desktop background (wallpaper)

[Guest]

I cannot change my desktop background, it appears to be frozen and greyed
out. I can only change to a different colour and not use any photos saved.
Any idea on how on rectify this please?

 

[Newbie Coder]

Jenny,

Disabling wallpaper can be done at user level or system level

Click START | RUN
Type 'regedit' (without quotes) & press ENTER
Navigate to these keys:

Current User:


HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveD
esktop

All Users:


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Active
Desktop

Create a new key or change an existing one:

In the right pane:

Key name: 'NoChangeWallpaper'
Type: DWORD
Value: 0 = Enable Changing, 1 = Disable Changing

Close the registry editor

If you are nervous about doing this you can copy/paste between the lines:

---------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Current user

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Active
Desktop]
"NoChangeWallpaper"=dword:00000000

; All Users

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Activ
eDesktop]
"NoChangeWallpaper"=dword:00000000
---------------------------------------

Open Notepad
Copy/paste the above into the notepad document
File menu | SaveAs
in the FILENAME type: "Desktop.reg" (with quotes)
in the FILE TYPES choose ALL FILES (*.*)
Click the SAVE button

Double-click the newly created registry file to enter the information into
the registry then click OK to exit

I hope this helps,

 

[Guest]

Really sorry, but you lost me after type in regedit. Need real simple terms.
--
Jenny Barrett

Jenny,

Disabling wallpaper can be done at user level or system level

Click START | RUN
Type 'regedit' (without quotes) & press ENTER
Navigate to these keys:

Current User:


HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveD
esktop

All Users:


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Active
Desktop

Create a new key or change an existing one:

In the right pane:

Key name: 'NoChangeWallpaper'
Type: DWORD
Value: 0 = Enable Changing, 1 = Disable Changing

Close the registry editor

If you are nervous about doing this you can copy/paste between the lines:

---------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Current user

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Active
Desktop]
"NoChangeWallpaper"=dword:00000000

; All Users

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Activ
eDesktop]
"NoChangeWallpaper"=dword:00000000
---------------------------------------

Open Notepad
Copy/paste the above into the notepad document
File menu | SaveAs
in the FILENAME type: "Desktop.reg" (with quotes)
in the FILE TYPES choose ALL FILES (*.*)
Click the SAVE button

Double-click the newly created registry file to enter the information into
the registry then click OK to exit

I hope this helps,

--
Newbie Coder
(It's just a name)

I cannot change my desktop background, it appears to be frozen and greyed
out. I can only change to a different colour and not use any photos saved.
Any idea on how on rectify this please?

 

[Newbie Coder]

Jenny,

Lower down in my previous reply:

Right-click the Desktop | New ---> Text Document
Copy what was between the '----' lines & paste it into that notepad doc.

In notepad, click the File menu | Save As...

--
Newbie Coder
(It's just a name)

Really sorry, but you lost me after type in regedit. Need real simple terms.
--
Jenny Barrett

Jenny,

Disabling wallpaper can be done at user level or system level

Click START | RUN
Type 'regedit' (without quotes) & press ENTER
Navigate to these keys:

Current User:


HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveD
esktop

All Users:


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Active
Desktop

Create a new key or change an existing one:

In the right pane:

Key name: 'NoChangeWallpaper'
Type: DWORD
Value: 0 = Enable Changing, 1 = Disable Changing

Close the registry editor

If you are nervous about doing this you can copy/paste between the lines:

---------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Current user

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Active
Desktop]
"NoChangeWallpaper"=dword:00000000

; All Users

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Activ
eDesktop]
"NoChangeWallpaper"=dword:00000000
---------------------------------------

Open Notepad
Copy/paste the above into the notepad document
File menu | SaveAs
in the FILENAME type: "Desktop.reg" (with quotes)
in the FILE TYPES choose ALL FILES (*.*)
Click the SAVE button

Double-click the newly created registry file to enter the information into
the registry then click OK to exit

I hope this helps,

--
Newbie Coder
(It's just a name)

I cannot change my desktop background, it appears to be frozen and greyed
out. I can only change to a different colour and not use any photos saved.
Any idea on how on rectify this please?

