Cannot change desktop background

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Guest

My mom's not sure what has happened on her computer but I'm trying to help
clear up the problem. I don't know if this is a Windows XP problem or
something else. In the "Desktop" tab of the display properties of the
Control Panel, everything is grayed out except "Color" and "Customize
Desktop". It will not allow me to change the background. (Right now the
background is just a solid color) I've tried selecting a different theme but
nothing works. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Debbie
 
Click the "Customize Desktop" button. It's likely that the "Web" tab has some
page checked to use as wallpaper. (note the checkbox for locking the desktop,
too)
 
Options to change wallpaper may be missing or unavailable on a Windows XP-based computer:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=921049

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


My mom's not sure what has happened on her computer but I'm trying to help
clear up the problem. I don't know if this is a Windows XP problem or
something else. In the "Desktop" tab of the display properties of the
Control Panel, everything is grayed out except "Color" and "Customize
Desktop". It will not allow me to change the background. (Right now the
background is just a solid color) I've tried selecting a different theme but
nothing works. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Debbie
 
Thank you Mark. This worked. I still don't have the windows desktop
features, but using "customize Desktop", gettingo into my picture files,
applying, then dragging over and sizing gave me my desktop back. This will
do for now, but can see upgrade is in near future. Screensaver feature works
perfect?
 
I don't know if it helps, but the new Dell Vostros have a desktop background that
is black and says VOSTRO in large letters ; I replaced it with the old sturdy blue
Dell computer chip one by copying in Dell.bmp from C:/WINDOWS from another laptop.
Apparently that's where the choices are kept.

Of course, if you can't choose at all, having this choice doesn't help.
 
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