HELP! Cannot change desktop background, only color !

Question

Hello,

I need some help here.

I recently had the Pest Trap spyware removed and upon completion it set my desktop background to blue. Ok, now when shutting down I can see my original desktop picture for a brief second and when starting back up it goes back to the solid blue. I have tried going to display properties and changing the background but all options are locked or greyed out, even the browse and position button. The only button open is color. I have tried applying a new picture but that dosent work either. I created a 2nd user ID and logged in and was able to change the desktop background. Hummm I am stummped.

I wanted to add, I can change the background color to any color I want but that is the only option that it will let me choose.

Any help would be greatly appreciated !!!

Thank you in advance.

Message Edited by Rwp7727 on 04-11-2007 07:53 PM

Message Edited by Rwp7727 on 04-11-2007 07:57 PM

DeagleHS · Answer

Hey,

What did the original spyware program do before you removed it?

It is possible that the spyware or Hijack desktop program hasnt been cleared or you have a new one.

Has anyone adviced you about the ""Hijachthis" utility

Message Edited by DeagleHS on 04-11-2007 02:07 AM

Rwp7727 · Answer

Thanks for the reply, Well the spyware had no effect from what I could tell other than the warning displayed in the botton right corner. I ran the following to clear the warning and clear the system of any issues.   1) Ran Webroot Spysweeper 2) Installed Windows Defender 3) Ran Ad-Aware   All seems to be running fine other than this blue screen covering my background.  Any ideas ? Dell support suggested re-installing windows but if its something with a easier fix I will try that first.     Thanks for any help that be provided !!!

HiGhLaNdEr48 · Answer

Rwp7727, See this link there are several options to try that should fix this issue for you. http://www.driverheaven.net/windows-xp-2000-nt-9x-forum/75580-i-cannot-change-desktop-background.html

Rwp7727 · Answer

Thanks, I will check out the link.

Rwp7727 · Answer

Ok,

I checked the link you described but I am not sure where to start and im not very computer literate. Can you explain what this user is describing here and maybe tell me where to find this ? Thanks for any help you can provide !!!

" A key in your registry is probably pointing to a deleted file refered to as desktop.html

If you go into your regedit and follow this path: HKEY_CURRENT USER/SOFTWARE/MICROSOFT/WINDOWS/CURRENTVERSION/POLICIES/SYSTEM

In there you may see a key that points to the C:\Windows\Web\desktop.html

If you see that key DELETE IT. Your virus software probably found this hijack desktop viruz and deleted the infected file already."

DeagleHS · Answer

Hey again,   Ok ill run you through it, thats if you check back on this thread since it was about 3 weeks ago.   Go..... Start / Run / and type in 'regedit' and click OK   A display will appear, he wants you to follow this path > HKEY_CURRENT USER/SOFTWARE/MICROSOFT/WINDOWS/CURRENTVERSION/POLICIES/SYSTEM   In the Register Editor display open the folder 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER', then keep opening the following folder....software/microsoft/windows/currentversion/policies/system (just like the path above). Once you are in the 'system' folder he wants you to see if there is a file in there called 'C:\Windows\web\desktop.html'. If there is delete the baasstard.   - DeagleHS

ej1948 · Answer

I read DeagleHS' response and did exactly as directed.  It worked!  I had been researching this problem for months and this is the answer I had been looking for.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!! Message Edited by ej1948 on 06-09-2008 11:09 PM

jannikatobin · Answer

I need help !! I'm using Windows Vista and am experiencing the whole 'my desktop will only allow a colour background' problem. I've been looking for solution for a nice while now and the only ones i can find pretain to windows XP and I have no clue what I'm doing. Can you help me??

Larry R · Answer

Have you already tried DeagleHS' suggestion?

jannikatobin · Answer

I'm using vista and can't find 'Run' on my start menu.

