Desktop background

[Dan E.]

Appears on malicious program (now removed ) has taken over the background
setting on my desktop - unable to remove or modify (Background tab has been
removed from desktop properties menu).
Looking for ideas on how to restore ...

 

[Don Phillipson]

Appears on malicious program (now removed ) has taken over the background
setting on my desktop - unable to remove or modify (Background tab has been
removed from desktop properties menu).
Looking for ideas on how to restore ...

XP System Restore should be able to put this right.
We assume you save System Restore points about
once a month (automatic via Task Manager.)

 

[nass]

Appears on malicious program (now removed ) has taken over the background
setting on my desktop - unable to remove or modify (Background tab has been
removed from desktop properties menu).
Looking for ideas on how to restore ...

Go through these Cleaning steps:
1... First, try to clean up your caches, Internet files and delete cookies
by doing this:
Click Start >> Control Panel >> Double click Network and Internet
Connections >> Double click Internet Options.
On the IE properties windows you will see these Tabs:
General | Security | Privacy | Content | Connections | Programs |
Advanced
Under General Tab clear your History, Internet Files and Cookies.
Then click on Advanced tab and scroll down to under the Browsing Option:
[&] Browsing
[ ] Enable Third-Party browser extensions (Req Rest) uncheck this box.
Then click on Programs Tab and click Manage Add-Ons and Disable all non
Verified Add-Ons (You should Renable them later one-by-one and see the
culprit and update it or remove it.
How to manage Add-Ons:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883256
Scan for malware from here:
SuperAntispyware - Free
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html

http://onecare.live.com/site/en-gb/default.htm?s_cid=sah
http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-gb/default.htm

Run a scan from here on-line:
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Download Avast Cleaner (offline scanner) from here:
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-virus-cleaner.html

Run disk clean up on your Drive.
You can download this tool o run clean up:
http://www.ccleaner.com

Then try these steps one at a time:
1- Right click Desktop select Properties and on the Display properties click
on
Desktop Tab then click Customize Desktop.
On the Desktop Items click on Web Tab and be sure all boxes unchecked there.
Then click on Appearance Tab then Effects button. On the Effects window be
sure the settings been set to suite your requirements.
On the Effect Windows select these boxes:

[ √ ] Use the following transition effect for menus and Tooltips:

[ Fade effect ][v]

[ √ ] Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts:
[ Standard ][v]

[ ] Use Large Icons
[ √ ] Show shadows under menus
[ √ ] Show window contents while dragging
[ √ ] Hide underlined letters for keyboard navigation until I press the Alt
Key

2- In the Control Panel click Tools >> Folder Options then click on View under
this option:
[&] Files and Folders

[ √ ] Display Simple folder view in Explorer's Folders list and close the
Folder Options window and Reboot your computer

3-Right click on Desktop >>"Arrange Icons by" and make sure Lock Web
items is unchecked.

Please perform one step (1,2,3) at a time and Hit F5 to refresh and see if
the issue been resolved.
HTH.
nass
====
http://www.nasstec.co.uk

 

[Nepatsfan]

Appears on malicious program (now removed ) has taken over the background
setting on my desktop - unable to remove or modify (Background tab has been
removed from desktop properties menu).
Looking for ideas on how to restore ...

Download and run the following registry fixes from the web site listed below.

Line 285, right hand side, Restore all Display Tabs.
Line 142, right hand column, Allow Wallpaper Changes
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Twayne]

XP System Restore should be able to put this right.
We assume you save System Restore points about
once a month (automatic via Task Manager.)

Doesn't XP automatically create a system restore point every 24 hours?

 

[Don Phillipson]

Doesn't XP automatically create a system restore point every 24 hours?

This setting seems peculiar to some preinstalled systems e.g. Dell,
but not vanilla WinXP.

 

[Mick Murphy]

No, it doesn't.
Have a look in SR.
It does System Checkpoints, and extra restore points when software,etc is
added, etc

 

[Twayne]

This setting seems peculiar to some preinstalled systems e.g. Dell,
but not vanilla WinXP.

Actually, I was trying to politely say it, but the are in fact created
daily unless you have some kind of screwy schedule w/r to when the
computer is powered on. A machine powered down most of the time can't
be exptected to do everything it's designed to do in the background.
---------------------
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/getstarted/ballew_03may19.mspx
Because the snapshots are taken automatically and are restored through
the System Restore Wizard, System Restore is both effective and
user-friendly.
and
The System Restore Service is not running—Open Administrative Tools,
click Computer Management, and then click Services and Applications.
Click Services, and double-click System Restore Services from the list.
Verify the service is started and running. If not, under Service status,
click Start and change the startup type to Automatic.
and
For example, restore points are created before new device drivers,
automatic updates, unsigned drivers, and some applications are
installed. These healthy system checkpoints are created without
prompting or intervention from the user the first time the computer is
started after Windows XP is installed and, by default, on a daily basis
after that. You can also manually create restore points.
----------------

http://technicalbliss.blogspot.com/2006/12/how-to-create-system-restore-point-and.html
"
An automatic system restore point is created on your computer everyday
by Windows XP. (If system restore feature is turned on) "
----------------
System Restore automatically tracks changes to your computer and creates
restore points before major changes are to occur. To create a restore
point, System Restore takes a full snapshot of the registry and some
dynamic system files. For a list of what file types are monitored and
restored, see the MSDN article, Microsoft Windows XP System Restore.
---------------
System Restore fails to create an automatic restore point
http://home.earthlink.net/~mvp_bert/html/srauto.html
---------------
System Restore (restorept.api) is a new Windows XP feature that's
similar to "Last Known Configuration." However, System Restore maintains
multiple restore points instead of one last restore point. The user can
manually create restore points, or System Restore can keep restore
points during the following operations:

Installing new software, if the application uses a current installer
that is System Restore-compliant, Using AutoUpdate, During a restore
operation, During a Microsoft backup or recovery operation, Installing
an unsigned driver, Automatically following 24 hours of inactivity.
--------------------

I assume if you're not seeing daily restore points then that you are
going several days at a time without turning the machine on. Otherwise,
if system restore points is enabled, and the system isn't corrupt,
restore points are created daily.

HTH