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Cannot change desktop wallpaper
You are unable to set your desktop wallpaper to a picture. You can access the Desktop settings in Display Properties, but the Background list is disabled. If you right-click a picture and select Set as Desktop Background, nothing happens.
This problem often occurs after a virus or spyware maliciously changes Windows security settings.
Solution
Method 1
- Click to download the file dwpfix.reg
- Run the file
- Respond Yes to the prompt to merge the file with the registry.
Method 2
This describes how to manually perform the same actions carried out by the file downloaded above.
- Click Start, Run and enter regedit
- Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Policies
- If folder Policies contains a folder named ActiveDesktop, select and delete it.
- Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
- If folder Policies contains a folder named ActiveDesktop, select and delete it.
Applies to
- Microsoft Windows XP
65 comments:
Hello I tried your "Cannot change desktop wallpaper"
The Active Desktop was under polices for HKEY_Current_User but not under HKEY_Local_Machine.
Removed the folder as instructed and rebooted the PC. Once back to the Desktop, opened Display properties and still was not able to change the wallpaper.
Here is more detail on my issue, when the pc is booting and shutting down I see the wallpaper. Once the pc is on the Desktop the wallpaper disappears, and is replaced by the background color. Let me know if you have ever heard of this.
Thanks Third
[ThirdStarr] () - 18 05 2007 - 06:53
Hello againnnJust letting you know that my issue has been resolved. Your instructions helped me because as I dug deeper in the registry I found another item that did not belong there. Under HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystemnI found "Wallpaper" and this was it's value c:Windowswallpaper.html. Once this was removed and the pc rebooted I then was able to see and change my Wallpaper.nnThanks Again nThird
[ThirdStarr] () - 18 05 2007 - 07:49
I very well may be in love with you!!! I have been in computer hell for quite some while. I am back on the road to computer bliss now with your wonderful help! THANKYOU!
Traci Burnam () (URL) - 08 06 2007 - 02:15
thank you so much!!! I'm gonna build you an altar!!
korousek - 16 07 2007 - 03:38
YES! The methods above did indeed help me greatly. I searched and searched for answers and finally whoever wrote the above Methods have got it right! Right On! Thank you very very much.
August Moone () - 03 08 2007 - 04:45
Hi,
Many thanks. Worked fine for me.
john () - 07 08 2007 - 20:42
Hi,
I am experiencing the same problem. But i found no entry/dword related to activedesktop in HKey_local_machin or Hkey_current_user which i could delete. kindly assist
kulwinder () - 17 08 2007 - 11:30
thanx helped alot trying to figure this out for months
Bryan (URL) - 29 08 2007 - 00:25
Thank you so much! this just helped me as well!
Chad () - 11 09 2007 - 22:02
thanks alot the ,reg file worked
shapeshifter - 12 09 2007 - 15:47
Thank you so much for the info. I have been stuck for over 2 years having this dumb blue color be my background. I found this site and it fixed my problem quickly and easy. Once again thank you so much. Now i can have new backgrounds.
Raul () - 13 09 2007 - 10:36
THIS SITE ROX!!! your lil' dwpfix.reg worked flawlessly. So many thanx & i will donate to your bitchin site anytime i need a fix! you're the BEST pc-guru!
neo trinity - 22 09 2007 - 08:36
COOL!! Thanks a million PC Guru!! I'm so glad that i've found your website. U r very helpful! I almost send my pc for repair but i've found ur website & that's exactly what i need! Now my pc is fixed!Thanks again!
Leo () - 25 09 2007 - 09:23
Thanks a lot. All the other websites didn't help at all. Im surpirse!
Hut - 20 10 2007 - 11:03
also, delete any other folder within the 'policies' folder EXCEPT 'Explorer'. i had a bogus folder with corrupt keys that must have been created by a virus. tip - i had to change the security settings of the folder before i could delete it.
Thanks!
izapp - 25 10 2007 - 05:13
Your file did the trick. It may have been a residual from a "Malware" virus or something I got rid of a couple days ago. thanks again.
Jim Flanders - 29 10 2007 - 04:50
thanks...worked perfectly the way you told
anurag () - 07 11 2007 - 21:59
Wow I want your intelligence so I would never have computer issues.Thanks alot!!!!
