Changing the bar to black sounds good in theory.. in practice you have to find out where to change the text colour to white as well.. or nothing can be seen.. I know somewhere in control panel there is a section to customise every aspect of how windows looks.. is it in display?? desktop?? There are lots of windows customising and skinning sites around.. quick google led to this one. http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?s=b623a51ab560f39c729441fe1c459c2c&showtopic=192130 or you could search for themes which have the look you want.. I always use the zune theme, with xp-crystal pack under an aston desktop IF I have to install windows for anybody.
I use style XP, my fav theme program! but u gotta pay! i dont see why windows didnt include a program that just lets you change the theme tho, So stupid windows!