I replaced to default toolbar bitmap in the shell32.dll file using ResHack, with one I downloaded from themexp.org (it was a PNG file, but I saved it as a bitmap)

I works, but the white backround (it's black on the default bitmap) around the icons shows up around the icons on the toolbar.

Is the anyway to stop the backround color from showing up on the toolbar?

why don't u just fill the background with black to see if it helps

I just tried it, but it didn't work.

make sure u saved the bitmap as a 32bit bitmap and not just a standard 24bit bitmap