Windows XP Desktop wallpaper

Question

I have lost the ability to change the wallpaper on my E310 running windows XP. I go to control panel click on display and select desktop go to background and it is grayed out....help please

Noxo · Answer

I've seen that happen before and it was caused by spyware, have you checked for that?

megadon3 · Answer

I did have a spyware on my pc and cleaned it up and my pc is now working fine .....except this issue any way to repair the issue.......thanks

ky331 · Answer

using windows explorer, locate the picture that you want to use for your desktop background, RIGHT-click on it, and hopefully you will see a choice to ' Set as Desktop Background'.   if present, select it, and see if this will work.   what type of spyware did you have? ---  and how did you go about fixing it??  many Smitfraud variants will reset/lock your background.   depending on how you fixed things, if you only did a partial fix, it could be that some remnant of the infection is lurking around, locking your background.

jeni59 · Answer

Have you tried right-clicking on your desktop, going to properties --> Desktop Tab and from there you can pick from pre-installed pictures, or browse to a picture of your choice.  I made myself a new folder called 'MyWallpaper' where I keep some favorites and this set-up never fails me.

megadon3 · Answer

Appreciate the tip.....but that's the problem, the areas are grayed out...no option to select pre-installed pics or browse......thanks

megadon3 · Answer

tried you fix.....no dice.....I clicked on make desktop....BUT...did not place not sure what the was, but spyware sweeper said it cleaned it up.....funny thing is when I shut down cpu my old desktop pic flashes on the screen ......thanks

ky331 · Answer

I'm gonna suggest a diagnostic procedure, which should help reveal the problem:

Download the latest version of Trend Micro's HiJackThis (HJT) [version 2.0.2] installer from

http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/threat_analytics/HJTInstall.exe

Save it to your Desktop.

Double-click on the HJTInstall.exe file you just downloaded, and click on the Install button, to install HJT in the suggested/default folder,

C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis

( As part of the installation, a shortcut to the HJT program will be placed on your Desktop, and another shortcut in your START menu [for easy-access to using HJT in the future ---

you only need to run the program again, but not the installer ] ).

After installation, HJT will automatically open and start running.

[If this is your first time running HJT, please read and accept the EULA (End-User License Agreement)]

Click on Do a System Scan and Save a LogFile

This will automatically open NotePad

Copy the entire file from NotePad: EDIT/SelectAll, EDIT/Copy

Then go to the forum dedicated for HiJack This logs (**NOT** back here), and PASTE the results there:

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board?board.id=si_hijack

Be sure to include a detailed description of any problems/errors/warnings you are encountering.... that you can't change your wallpaper.
Also, please indicate the steps you've already taken, if any, in terms of running anti-malware scanners or malware removal tools.

When you submit your HJT log, please make sure the box under your text which shows "Automatically convert carriage returns to HTML line breaks" is checked, or your log may not format correctly... it should consist of separate/readable lines, not one large "jumble".

Hopefully, one of the HJT experts will get to it as quickly as possible.

WARNING: HiJack This is a VERY POWERFUL tool. While it's completely safe for you to download, generate, and post your log (as described above), you should *NOT* attempt to do anything else (in particular, do NOT use it to delete/fix any entries) until you are advised to do so by a forum expert!! Improper use of this tool can severely damage your system.

Message Edited by ky331 on 08-26-2007 02:48 PM

ky331 · Answer

Megadon,   As best as I can see, you have not 'followed-up' on my HJT suggestion.    If you believe this approach to be too complicated, here are some alternatives you can try, if you wish:   Odds are you had a 'SmitFraud variant', which wasn't completely removed.    Both RogueRemover as well as SuperAntiSpyware can remove many [but not all] SmitFraud variants.   If you wish, you could try these (links below)... RogueRemover runs really fast, and so is the more efficient to use  when it works... be advised that a complete SuperAntiSpyware scan can run 20 to 40 minutes, because its scan is far more comprehensive.  Be sure to let us know which one, if either, worked for you.   RogueRemover  [just the 'regular'/free version ---  there's no need to use the PRO] http://www.malwarebytes.org/rogueremover.php   SuperAntiSpyware [get the Free Version for Home Users]   http://www.superantispyware.com/   After downloading & installing [either one or both of these], be sure to check for updates first, and then run the scan.   [Select COMPLETE scan for SuperAntiSpyware]

megadon3 · Answer

had a bad storm in the area yesterday and last night....knocked out my modem...just got it replaced..I have printer out your first repair and hope to get to it today.....thanks again for the help....will keep you informed

ky331 · Answer

i see you've successfully generated and posted your HJT log. please be patient... they're over-worked and understaffed... but hopefully, someone will get to your log 'soon'.

megadon3 · Answer

appreciate your help....thanks

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