I've been using Windows 8.1 for a few days and everything is running very nicely - but I can't adjust the screen as I want. How do I disable Aero? I didn't like it in Windows 7 and don't want it here either.

Also, how do I adjust the contrast (not brightness) between text and the background. I'd like text to be black (it's currently a washed out dark grey) and the background to be nowhere near as its current "eye strain white".

This must be possible as the tiles on the main screen in Windows 8.1 are a nice contrast of colours. A lot of the Apps have restful colours too. But as soon as one goes into MS Word or IE, for example, the eye-strain begins.

Yes, I've also found Window 8.1 is very restrictive in how it allows one to set the screen, but some of the Themes do give a bit more control. This is poorly documented and the various Themes are not explained anywhere that I have found so its a matter of trying a big bunch of them and maybe one will actually allow what is wanted.

Not really a good solution, but all that seems available. Oh, and occasionally they spontaneously go back to the unusable default.

I have managed to tone down the bright white background via Control Panel / Display / Calibrate Colour. This does have a slight adverse effect on the colours - but has made a big big difference overall. During recalibration, I had to go against the recommended settings (i.e. which set of dots looks the best) but, by doing so, the ever so white background in MS Word and IE has now been nicely toned down.

It is odd to find such an issue in a modern operating system. I never had eye strain in previous version of Windows.

Hi Bertram12,

Thanks for updating.

"How do I disable Aero?"
We can change the settings related to the Aero here.
Control Panel -> System -> Advanced system settings->Performance -> Settings

Best regards

Many thanks MeipoXu. That's exactly what I was looking for,