Wallpaper reverts to that previously set when clicking on a shortcut

Greetings, I am new to this forum. I have searched the forums as much as I can but cannot seem to find any resolution.
I am running Windows XP Professional through the company network. Late last week for some reason the following started happening. I wanted to change my desktop background (having grown tired of the one I had been using). I right clicked the desktop, clicked on properties, and changed the picture, clicked on apply........I hear everyone say "And"

Then I clicked to open a folder on my desk and the background picture reverted to the one I had before . Not only that but the sounds which accompany errors, or other events was activated.

Now, I cannot seem to change my background picture, or keep sounds muted. For the picture will change back to the original picture with sounds on whenever I open any application or folder from a shortcut on my desktop.

I am running AVG and Spyware Doctor. The network people have said that nothing appears to be disable on my computer...Any answers to this rather annoying little problem would be much appreciated.

I apologise if I have posted this in the wrong place..

Thank you very much

 

Hello Cinaeth,

If Pete's fixes don't work:

Two references on the Desktop themes and Background:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm Under B, scroll down to Background theme - there is a registry value to look at.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q307855/ the Ms reference breaks out all the elements of the desktop under custom themes and backgrounds.

Regards - Charles

 

Excuse my obviously XP challenged mind..but if I do a system restore to a point prior...do I lose everything I've entered into any application...such as Access ?

 

Hi Pete,

Just a caveat here, SR does monitor certain file extensions such as .exe which means that any software install after the restore point has to be done again. And any MS update will also have to be done again as well.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/sr/sr/monitored_file_extensions.asp

do I lose everything I've entered into any application...such as Access ?
Here it's probably not an issue though.

Regards - Charles

 

Thank you everyone...sorry I did not get back to you all earlier. The problem was solved with a System File Scanner..

Again thanks very much