 

[Guest]

Goto:

http://www.mindyourbrain.1gig.biz/Troubleshooting/displayprop.htm

Then click on

"Display Background List is Grey Out" or "Enable Display Background List"

Click Run when Asked.

Usually caused by Malware / Spywares. You must scan your computer.

Hope his help, let us know!

Really sorry, but you lost me after type in regedit. Need real simple terms.
--
Jenny Barrett

Jenny,

Disabling wallpaper can be done at user level or system level

Click START | RUN
Type 'regedit' (without quotes) & press ENTER
Navigate to these keys:

Current User:


HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveD
esktop

All Users:


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Active
Desktop

Create a new key or change an existing one:

In the right pane:

Key name: 'NoChangeWallpaper'
Type: DWORD
Value: 0 = Enable Changing, 1 = Disable Changing

Close the registry editor

If you are nervous about doing this you can copy/paste between the lines:

---------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Current user

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Active
Desktop]
"NoChangeWallpaper"=dword:00000000

; All Users

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Activ
eDesktop]
"NoChangeWallpaper"=dword:00000000
---------------------------------------

Open Notepad
Copy/paste the above into the notepad document
File menu | SaveAs
in the FILENAME type: "Desktop.reg" (with quotes)
in the FILE TYPES choose ALL FILES (*.*)
Click the SAVE button

Double-click the newly created registry file to enter the information into
the registry then click OK to exit

I hope this helps,

--
Newbie Coder
(It's just a name)

I cannot change my desktop background, it appears to be frozen and greyed
out. I can only change to a different colour and not use any photos saved.
Any idea on how on rectify this please?

 

[Kelly]

Hi Jenny,

See line 142 (right hand side): Download the regfile and merge.
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

[Ayush]

[jenny] wrote-:

I cannot change my desktop background, it appears to be frozen and greyed
out. I can only change to a different colour and not use any photos saved.
Any idea on how on rectify this please?

````````````````````
a) Registry fix-Automated :
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/wallpaperenable.reg

--- or ---

b) 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"

--- or ---

c) Manually (XP -Any) :
1. Open Regedit
2.
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop]
3. Double click the value named "NoChangingWallpaper" > Set it to 0
4.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop]
5. Repeat Step 3
````````````````````

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


Good Luck, Ayush.

 

[Newbie Coder]

Ayush,

In my original reply to the OP I listed those registry keys...

--
Newbie Coder
(It's just a name)

[jenny] wrote-:

I cannot change my desktop background, it appears to be frozen and greyed
out. I can only change to a different colour and not use any photos saved.
Any idea on how on rectify this please?

````````````````````
a) Registry fix-Automated :
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/wallpaperenable.reg

--- or ---

b) 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"

--- or ---

c) Manually (XP -Any) :
1. Open Regedit
2.
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Active
Desktop]
3. Double click the value named "NoChangingWallpaper" > Set it to 0
4.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Activ
eDesktop]
5. Repeat Step 3
````````````````````

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


Good Luck, Ayush.

 

[kay]

I triedall and i got really close with the last one but "NoChangingWallpaper"
was not in my lis. help????

[jenny] wrote-:

I cannot change my desktop background, it appears to be frozen and greyed
out. I can only change to a different colour and not use any photos saved.
Any idea on how on rectify this please?

````````````````````
a) Registry fix-Automated :
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/wallpaperenable.reg

--- or ---

b) 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"

--- or ---

c) Manually (XP -Any) :
1. Open Regedit
2.
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop]
3. Double click the value named "NoChangingWallpaper" > Set it to 0
4.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop]
5. Repeat Step 3
````````````````````

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


Good Luck, Ayush.