XP theme reverts when started with USB drive attached

[Greg Crinklaw]

This one is driving me crazy. I recently had a hard drive failure. I
rebuilt the system exactly as before (including SP2) except perhaps for
a few newer device drivers. Oh, and I'm now running dual drives in a
RAID mirror configuration. I didn't have any problems previously.

Problem is this: when I restart with either of my USB external backup
drives connected I lose my current theme. The desktop theme reverts to
the blue XP style (from classic), changes the background color, but
keeps the wallpaper. The sound scheme name appears blank and the sounds
are revert to the default. I can reset everything and restart with the
USB drive disconnected and everything is fine. The moment I restart
with a USB drive connected, the theme is hosed again. I can also log
on/off without problem, even with the USB drive connected.

I've run virus scans, disk scans, searched the registry for references
to the external drive letter, and I've looked the external drive over
for theme files that may somehow be referred to. Nada. I don't have
enough hair left to be pulling it out like this!

 

[Guest]

I am having a similar problem but without the USB drives attached. About 2
months ago, my desktop wallpaper turned white. When I try to reset Displays,
I can see Azul (I'd like to be there instead of in this frozen wasteland),
but everything remaing white.

When I restart or reboot, the last thing I see is the Azul wallpaper after
the white desktop and all my icons disappear. Then I get the "Windows is
saving your settings" message.

I would really like to be able to change my desktop wallpaper once again.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Joe