XP Pro, unable to change any appearance settings

[Gregg Hill]

Hello!

I ran into a strange problem today. The computer is running XP Pro SP1, all
updates except SP2, and Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition 8.1.

When I try to change user settings, such as the desktop background, or the
way folders are displayed. For example, I always set Windows Explorer to use
classic folders, view details, display contents of system folders, show
hidden files, system files, and file extensions. When I check those settings
and hit apply, the settings do not change. If I go right back into the
folder or display properties, those boxes are now unchecked.

On the desktop, I try to change the display properties to the Windows
Classic view or make other display changes, and I get a message similar to
"visual styles could not be applied." Also, on the properties Appearance
tab, one window shows a grey area with "Theme Preview" in the box.

What is going on here?

Gregg Hill

 

[steve dabrowner]

Funnny, I was just writing up the same post and literally yours appeared as
I hit send. I have some programs like outlook where on the email area there
is a win2K scroll bar and on the preview window the scroll bar is win xp,
its like once I went to win 2K , it retains some of the settings and can't
go back to all xp

hopefully we are not the first people to find this.