Can't Change My Desktop Background Picture/Wallpaper

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tracey Woodmason
  • Start date Start date
T

Tracey Woodmason

Hi

For the past several days I've been searching the internet for answers as to
why I can't change the background picture on my PC. All I've been able to
find is answers for when a PC has been attacked by spyware. However, all the
solutions given have proved negative in my case - I've not been attacked by
spyware - but I still can't change the background!

I've done a search on "Wallpaper" in the Registry but I've not found any of
the keys that I understand would stop me changing it. There are literally no
keys that begin "No..." whatever! So there has to be some other reason.

I don't know how long I've had this problem as it is only recently that I
felt I'd like a change so I can't be much help in that way I'm afraid. What
I can tell you is that my PC is running WinXP Home and is kept up-to-date
with the regular updates made available by MS. If any further info is
required then please let me know and I'll do my best to oblige. Literally
any and all help would be much appreciated. Many thanks.

Tracey Woodmason
 
Tracey Woodmason said:
Hi

For the past several days I've been searching the internet for answers as to
why I can't change the background picture on my PC. All I've been able to
find is answers for when a PC has been attacked by spyware. However, all the
solutions given have proved negative in my case - I've not been attacked by
spyware - but I still can't change the background!

I've done a search on "Wallpaper" in the Registry but I've not found any of
the keys that I understand would stop me changing it. There are literally no
keys that begin "No..." whatever! So there has to be some other reason.

I don't know how long I've had this problem as it is only recently that I
felt I'd like a change so I can't be much help in that way I'm afraid. What
I can tell you is that my PC is running WinXP Home and is kept up-to-date
with the regular updates made available by MS. If any further info is
required then please let me know and I'll do my best to oblige. Literally
any and all help would be much appreciated. Many thanks.

Tracey Woodmason
Click to expand...

Open a run command and type in:
regedit.exe click [OK] and locate this Key:
[-]HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System = Look in the right pane/window for "No wallpaper" and remove it.
Right click on the Desktop then select Properties. On the Display properties:
1- click on Desktop tab
2-Click on Customize Desktop Button
3- Click on Web Tab and make sure no check box is checked there, uncheck if
there is a check box.
Reboot your machine and see if you can change the wallapaper.

Line 142 or 285 - Allow wallpaper/background change:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Note: Some security software and anti-malware programs by default set to
block changes to the wallpaper, so if you have Spybot, spysweeper, blaster,
Lavasoft or Anti-virus running in real time protection mode can block you
from changing your wallpaper, please check the program(s) configuration.
HTH.
nass
 
Hi

nass - as I said in my post I had NO keys relating to Wallpaper which
started with "No", i.e. they were all missing, and I mean the lot. Apart
from this I didn't even have the key you mention so I couldn't have removed
anything! However, I have now solved my problem.

Isn't it always the way, you put a message up, continue searching for a
solution and then within a few minutes you're all up and running again by
your own efforts!

On continuing to search I found a forum where someone had found a site with
downloadable file which repaired the "change wallpaper facility" keys in the
Registry. Basically it comprises a .REG file which restores the required
keys (which would appear to have gone missing for whatever reason). I
downloaded the file and just to be sure, I opened it for edit to see what
was there. It didn't seem to be too threatening so I backed up my registry
from REGEDIT and ran the .REG file. I'm pleased to report that everything is
now OK. The location of the file I found if anyone needs it is:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/desktoptab.reg

Just in case the worst should happen though, you MUST ensure you backup your
registry first!

I hope this may be of help to anyone in the position I was in a few moments
ago.

Tracey Woodmason


nass said:
Tracey Woodmason said:
Hi

For the past several days I've been searching the internet for answers as
to
why I can't change the background picture on my PC. All I've been able to
find is answers for when a PC has been attacked by spyware. However, all
the
solutions given have proved negative in my case - I've not been attacked
by
spyware - but I still can't change the background!

I've done a search on "Wallpaper" in the Registry but I've not found any
of
the keys that I understand would stop me changing it. There are literally
no
keys that begin "No..." whatever! So there has to be some other reason.

