Most annoying thing in Windows 8's appearance, beside Metro and Charms Bar of Desktop, is transparent Taskbar. It does not fit the opaque window frames and looks ugly.
I decide to fix it.
Last night my friend Tihiy, the author of StartIsBack solution, has shared with me the way to disable tasbkar transparency via DWM API. So I have created Opaque Taskbar for Windows 8. 
Latest version is 2.7, see the change log below.
With v2.5 I decide to provide x64 version, for those who have removed x86 .NET components in x64 OS.
With help of this simple and lightweight application you will be able to make your taskbar Opaque in any time you want it. Also it can optionally run in the background or it can run once and then exit without taking memory. You can close it after you have disabled the transparency.
Since version 2.0 the new command line option is available:
opaquetaskbar.exe /residentIt allows you to keep Taskbar opaque even if theme or Aero color was changed.
In resident mode Opaque Taskbar for Windows 8 will stay in memory and will show a tray icon with context menu. 
Use that menu or just double click on the tray icon to toggle the transparency.
Also, "startup" checkbox will ask you if you want to keep the application in memory after startup.
Command line arguments
opaquetaskbar.exe /applyMake the taskbar opaque and exit.
opaquetaskbar.exe /residentRun in the tray icon mode as described above.
opaquetaskbar.exe /resident /notrayThe Opaque Taskbar will run in the resident mode, but will not show even tray icon.
Change log
v2.7
Stability fixes.
Code optimizations.
v2.6
Added new command line option "/notray". It should be used with /resident as follows:
opaquetaskbar.exe /resident /notrayThis will prevent Opaque Taskbar from creating the tray icon. Use Task manager to kill the app.
v2.5
The application was slightly improved. New features are following:
- Taskbar will become opaque even you will restart Explorer (The resident mode of Opaque Taskbar is required).
- Tray icon stays visible even you will restart Explorer (The resident mode of Opaque Taskbar is required).
- Taskbar will become opaque even you will move it to the another side of screen (The resident mode of Opaque Taskbar is required).
- Added the "Disable Updates Check" option according to users requests.
v2.0
The new command line option: opaquetaskbar.exe /resident allows you to keep taskbar opaque even if theme or Aero color was changed.
In resident mode Opaque Taskbar for Windows 8 will stay in memory and will show a tray icon with context menu. Use that menu or just double click on the tray icon to toggle the transparency.
Also, "startup" checkbox will ask you if you want to keep the application in memory after startup.
v1.1.0.1
I have resolved dual display issues and improved the code.
v.1.1
A minor bug with check box state is also fixed. Please update as soon as possible.
v1.0
Initial release
Opaque Taskbar for Windows 8 in action
Opaque Taskbar for Windows 8 has special option to run at Windows startup. Please note that Windows 8 uses delayed start for desktop apps, so your Taskbar will become opaque with some delay. This is not a big price for portable lightweight software, isn't it?
Opaque Taskbar for Windows 8 is free, portable application and does not require to be installed. It is compatible with Windows 8 x86 and Windows 8 x64.
This app has been superseded by Winaero Tweaker and is no longer being maintained. Use the following options from Winaero Tweaker:
You can download Winaero Tweaker here: Download Winaero Tweaker.
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