Can't display desktop wallpaper

[Guest]

My desktop will not display the picture I want. When I go to the desktop
properties, I cannot get into the background property box that lists the
pictures (slider does not work) along with the browse button, and postion box
because they are a grayed out. On the desktop I only get the blue screen.
The picture I want appears for a second when I login and logout. Any idea
what the problem is?

 

[Anando [MS-MVP]]

Hello,

Check if the following edit helps you:

Active desktop - Enable (line 16, left column)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

--
Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Certified Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

Folder customizations
http://www.anando.org/folder

 

[Guest]

Where do I find this file? Any other solutions?

 

[Malke]

My desktop will not display the picture I want. When I go to the
desktop properties, I cannot get into the background property box that
lists the pictures (slider does not work) along with the browse
button, and postion box
because they are a grayed out. On the desktop I only get the blue
screen.
The picture I want appears for a second when I login and logout. Any
idea what the problem is?

Make sure the computer is completely virus/malware-free by going through
at least some of these steps if you are not already sure:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

If you are sure the computer is clean, then 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".

Malke

 

[Guest]

This is a matter of group policy settings. Click Start, Run, type in
"gpedit.msc" (without the ""'s) and press enter. Under User Configuration,
click the Plus sign beside the following:

- Administrative Templates
- Control Panel

Click on Display to bring up the policy options for it in the right-hand pane.

Double-click the "Prevent changing wallpaper" policy, set it to "Disabled",
and click OK. Exit the Group Policy editor and restart the computer.

Note: Policies set restrictions on the system and can be modified by other
programs than the Group Policy editor. These settings reside in the registry
which is readily available for read/write access by any program. Because of
the fact the policies set restrictions, you have to use "Disabled" to remove
the restriction.

 

[Malke]

This is a matter of group policy settings. Click Start, Run, type in
"gpedit.msc" (without the ""'s) and press enter. Under User
Configuration, click the Plus sign beside the following:

(snip) Only if the OP has XP Pro.

Malke

 

[Guest]

Okay, well I happen to know for a fact that the other suggestion will not
work, same topic, just not the right policy setting.

This policy setting is the cause for a fact because I tested it out on my
machine with the exact same symptoms.

Click Start, Run, type in "regedit" (without the ""'s) and press enter.

**** If it is blocked, read further down: ****

Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop

click on ActiveDesktop and delete NoChangingWallpaper and any other keys
that may be there

---- If you get an error message saying something about an administrator: ----

If that is the case, come back here later saying that your regedit program
is blocked by administrator... In the meantime, here is the fix to your
current problem.

Copy and paste this into notepad:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop]
"NoChangingWallPaper"=-

save on your desktop as anything that ends in .reg, for example fixit.reg

open it and click yes when it asks to apply settings...

 

[Guest]

Oops... I didn't see in your last post you provided a website with the RIGHT
fix on it. sorry.

Okay, well I happen to know for a fact that the other suggestion will not
work, same topic, just not the right policy setting.

This policy setting is the cause for a fact because I tested it out on my
machine with the exact same symptoms.

Click Start, Run, type in "regedit" (without the ""'s) and press enter.

**** If it is blocked, read further down: ****

Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop

click on ActiveDesktop and delete NoChangingWallpaper and any other keys
that may be there

---- If you get an error message saying something about an administrator: ----

If that is the case, come back here later saying that your regedit program
is blocked by administrator... In the meantime, here is the fix to your
current problem.

Copy and paste this into notepad:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop]
"NoChangingWallPaper"=-

save on your desktop as anything that ends in .reg, for example fixit.reg

open it and click yes when it asks to apply settings...

(snip) Only if the OP has XP Pro.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

 

[Anando [MS-MVP]]

This might be the easiest solution. Visit the website that i pointed you to
and scroll own to line 16. You will find the file there. Click on it and
save the file.

--
Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Certified Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

Folder customizations
http://www.anando.org/folder

 

[Guest]

Johnathan
I have the same exact problem TA writes about. I followed your advise and
did find "stuff" in the desktop policy and deleted it. But I still have the
problem. Anyother thoughts?
--
Thanks
Arden

Oops... I didn't see in your last post you provided a website with the RIGHT
fix on it. sorry.

Okay, well I happen to know for a fact that the other suggestion will not
work, same topic, just not the right policy setting.

This policy setting is the cause for a fact because I tested it out on my
machine with the exact same symptoms.

Click Start, Run, type in "regedit" (without the ""'s) and press enter.

**** If it is blocked, read further down: ****

Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop

click on ActiveDesktop and delete NoChangingWallpaper and any other keys
that may be there

---- If you get an error message saying something about an administrator: ----

If that is the case, come back here later saying that your regedit program
is blocked by administrator... In the meantime, here is the fix to your
current problem.

Copy and paste this into notepad:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop]
"NoChangingWallPaper"=-

save on your desktop as anything that ends in .reg, for example fixit.reg

open it and click yes when it asks to apply settings...

Jonathan wrote:

This is a matter of group policy settings. Click Start, Run, type in
"gpedit.msc" (without the ""'s) and press enter. Under User
Configuration, click the Plus sign beside the following:

(snip) Only if the OP has XP Pro.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User