Suddenly - no desktop properties access

[billzinn]

The PCI-e video card in one of our PCs suddenly "died"... so I removed it and
'reverted' to the "onboard" video system (S3 VIA Chrome 9 HC IGP) until I can
replace this PCI-e video card...
But it's doing an obnoxious thing that is driving me crazy..
I cannot access the 'desktop properties' with this onboard S3 video chipset
....
If I "right-click" on the desktop and select "properties" - absolutely
nothing happens...
If I go to the contol Panel and try to use the "display" cpl - same thing -
nothing happens...
If I use the S3 icon in the taskbar and select "Display Properties", I get
the 'normal' window I'd expect from 'right-clicking" on the desktop and
selecting "properties", but if I try to access the "Desktop" tab - bingo! -
same thing... it 'drops out" and I'm back at the desktop.
Since I'm going to replace the Nvidia PCI-e video card anyway - its gonna be
no big thing.. eventually... but this is one of those troublesome things I
WANT to know about... No doubt I WILL see this again somewhere..
Why is this happening? I've checked the registry entry for "display desktop
cpl"
(HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
- which is already set to "0") but I am unable to set anything for desktop
properties with this cpl somehow "disabled"...
Anyone have a clue as to what the %$#! is going on, here? AND how to "fix"
it?
I've also tried the REGSVR32 /i shell32.dll and I've also tried 'expanding'
a new desk.cpl from the XP pro disk into the system32 directory - but "no
joy"...
Idle curiosity, no doubt, but I want to know how to 'tackle' this for
"future reference"...

 

[Mir Mehdi]

try regsvr32 comctl32.dll

delete the keys
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\system
restart the computer and you should get the tabs back

try to expand the desk.cp_ from the disc to c:\windows\system32\desk.cpl
try this command in command prompt "expand CD Drive:\i386\desk.cp_
c:\windows\system32\desk.cpl"

 

[Mir Mehdi]

try regsvr32 comctl32.dll

delete the keys
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\system
restart the computer and you should get the tabs back

try to expand the desk.cp_ from the disc to c:\windows\system32\desk.cpl
try this command in command prompt "expand CD Drive:\i386\desk.cp_
c:\windows\system32\desk.cpl"