Display Properties - wallpaper list shows every picture file on disk

[Brent]

Whenever I go into my 'Display Properties'--'Desktop' tab, I'm getting an
enormous list of background pictures, rather than just the XP pictures from
the c:\windows\web\wallpaper folder. For some reason the Desktop tab seems
to also be grabbing all the pictures from the My Pictures folder, which
contains thousands of digital images. This wouldn't be so bad, but it takes
a couple minutes before I can use the Desktop tab while it builds this huge
list. How can I fix this behaviour? Can I change the Desktop tab settings
to ignore the My Pictures folder?

 

[Patti MacLeod]

Hi Brent,

By default, XP lists all the image files in the My Pictures folder as
available to choose for Background, and I don't think that there is a way to
change that default setting. The only way to fix that situation is to store
the image files in a folder other than the My Pictures folder.



Regards,

 

[Bob I]

Quick fix is to create a sub-directory(s) in My Pictures and move the
images there.

 

[Brent]

Actually, they are already subdirectories; there is virtually nothing in the
My Pictures folder itself. This is a recent occurrence; they never used to
appear in the list. The only changes I've made to my system that I can
think of is the SP2 update, and the installation of Google's Picasa.

I'd be grateful for any light anyone can shed.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Actually, they are already subdirectories; there is virtually nothing in the
My Pictures folder itself. This is a recent occurrence; they never used to
appear in the list. The only changes I've made to my system that I can
think of is the SP2 update, and the installation of Google's Picasa.

What specific SP2 are you using? This was a problem in earlier builds,
certainly past RC1, but was cured by the final release

If Winver does not report 'sp2_rtm' it is not final release

 

[Brent]

Hi Alex. It's sp2_rtm.040803-2158. Should I run the update again?

 

[Alex Nichol]

Hi Alex. It's sp2_rtm.040803-2158. Should I run the update again?

That is the final. And ought *not* to be doing this with the My Pics
folder. About all there is to suggest is moving subfolders out of that
into a normal folder, customised as View as Pictures. The 'My Pictures'
doesn't really do much for you

 

[Brent]

Will do! Thanks Alex!

That is the final. And ought *not* to be doing this with the My Pics
folder. About all there is to suggest is moving subfolders out of that
into a normal folder, customised as View as Pictures. The 'My Pictures'
doesn't really do much for you

 

[Alex Nichol]

Actually, they are already subdirectories; there is virtually nothing in the
My Pictures folder itself. This is a recent occurrence; they never used to
appear in the list. The only changes I've made to my system that I can
think of is the SP2 update, and the installation of Google's Picasa.

One further thought I have, based on the way my machine is configured.
Make a separate folder for your pictures, outside the C:\Documents and
settings ghetto. Then Use TweakUI - one of the XP Powertoys from (if
you have installed XP SP1)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp
and its My Computer - Special Folders to select My Pictures and Change
Location to that new folder. Then move the data from the My Pictures
under C:\Documents and Settings\you across, leaving that one empty.
Then the new location will have all the 'My Pictures' functionality (and
can usefully be on a different partition of hard drive if you have one)

It is just possible that the background selector has that specific path
built in now rather than the logical 'My Pictures' pointer