I don't know how long I've had this problem as it is only recently that I
felt I'd like a change so I can't be much help in that way I'm afraid.
What
I can tell you is that my PC is running WinXP Home and is kept up-to-date
with the regular updates made available by MS. If any further info is
required then please let me know and I'll do my best to oblige. Literally
any and all help would be much appreciated. Many thanks.

Tracey Woodmason
Click to expand...

Open a run command and type in:
regedit.exe click [OK] and locate this Key:
[-]HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
= Look in the right pane/window for "No wallpaper" and remove it.
Right click on the Desktop then select Properties. On the Display
properties:
1- click on Desktop tab
2-Click on Customize Desktop Button
3- Click on Web Tab and make sure no check box is checked there, uncheck
if
there is a check box.
Reboot your machine and see if you can change the wallapaper.

Line 142 or 285 - Allow wallpaper/background change:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Note: Some security software and anti-malware programs by default set to
block changes to the wallpaper, so if you have Spybot, spysweeper,
blaster,
Lavasoft or Anti-virus running in real time protection mode can block you
from changing your wallpaper, please check the program(s) configuration.
HTH.
nass
Click to expand...
 
Hi Tracey, glad you got it sorted and thanks for letting us know what worked
for you.
You will find the same fix on the link given on line 285!.
Good luck.
Regards,
nass
----
http://www.nasstec.co.uk

Tracey Woodmason said:
Hi

nass - as I said in my post I had NO keys relating to Wallpaper which
started with "No", i.e. they were all missing, and I mean the lot. Apart
from this I didn't even have the key you mention so I couldn't have removed
anything! However, I have now solved my problem.

Isn't it always the way, you put a message up, continue searching for a
solution and then within a few minutes you're all up and running again by
your own efforts!

On continuing to search I found a forum where someone had found a site with
downloadable file which repaired the "change wallpaper facility" keys in the
Registry. Basically it comprises a .REG file which restores the required
keys (which would appear to have gone missing for whatever reason). I
downloaded the file and just to be sure, I opened it for edit to see what
was there. It didn't seem to be too threatening so I backed up my registry
from REGEDIT and ran the .REG file. I'm pleased to report that everything is
now OK. The location of the file I found if anyone needs it is:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/desktoptab.reg

Just in case the worst should happen though, you MUST ensure you backup your
registry first!

I hope this may be of help to anyone in the position I was in a few moments
ago.

Tracey Woodmason


nass said:
Tracey Woodmason said:
Hi

For the past several days I've been searching the internet for answers as
to
why I can't change the background picture on my PC. All I've been able to
find is answers for when a PC has been attacked by spyware. However, all
the
solutions given have proved negative in my case - I've not been attacked
by
spyware - but I still can't change the background!

I've done a search on "Wallpaper" in the Registry but I've not found any
of
the keys that I understand would stop me changing it. There are literally
no
keys that begin "No..." whatever! So there has to be some other reason.

I don't know how long I've had this problem as it is only recently that I
felt I'd like a change so I can't be much help in that way I'm afraid.
What
I can tell you is that my PC is running WinXP Home and is kept up-to-date
with the regular updates made available by MS. If any further info is
required then please let me know and I'll do my best to oblige. Literally
any and all help would be much appreciated. Many thanks.

Tracey Woodmason
Click to expand...

Open a run command and type in:
regedit.exe click [OK] and locate this Key:
[-]HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
= Look in the right pane/window for "No wallpaper" and remove it.
Right click on the Desktop then select Properties. On the Display
properties:
1- click on Desktop tab
2-Click on Customize Desktop Button
3- Click on Web Tab and make sure no check box is checked there, uncheck
if
there is a check box.
Reboot your machine and see if you can change the wallapaper.

Line 142 or 285 - Allow wallpaper/background change:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Note: Some security software and anti-malware programs by default set to
block changes to the wallpaper, so if you have Spybot, spysweeper,
blaster,
Lavasoft or Anti-virus running in real time protection mode can block you
from changing your wallpaper, please check the program(s) configuration.
HTH.
nass
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Back
Top