Can't seem to solve the problem of my desk top display
having a split background. I can read the icons but the
rest of the screen has a different background.

Is the incorrect half the Common Tasks view? Visit my web site, www.dougknox.com and go to the Windows XP Fixes section. Follow the link for Remove Common Tasks from Desktop. This small VB Script utility will modify the System Registry to remove Common Tasks from your Desktop.

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Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/ Windows Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
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Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
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"steve" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:025f01c3cc11$efa145e0$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Can't seem to solve the problem of my desk top display
> having a split background. I can read the icons but the
> rest of the screen has a different background.