Solution for computer that can't change desktop wallpaper / background
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I ran into this problem earlier this week and found the solution. The customer could not change his desktop background to any of the stock photos in Windows or his own photos...something that any Windows user should be able to do. Turns out that the root cause of the problem is spyware. Even after removing the spyware a registry (skeleton of Windows) entry gets left behind disabling the users ability to change the background. Deleting this entry restores the ability for the user to again have a normal functioning desktop.
WARNING: THIS SOLUTION IS ONLY FOR COMPUTERS THAT HAVE THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. AND IT IS INTENDED TO ONLY BE CARRIED OUT BY AN EXPERIENCED TECHNICIAN OR COMPUTER USER WITH REGISTRY EXPERIENCE.
- Click Start
- Click Run
- Type: regedit
- Navigate to the following registry entry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
"Wallpaper"=SZ:C:\WINDOWS\desktop.html (yours might be slightly different) - Click one time on the entry
- Push Delete on the keyboard
- Click Yes
- Close the Registry editor
HOW TO MAKE YOUR ICO TEXT TRANSPARENT:
1. Open the Control Panel
2. Click System
3. Click the Advanced tab
4. Click Settings in the Performance section
5. Check the "Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop" check box
6. Click OK until you close the windows
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Repair desktop background
Had the virus, could not change my background even after I had my virus programs remove it. Followed you insturctions, presto! Everythng back to normal. A thousand thank you's!!!
thanks :)
was hit by virus who changed this keys in my registry.. thanks for the solution :)
white background
I followed all the steps to the system folder. in the system folder, I don't have any entries like you described, but I do have the following entries which look like they should be deleted.
NoDispBackgroundPage
NoDispScrSavPage
just delete those, i had the
just delete those, i had the same problem, it fixed it.
now right-click on your desktop -> propeties
and change your wallpaper like you did normally !
Changing Desktop/Background Wallpaper
After removing malware you can be left with tasks that still do not function, unable to reset desktop Wallpaper, a disabled Task Manager or even a broken Network Connection (winsock) etc but novice users may find it daunting when a fix involves the registry.....
The free program SUPERantispyware has a section called "repairs" which many users forget exists or don't even notice!
In Superantispyware, found under Preferences, then the Repair tab along the top, there are several fixes and all you do is simply click on what needs fixing;
Example: Click once on = Remove/Rest windows desktop background/wallpaper, now hit the "perform repair" button.
All Done.
Superantispyware available here free:
http://www.superantispyware.com/
Hope this helps some of you
Liverbird
Awesome!
Thanks! That was so easy!
MMMMM..wallpaper..try this!
I tried every tip here and finally did this.
go to start/run/gpedit. it worked perfect! Thanks for the help and ideas though!
User Configuration \ AdministrativeTemplates \ Desktop \ Active Desktop
User Configuration \ AdministrativeTemplates \ Desktop \ Active Desktop
NoComponents stores the setting of the Disable all items Group Policy
To start the Group Policy Editor, type GPEDIT.MSC in Start, Run dialog.
Good man. Did what it said
Good man. Did what it said on the tin and saved hours of frustration and heartache. Buy yourself a large beer, find a sandy beach and watch the sun go down. You earned it.
Best Regards,
Tim
Followed the steps and it worked :)
i honestly don't know much about computers but i was able to do this and i finally got rid of that horrid blue screen...
the only difference was that mine didn't say "wallpaper" it said "NodispBackground", "Nodispscreensaver", and even one that said "disableregistrytools"....
i went ahead and deleted those, but i'm not sure if that was the right choice...my computers fine for now though.
Thank You
Thank you, I didn't know what I was going to do until I found your directions. It worked perfectly! Now if only you'll move in with me to help upkeep my computer. XP
same problem, need additional solution
Hi. I know those of you with this problem will understand the frustration and bear with yet another tale of woe. I have tried every solution mentioned. Kellys (would only run in safe mode), dwpfix (again would only run in safe mode), one virus scan after another. There is no entry in my registry that I can find that references display or desktop. The only ones in the .....policies/system folder are a (default) with (value not
set), a 'don'tdisplaylast....., a legalnotice....., a legalnoticetext..., a shutdown...an unlock...
