Sometime during a fresh XP-SP2 install, I lost Active Desktop. Have not had
any success trying to regain. I did un-install IE, restarted and
re-installed.

When you right-click a blank area on the desktop on a computer that runs
Windows XP, the shortcut menu does not display the Active Desktop command.
In Windows XP, Active Desktop is always turned on and you normally cannot
disable it. Active Desktop can be disabled, but you have to use TweakUI or
Group Policy (only with XP Pro) or change some settings in the registry.

If Show Desktop icons, Lock web items on Desktop and Run Desktop Cleanup
Wizard appear when you right click the Desktop and point to Arrange Icons By
then Active Desktop is enabled.

Right click Desktop | Properties | Desktop tab | Customize Desktop button

If you have the Web tab in Display Properties then Active Desktop is
enabled.

To add Web content to your desktop
1. Right-click a blank area on the desktop, and then click Properties.
2. On the Desktop tab, click Customize Desktop.
3. On the Web tab, click New, and then follow the instructions on your
screen.
4. To update the content, click the Synchronize button.
5. If you wish to disable Active Desktop, make sure all checkboxes in this
window are un-checked.

Notes
* You must be connected to the Internet to add active Web content to your
desktop.
* To browse Microsoft's Desktop Gallery Web site, in the New Desktop Item
Wizard, click Visit Gallery. The New Desktop Item Wizard opens when you
click New on the Web tab.
* To select a different Web site, type the Web site address, or click Browse
to locate it.

New button
[[Click to add a Web page or Web item (such as a stock ticker) to the Web
pages list. Follow the instructions on your screen.]]
-----------------------

[[SYMPTOMS
When you right-click a blank area on the desktop on a computer that runs
Windows XP Personal or Professional, the shortcut menu does not display the
Active Desktop command.

CAUSE
By default, Active Desktop is disabled. For more information, see the
"Enable Active Desktop" in Windows XP Help. ]]
from...
Active Desktop command is not on the shortcut menu when you right-click the
desktop
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290247

[[In Windows XP, Active Desktop is always turned on and cannot be
disabled.]]
from...
Your Desktop Icons Are Missing in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330170

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:6A0515E2-428C-46AD-809A-(E-Mail Removed),
116 <(E-Mail Removed)> hunted and pecked:
> Sometime during a fresh XP-SP2 install, I lost Active Desktop. Have not
> had any success trying to regain. I did un-install IE, restarted and
> re-installed.