Larry R · Answer

When you press the Start button (or the Windows key on the keyboard) the Run field is in the bottom left corner of the menu window that pops up.  Unlike WinXP, Vista does not have the Run window as a separate window.

jannikatobin · Answer

I got as far as the system folder but the only things in it are files called '(Default)' and 'Wallpaper'

a145 · Answer

hey! i experienced the same problem with the blue background and i went to start/run/ "regedit"

I followed the path HKEY_CURRENT USER/SOFTWARE/MICROSOFT/WINDOWS/CURRENTVERSION/POLICIES/SYSTEM . When i reached the "system" folder, the only files that appeared were Default, NoDispBackgroundPage, and NoDispScrSavPage. There was no file called "C:\Windows\web\desktop.html" to delete. What am i supposed to do from here? Should i delete the file that is NoDispBackgroundPage to get rid of the blue background?

ej1948 · Answer

Here's the info I finally found online and followed. It worked!!!!! RESOLUTION Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 322756 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows To resolve this problem, follow these steps: 1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK. 2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System 3. In the right-pane, right-click the NoDispAppearancePage value if the value exists, and then click Delete. 4. Repeat step 3 for the following registry values if these values exist in the registry: • NoDispCPL • NoDispBackgroundPage • NoDispScrSavPage • NoDispSettingsPage Note Locate any registry value that says 'Wallpaper' if it exists. In the right pane, right-click the registry value, click Delete, and then click OK. 5. Locate and then click the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE_\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System 6. In the right-pane, right-click the NoDispAppearancePage value if the value exists, and then click Delete. 7. Repeat step 6 for the following registry values if these values exist in the registry: • NoDispCPL • NoDispBackgroundPage • NoDispScrSavPage • NoDispSettingsPage Note Locate any registry value that says 'Wallpaper' if it exists. In the right pane, right-click the registry value, click Delete, and then click OK. 8. For the changes to take effect, you may have to restart the computer after you delete these registry values. Back to the top MORE INFORMATION The following list describes the previous registry values. The list also describes how the settings of these values affect the options that are located in the Display Properties dialog box: Display Name: Disable Display Control Panel Description: Prevents the Display icon in Control Panel from working Value Name: NoDispCPL Type: DWORD Setting: 1 = Enabled and 0 (zero) = Disabled Display Name: Hide Background page Description: Prevents the displaying of the Background tab Value Name: NoDispBackgroundPage Type: DWORD Setting: 1 = Enabled and 0 (zero) = Disabled Display Name: Hide Screen Saver page Description: Prevents the displaying of the Screen Saver tab Value Name: NoDispScrSavPage Type: DWORD Setting: 1 = Enabled and 0 (zero) = Disabled Display Name: Hide Appearance page Description: Prevents the displaying of the Appearance tab Value Name: NoDispAppearancePage Type: DWORD Setting: 1 = Enabled and 0 (zero) = Disabled Display Name: Hide Settings page Description: Prevents the displaying of the Settings tab Value Name: NoDispSettingsPage Type: DWORD Setting: 1 = Enabled and 0 (zero) = Disabled Windows XP 1. Click Start, click Run, type %SystemRoot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe, and then click OK. 2. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Create a restore point, and then click Next . 3. On the Create a Restore Point page, type a name for the restore point and then click Create 4. After the restore point has been created, click Close. Note If System Restore is turned off, you receive a message that asks whether you want to turn on System Restore now. Click Yes. Then, in the System Properties dialog box, click to clear the Turn off System Restore check box, click OK, and then repeat this step. Manually Restore the Registry Windows XP 1. Click Start, click Run, type %SystemRoot%\System32\Restore\Rstrui.exe, and then click OK. 2. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Restore my computer to an earlier time (if it is not already selected), and then click Next . 3. On the Select a Restore Point page, click the system checkpoint. In the On this list select the restore point area, click an entry that is named 'Guided Help (Registry Backup),' and then click Next. If a System Restore message appears that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make, click OK. 4. On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System Restore restores the previous Windows XP configuration and then restarts the computer. 5. Log on to the computer. When the System Restore confirmation page appears, click OK.. Back to the top 1. Run 'Regedit'. 2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\policies 3. If you see a folder (key) 'ActiveDesktop' select it. If not, make a new key and label it 'ActiveDesktop'. 4. If you see 'NoChangingWallPaper', double-click the DWORD value and set it to '0'. Otherwise, you need to create a new DWORD value of 'NoChangingWallPaper' and set it to '0'. 5. Try changing your wallpaper. If this fix doesn't solve the problem, you may also need to make the above registry changes at location: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies .

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HELP! Cannot change desktop background, only color !

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