Johnny Williams () - 12 11 2007 - 16:39
Wow I have been trying for weeks to get this desktop back working and nothing would help, if only I had found your site sooner!!! Thanks a bunch!!!!!!!
Ailin - 24 11 2007 - 19:36
Re: Cannot change desktop wallpaper / download the file dwpfix.reg
Thank you - instant success! I have been looking all day online to rectify this problem caused by now removed SpywareSoftStop I believe [I also lost Task Manager]. I had followed various registry editing instructions, but none had worked until this.
Janice - 28 11 2007 - 02:38
PC guru is great i can finally see my wallpaper!
i deleted both files under method 2 but it didnt help until i deleted HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem
like a poster suggested.
MK () - 30 11 2007 - 23:56
thanks so much for your help! i ended up having to delete all folders under policies except explorer like hut recommended. finally i can change the background!
at - 11 12 2007 - 08:44
the method one worked for me and it only took like 5 seconds to do!
mitch - 13 12 2007 - 09:59
Like others I had activedesktop in policies under HKEY_Current_User but not under HKEY_Local_Machine. Besides deleting that, also deleted "wallpaper" in ...PoliciesSystem, which eventually fixed the problem.
I would never have found these without the help of this site, thanks
doug - 14 12 2007 - 02:04
Woow, that was easy..to say how much annoyance that stupid blue screen caused me! I managed to get rid of the malware software that did it a while ago and wondered why my screen wasnt back to normal..But thanks to this site its back to the way it should be!! Thank Youuuuuu
Katie () - 18 12 2007 - 23:39
wow i cannot thank you enough i saved you to favorites been trying to fix for a week and that did it in 5 seconds thank you!!!!!!!
steven () - 27 12 2007 - 05:58
Many^2 thanks it worked great.
thanks again.
Theo () - 28 12 2007 - 01:21
How do I get rid of desktop icon background,My desktop icons still have the color behind them, i can't change them i tryed evething going to system property, advance and perfomance setting i changed to use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop and did not do a thing, i a open for option.please some one help.
Ted () - 29 12 2007 - 02:45
thank you very much it work
bl00dy_r0ar () - 30 12 2007 - 02:59
Omgd! Thank you SO much! This has been driving me crazy. Problem only started today for some reason and I searched everywhere for answers and finally some 12 hours later, I found you. Problem solved! Bless you! Will recommend you to everyone!
Lynn - 03 01 2008 - 04:33
gets the error Windows Explorer Stop Working/ Internet Explorer start working in Vista
I have the fix only by Reinstalling the Os is their any fix apart from Os installation.
if yes plz let me know
Syed () - 07 01 2008 - 22:58
I went through and tried the methods you have posted, but i am still unable to fix my background situation. please help. thank you
dizzy daze () - 19 01 2008 - 07:50
thank you so much for your help.
=)
lindsay () - 05 02 2008 - 14:45
Help, run doesn't allow me to open regedit... .
Kat - 15 02 2008 - 15:22
oh my gosh, this was such a terrific fix. i had been trying to fix my desktop forever with no success til now. thanks so much!!
vonda - 17 02 2008 - 09:33
my problem is only picture is apearing nothing happen there is no icons everything is gone no regedet,pls help me to solve dis problem i dont want to lose my music and important files.thanks
gemini77 () - 04 03 2008 - 00:39
Hey I have a crazy and very annoying issue with my desktop background. It is set to a file folder, so i no matter what i change my desktop back ground to it is still just the inside of a file folder. I right click the desktop to find the exact location of the file and still i can't do anything to change it. Deleting the file doesn't work, system restore doesn't work, ran all sorts of antivirus and anti spy ware. Is this just a setting that i am missing?
dave () - 10 03 2008 - 22:22
Well... I ve d same challenge about not being able to change my desktop background, but i can't make use of the solution you ve provided here cos i m on Vista. Is there any thing you can recomend for me?
Thanks
Segun Ayeni () - 17 03 2008 - 00:04
i haven't try the solution yet, but hope it'll work.
mehere - 20 03 2008 - 23:26
thanks for the solution! it really worked!
joel elevenzon () - 22 03 2008 - 08:20
this site is the bomb.
it really worked
thanks so much
kim () - 28 03 2008 - 00:33
Thank you SO much for this!
It worked perfectly!
I've been looking for this for a very long time. Thank you again!!
