Dimension 2400 w/ Windows XP changing the desktop background issue

Question

I am trying to change my desktop background but when I go into the Display icon in my control panel and click on the Background tab nothing is highlited for me to click on and change, ie: Browse or Position, except the background color. I presented this same issue yesterday in the forum and there was a really nice member who tried to assist me. This member advised me to download an updated version of my video driver, which I did, but the problem has not been corrected. Is there anyone out there that can help me regain the ability to change my desktop background? Any assistance would be greatly appreacited. Thank You.

dunedin · Answer

1. Have you recently cleaned out any nasties such as SpySherrif? This seems to be one of the main causes of the problem.

2. Have you seen any security alerts in the taskbar stating that there are various security risks with your computer?

Here are a couple of things to try, but if they don`t work I think you may have some sort of malware.

Right click Desktop/Properties/Desktop/Customise Desktop/Web

Uncheck anything in the white box entitled "Web Pages"
Also uncheck "Lock Desktop Items".
Click OK
"Apply".

If that does not work go to
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm

Click “W”
Click “Allow Wallpaper/Background Changes”

Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click it and answer yes to the import prompt

gottabme664 · Answer

Thank you so very much for your advice. I will give it a try and 'hopefully' the problem will be resolved. Thank you again!

dunedin · Answer

As I said, if these don`t fix it I think you have a malware problem.   Post back and I`ll try to help you

gottabme664 · Answer

Hey, It's me again. Did everything that you told me to including the site that you advised me to go to. In my Display Box, Desktop tab I now have the ability to change the Position option but still no Browse. The options in the desktop tab are, in order, Browse, Position, Color and then Customize Destop at the bottom. Now have everything But Browse which I need to change my Desktop background. Any othe suggestions? Again, any assistance you can offer is very much appreciated. Thanks again for all your help!

dunedin · Answer

Well, that`s strange. Why should it be the only one not working? Are you sure your system is clean?

Housecall http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

AVG Anti-Spyware http://www.ewido.net/en/

Try this
Wallpaper Defaults Line 339 left hand side
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

I don`t know of any other way to fix it.

Here is a workaround
Go to C:\WINDOWS. All the wallpapers are stored here. Double click the image (eg Coffee Bean.bmp) and you should have have an option to set as Desktop Background.

gottabme664 · Answer

Me again! System is clean. Clicked on the link that you sent me for wallpaer defaults, nothing happened. So, I decided to try your final suggestion which was to go to C:\Windows as you said that all the wallpapers are stored there but I can't find them. Must be too French for my own good. :-(  Are the images in a certain folder or are they all in there own folder. Can't find anything even close to wallpaper images. Sorry for being a pest. What am I looking for in C:\Windows? Thanks again for your help and also your time.

dunedin · Answer

Just to clarify things here.  I`ve never had the 'Browse' button missing so I`m not sure what you can`t do.   If you can`t select any of the default wallpapers in the scroll box under 'Backgrounds' They are all stored in C:\Windows.  They are not in a folder of their own.  If you scroll down you should see them.  They are all called '***.bmp'   If you double click a '***.bmp' file it should open to show you the wallpaper and you can find an option to set as wallpaper   If you just want to use the 'Browse' button to find pictures on the hard drive (which is what I think it is for) are these pictures not stored in 'My Pictures' anyway?  If they are you can do the same as above.  Double click a picture and when it opens, find the option to 'Set as desktop Background'.  They might be called '***.bmp' or '***.jpg'  either will do for wallpaper.   If you can`t find the pictures you are looking for Start/Search  and type in *.bmp or *.jpg Click Search   Does that answer your questions or am I still not understanding properly?

gottabme664 · Answer

Yes, it does answer my question. Thank you again for all your help and patience. If this doesn't work then I'm washing my hands of the issue. lol   Thanks again!!!

dunedin · Answer

Happy to help you. :smileyhappy:   Hope you can manage now.

Windows General

Dimension 2400 w/ Windows XP changing the desktop background issue

Was this post helpful?