Where does XP keep the current wallpaper?

[Guest]

I am assuming that there is a system file somewhere that is a copy of the
wallpaper and I would like to know what this file is called.

Here's why......

I created a montage of photo's which I then set as my wallpaper by
right-clicking on the desktop, browsing for the file and setting it. The
file was located in a sub-folder of My Documents. Later, I was doing some
"housekeeping" and I thought I didn't need the folder so I deleted it
(forgetting that my wallpaper was in it).

I want to edit the montage to add another photo, but when I come to look for
the file I can't find it. I've done a whole system search and it is gone. I
peeked in the current.theme file and realised what I had done - the file
points to this non-existent folder.

But my wallpaper has not gone away so presumably there must be a file
somewhere which is a copy of my wallpaper that XP actually uses when loading
the wallpaper. What I want to know is what is this file called?

Thanks

Quorlia

 

[Richard in AZ]

Typically the wallpaper files in Windows XP are in the folder:
C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper
But if you use the browse feature in setting up wallpaper, then the computer will remember the
second, or third, location and will also search these location for pictures as well. This little
feature is very irritating if you once point to "MY PICTURES" folder since now every picture in that
folder will be listed in your wallpaper choices FOREVER.

Hope this helps you find your wallpaper and if any real technical nerd knows where in the registry
to turn off the access to MY PICTURES I would appreciate it.

 

[Kelly]

C:\Documents and Settings\user name\My Documents\My Pictures
C:\WINDOWS\Web\Wallpaper
C:\Windows\Resources\Themes

--

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

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

 

[Kelly]

Hope this helps you find your wallpaper and if any real technical nerd

knows where in the registry to turn off the access to MY PICTURES I would
appreciate it.

Workarounds:

Create another folder (under your user profile), remove the pictures from My
Pictures that you don't want listed under Backgrounds and in the My Pictures
folder, create a shortcut to the new folder. Or create subfolders within My
Pictures.

Add Folders to the "Save As" Dialog (Places Bar) Line 117
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Disable Default Save As to My Pictures (Line 263)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Add Folder to Start Menu to replace/re-route My Pictures (Line 2)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

To use the Regedit: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click it
and answer yes to the import prompt. REG files can be viewed in Notepad by
right clicking on the file and selecting Edit.

--

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

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

 

[Bob I]

Try a search for "Internet Explorer Wallpaper" , make sure that you
search hidden and system folders too.

 

[Richard in AZ]

I know the work around, but there should be a registry tweak that kills the link to MY PICTURES.

 

[Nightowl]

Hi Quorlia

Try looking in:
C:\Documents and Settings\yourname\Application Data\Microsoft. It's
usually there under the name Wallpaper1.bmp (if it wasn't originally a
..bmp file XP will convert it!)

If it's not there, look in the registry under:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\desktop]

In the right-hand pane the entry Wallpaper should point to the file.

 

[Kelly]

There is and I gave it to you.

--

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

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