I have changed the registry in the past, but need specific guidance.
Do I Edit, New, key? string, dword?? What exactly would I put there. Can you tell me, including all punctuation?
Everyone's so happy, I would like to join you. by the way, my
display tab is present in the control panel, but I can't make any changes. Thank you.
Know when to say when
At some point you have to decide that enough time and energy has been expended and it's time to move forward. You can see if a local computer professional can help you...quickly. If not, throw in the towel, backup your data, reformat the hard drive and start over. This time, however, make sure your security is up to snuff from the beginning.
Good luck.
Thank you!
I didn't have the options to change my screensaver or desktop and I stumbled across your site. Followed the steps - absolutely perfect now. Thanks!
Worked Great
Thanks this solved the problem after hours of wondering WTF!!!
I will be back to this site for sure!!
Step 4
Hello Rick,
I'm so glad I found this! Everything is fine until I get to step 4, after clicking on system. I see that its written 'wallpaper', and the type is REG_SZ. What exactly do I do there?
Oh yeah, like a lot of other people I acknowledged the fact that you said this should be carried out by someone who knows, but I'm desperate!
Thank you!
Proceed to step 5
If you find the entry listed in Step 4, then proceed to step 5 and onward. If you don't find the entry listed in #4, then you might have a slightly different problem.
Good luck.
Resolved at Last! Thank you!!
Similar to the other posters, I thought I was destined to forever suffer with the horribly boring and ugly blue desktop background. After many internet searches to no avail, this did the trick! Thank you so much for your help!!
Perfect!
It worked... Thanks Buddy!
thank you
thanks a lot for this solution
Thanks! How about an IE fix too?
Thank you so much for the fix. Now if I can only find a fix for the other problem caused by this virus. It kills tab browsing on IE7. If you've got a solution to that too it'd be much appreciated.
Try this, or
You can reset Internet Explorer using this tip, or better yet, ditch IE for Firefox.
thanks alot!
Thank you very much for the tip!! I was going crazy!
Now its all fixed!
FINALLY!!!! THANK YOU!
I got a virus today and I thought that was the end for my computer. I called........nothing. I downloaded a antivirus and it worked took the virus off! But then i got the BLUE SCREEN!!! I looked and looked for about 3 hours! And I came across this! I deleted them first time i thought I made another stupid thing! But I restored the registery settings and I did what you told me Thank YOU! Finally I can sleep know that my computer is safe!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Omg Thanks
I just got rid of that wretched blue screen because of your help thank you!
It worked, but!
I can now display my wallpaper, thank goodnes. But, I still have the shadows around my icons. I followed the steps to fix that but it didn't work. Any other suggestions?
It worked, but!
I can now display my wallpaper, thank goodnes. But, I still have the shadows around my icons. I followed the steps to fix that but it didn't work. Any other suggestions?
For those still having problems....
I had this very same problem which was caused by spyware. After removing the spyware, the Display Properties were missing the "Desktop" and "Screensaver" tabs so I was unable to change the background unless I opened an image and set it. However, after a reboot the annoying "Restore Active Desktop" message still always came up. I luckily found a site that referred me to this link below:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Scroll all the way down to line 285 and in the right hand column click the link "Restore All Display Tabs". Essentially you will be downloading a small registry file. Save to your PC, double click the file, and click yes to add it to the registry. The display tabs should now be there and everything should be back to normal.
Hope this helps.
Thx
I facing the same problem with you n with your help, i able to the solve the problem now.
Thx.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT CAN I SAY? THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Still can't change background
i followed the instructions at the top, after cleaning my computer again, but i still can not access my backgrounds. the only way i can change my background is if i right click a picture off google and choose set as desktop background. i rechecked everything i did, twice. all my backgrounds are still looked, PLEASE HELP!!!
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