Desktop background frozen

[Guest]

Recently my Trend Microsystems Antivirus detected several viruses and adware
on my machine. I managed to clean them all up, but now I cannot change the
background of my desktop. It won't even let me select a picture or browse to
another file. I am using a Dell Dimension 8400, 3.19 GHz processor. 1 GB
Ram. Windows XP, SP2 with all the latest security updates.

The latest viruses that were detected had to do with Java applets.
Unfortuanately I have already deleted them so I can't say exactly what they
were. But the description on the Trend website said that they were not
malicious.

In the fix from Trend, I had to Disable System Restore and scan again. This
allowed me to find the bugs and get rid of them. However, I am not at all
sure now how to actually restore the system. I guess I did not get a Windows
XP system disk when I bought this computer. I think it's all supposed to be
on the Restore track. Anyway I'm rambling and letting everybody know just
how much I don't know. Can some one help me with this?

Thanks.

 

[Malke]

Recently my Trend Microsystems Antivirus detected several viruses and adware
on my machine. I managed to clean them all up, but now I cannot change the
background of my desktop. It won't even let me select a picture or browse to
another file. I am using a Dell Dimension 8400, 3.19 GHz processor. 1 GB
Ram. Windows XP, SP2 with all the latest security updates.

The latest viruses that were detected had to do with Java applets.
Unfortuanately I have already deleted them so I can't say exactly what they
were. But the description on the Trend website said that they were not
malicious.

In the fix from Trend, I had to Disable System Restore and scan again. This
allowed me to find the bugs and get rid of them. However, I am not at all
sure now how to actually restore the system. I guess I did not get a Windows
XP system disk when I bought this computer. I think it's all supposed to be
on the Restore track. Anyway I'm rambling and letting everybody know just
how much I don't know. Can some one help me with this?

I would not rely only on your antivirus to removal non-viral malware. Do
the preparatory work and at least some of the scanning with Ad-aware and
Spybot Search & Destroy as described here:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

That way you'll be sure the machine is clean. Once you are sure, see
this about the desktop background:

Go to the Display applet in Control Panel and look on the Desktop tab.
Click on Customize Desktop, and then click on the Web tab. You will see
that there are checkmarks next to "My Current Home Page" and probably
"Lock Desktop Items". Uncheck these, Apply/OK out.

If you can't enable desktop backgrounds after a virus, MVP Kelly Theriot
has a fix. Look under Wallpaper-Desktop-Disable Changing here:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_w.htm

If Display tabs are missing, run Kelly's registry edit on line 285,
right-hand side "Restore all display tabs".

There are some additional registry keys if none of the above works for
you, but try those things first. I would prefer not to send you into the
registry for manual editing if it isn't necessary.


Malke

 

[Elmo]

Recently my Trend Microsystems Antivirus detected several viruses and adware
on my machine. I managed to clean them all up, but now I cannot change the
background of my desktop. It won't even let me select a picture or browse to
another file. I am using a Dell Dimension 8400, 3.19 GHz processor. 1 GB
Ram. Windows XP, SP2 with all the latest security updates.

Ayush suggests:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/wallpaperenable.reg

--- or ---

Manually (XP -Pro) :
1. Start > Run > gpedit.msc
2. Under User configuration > Click [Administrative
Templates\Control Panel\Display\]
3. There will be a value named "Prevent changing wallpaper" > Set it
to "Not
Configured"

If the above fails :
<url:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/921049/>

 

[Ron Badour]

I recently looked in my 8400 box containing CDs, manuals, etc., and I found
there was no system CD. In researching this, I found that Dell quit
providing CDs in lieu of an image on the hard drive which could be restored.
I told Dell support this was BS--what did I do for a system if the drive
died? I spent a lot of time finally getting this address for a system disk
free of charge:
http://support.dell.com/support/top...e/en/backupcd_form?c=us&l=en&s=gen&redirect=1