picture files cant delete from background list

G

Guest

Somehow loads of picture files have got into the list of background files
that you can choose for your desktop and I cant find a way to get rid of
them. Any ideas
Cheers Jeff
 
W

Wesley Vogel

Wallpaper background files are...
All bmp, jpg, gif, jpe, dib, png and htm files located in these folders:

%Systemroot%
%windir%\Web\Wallpaper
%userprofile%\My Documents\My Pictures (& sub-folders)
%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
%ProgramFiles%\Plus!\Themes (& sub-folders)

If you want to clear a file from that list, move the file away from the
above locations. Type the above paths in Start, Run dialog.
from...
Where do the image files come from? [the background images listing]
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/background.htm
-----

This can also happen if the desktop.ini file is missing from My Pictures
folder. And maybe if the desktop.ini file is messed up, don't know that for
sure.

I cannot confirm this because nobody tries it and posts back with the
results.

desktop.ini is a Hidden System file.

To display Hidden files and folders...

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab
Check:
Display the contents of system folders
and
Show hidden files and folders
UNCheck:
Hide extensions for known file types
and
Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)
Click Apply | Click OK

When you uncheck: Hide protected operating system files,
you will get this message...

Warning
----------
You have chosen to display protected operating system files (files labeled
System and Hidden) in Windows Explorer.These files are required to start and
run Windows. Deleting or editing them can make your computer inoperable.Are
you sure you want to display these files?
----------

Click YES.

[[Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not
typical items.]]
-----

Now look through My Pictures and see if there is a desktop.ini file. Can
you find the desktop.ini file?

Here's what it should have in it:

[DeleteOnCopy]
Owner=Name Here
Personalized=39
PersonalizedName=My Pictures
[.ShellClassInfo]
[email protected],-12688
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\System32\mydocs.dll
IconIndex=-101

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
W

Wesley Vogel

Another way to open the My Pictures desktop.ini file.

Paste the following line into Start | Run and click OK...

%userprofile%\My Documents\My Pictures\desktop.ini

The My Pictures desktop.ini file should open in Notepad.

If the My Pictures desktop.ini file does NOT exist and error message will
pop up.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
Wesley Vogel said:
Wallpaper background files are...
All bmp, jpg, gif, jpe, dib, png and htm files located in these folders:

%Systemroot%
%windir%\Web\Wallpaper
%userprofile%\My Documents\My Pictures (& sub-folders)
%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
%ProgramFiles%\Plus!\Themes (& sub-folders)

If you want to clear a file from that list, move the file away from the
above locations. Type the above paths in Start, Run dialog.
from...
Where do the image files come from? [the background images listing]
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/background.htm
-----

This can also happen if the desktop.ini file is missing from My Pictures
folder. And maybe if the desktop.ini file is messed up, don't know that
for sure.

I cannot confirm this because nobody tries it and posts back with the
results.

desktop.ini is a Hidden System file.

To display Hidden files and folders...

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab
Check:
Display the contents of system folders
and
Show hidden files and folders
UNCheck:
Hide extensions for known file types
and
Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)
Click Apply | Click OK

When you uncheck: Hide protected operating system files,
you will get this message...

Warning
----------
You have chosen to display protected operating system files (files labeled
System and Hidden) in Windows Explorer.These files are required to start
and run Windows. Deleting or editing them can make your computer
inoperable.Are you sure you want to display these files?
----------

Click YES.

[[Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not
typical items.]]
-----

Now look through My Pictures and see if there is a desktop.ini file. Can
you find the desktop.ini file?

Here's what it should have in it:

[DeleteOnCopy]
Owner=Name Here
Personalized=39
PersonalizedName=My Pictures
[.ShellClassInfo]
[email protected],-12688
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\System32\mydocs.dll
IconIndex=-101

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
Jaybee said:
Somehow loads of picture files have got into the list of background files
that you can choose for your desktop and I cant find a way to get rid of
them. Any ideas
Cheers Jeff
 
G

Guest

Sorry but no luck with this fix. In the end I transferred all the fies out of
the my pictures folder into a new folder then deleted the my pics folder and
after a reboot that fixed it
Cheers Jeff

Wesley Vogel said:
Wallpaper background files are...
All bmp, jpg, gif, jpe, dib, png and htm files located in these folders:

%Systemroot%
%windir%\Web\Wallpaper
%userprofile%\My Documents\My Pictures (& sub-folders)
%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
%ProgramFiles%\Plus!\Themes (& sub-folders)

If you want to clear a file from that list, move the file away from the
above locations. Type the above paths in Start, Run dialog.
from...
Where do the image files come from? [the background images listing]
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/background.htm
-----

This can also happen if the desktop.ini file is missing from My Pictures
folder. And maybe if the desktop.ini file is messed up, don't know that for
sure.

I cannot confirm this because nobody tries it and posts back with the
results.

desktop.ini is a Hidden System file.

To display Hidden files and folders...

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab
Check:
Display the contents of system folders
and
Show hidden files and folders
UNCheck:
Hide extensions for known file types
and
Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)
Click Apply | Click OK

When you uncheck: Hide protected operating system files,
you will get this message...

Warning
----------
You have chosen to display protected operating system files (files labeled
System and Hidden) in Windows Explorer.These files are required to start and
run Windows. Deleting or editing them can make your computer inoperable.Are
you sure you want to display these files?
----------

Click YES.

[[Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not
typical items.]]
-----

Now look through My Pictures and see if there is a desktop.ini file. Can
you find the desktop.ini file?

Here's what it should have in it:

[DeleteOnCopy]
Owner=Name Here
Personalized=39
PersonalizedName=My Pictures
[.ShellClassInfo]
[email protected],-12688
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\System32\mydocs.dll
IconIndex=-101

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
Jaybee said:
Somehow loads of picture files have got into the list of background files
that you can choose for your desktop and I cant find a way to get rid of
them. Any ideas
Cheers Jeff
 

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