scrolling/mouse lags).

I guess its worth a try before you start killing your explorer.exe everytime you start SC.

~Ahli

Or you can download Chaos Launcher and it fixes every problem that Windows 7 throws at StarCraft. Plus, it's windowed awesomeness.

Wow, thanks. Does anyone have any idea how to make StarCraft not stretch out when you play on a 16:9 monitor? 'Cause everything looks fat

Resolution hack. Google it.

You guys might be interested in reading the first post:
http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=23214533181&sid=3000

That's the solution I posted. Just with an English source.

May I know why do I still have buggy colors?
It's still nearly impossible to read what is being said in the lobby of games. D=

Well I'm glad I found this topic. I'll look at the solution and see if it can help.
Usually I had to just suck it up and play with it and enjoy the funky colors for what they are. Lol.
@OP Thanks!
@payne and Ahli Thanks as well!