Reagan - 08 04 2008 - 23:23
WOW!!! Thank you so much!! So Simple..Best help I could ever ask!!!!
Cassandra () - 12 04 2008 - 03:37
thanx this fix i have been looking for for about 8 howers now and that reg key did the job thanx a pure life saver
paul () - 12 04 2008 - 17:29
not working. please help :(
r1ky () - 28 04 2008 - 19:16
Thanks for the tips! It helped me like miracle.
Dev () - 29 04 2008 - 07:45
thank you this worked grat! I'v wated to long to et this fetur back. thanks agen.
Andrew - 02 05 2008 - 06:11
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!
NotBummedAnymore () - 04 05 2008 - 02:55
My gosh...I have searched and searched and tried everything under the sun to fix the problem with the "blue screen" and finally someone knows what the heck they are talking about and doing. That was the easiest fix. THANKS A MILLION!!
Kent - 07 05 2008 - 19:24
Hi
cant change my desktop wallpaper. All wallpaper options are greyed-out and wont install, except for the backgroung color option.
So, presently making do with a different method: went to "customize Desktop" -> clicked "Web" -> selected one of the available options -> "OK". But then, thats not the solution to my prob.
Tried your manual solution, didnt help. Downloaded dwpfix.reg as per advice and tried to run it, but its only opening to show a long text. Can you please help?
[Abhi] - 10 05 2008 - 04:40
Thank you! I just got rid of a virus on my computer, and the aftermath was being unable to change my desktop background, but your first solution seemed to do the trick!
Aly - 10 05 2008 - 13:22
thanks for the help under method 1! I can finally change my desktop! :)
Carrie - 15 05 2008 - 09:28
If the two methods above do not work; try this:
- Change the value of the ActiveDesktop, Explorer, System, and Uninstall (if any)
HKEY_CURRENT USER
Software
Microsoft
Windows
CurrentVersion
Policies
ActiveDesktop : (Default) only
Explorer: (Default) and NoDriveTypeAutoRun (145 or 149)
System: (Default) only
Uninstall: (Default) only
DR - 21 05 2008 - 01:38
A great fix. Thanks for the tip.
andrew - 29 05 2008 - 15:57
Thank you so much for everybody's help. Ive been dealing with this for MOOOOOONNNTHS and the program worked
john () - 06 06 2008 - 04:56
Thanks. I've been looking for so long on how to fix it!
Jess - 08 06 2008 - 03:46
SOLUTION:
Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT USER
Software
Microsoft
Windows
CurrentVersion
Policies
System..
There may be two values there saying NodispBackgroundpage
and Nodisplayscreensaverpage..
Right click n choose modify..
If the value is 1 change it to 0.
U've got the tabs back!!!
San - 10 06 2008 - 09:17
The 1st method works!!
Thank you!
Elaine () - 11 06 2008 - 02:58
Thank you so much! After inadvertently clicking on an evidently bad website I found through googling some question, maybe about music, several months ago, I have been intractably plagued with this plain, boring blue desktop background and only fleetingly could view my chosen wallpaper--a personal photograph--upon booting and turning off my computer. Even multiple antivirus and anti-spyware scans detected nothing wrong. At last, after downloading your registry fix, I was able to get my beautiful landscape wallpaper back to enjoy. Blessings on you!
CK - 13 06 2008 - 02:42
Awesome solution. Fixed issue on my desktop. I tried many solutions earlier none worked.
This solution was so easy to follow.
Pramod - 15 06 2008 - 20:09
Very good. EASY!!!!! Thank you so much.
RJ () - 22 06 2008 - 16:04
I would just like to say [ThirdStarr] provided the last bit of info I needed,when I did what he did and rebooted it was fixed,thank you very much for replying and giving us that last bit of info,it was all the difference.
cheriescor3 () - 23 06 2008 - 19:15
Many , many thanks! It works on the first method, but not the second one.
Benjamin Wong - 24 06 2008 - 03:09
Thx GOD!!and THX 2 you A LOT.It pains me to see my computer thrown far in early 90's and now it's back to the present year.Once again THX U!!
Abram - 28 06 2008 - 16:27
this is FANTASTIC! is exactly what i was looking for, if you can't change your desktop background photo because you don't have the tab option this is for you.
tony () - 30 06 2008 - 17:31