Suddenly I can't create or change my desktop background using Control Panel|Display

Hi Scott,

First, where exactly do you put/have these images; are they in that folder I referenced early on - \WINDOWS\Web\Wallpaper?

And try something different:

Put an image into My Pictures folder under the My Documents folder. Then go into the wallpaper panel setting and click browse and go to that image and see how that works. I would recommend using an image completely new - off the web or some place not currently on your system, this is to rule out currupted images on your machine.

Regards - Charles

 

Hey there Charles, good to hear from you

Hello Charles,

The original wallpaper selections that are part of Win XP Home Edition as delivered on my Dell 4600 purchased in March 2004 are located in: C:\Windows\........ for example, Red moon desert or Rhododendron or Ripple or River Sumida. When I save a *.jpg file, as a digital camera photo or by downloading from Internet, and then choose to also use this file as Desktop|Wallpaper (using the free image manipulation software, IrfanView) Irfanview automatically reformats the file as *.bmp and places this renamed file in the same XP default folder, i.e., C:\Windows\....This worked faultlessly until 1-2 months ago as did the same technique in Win98 first edition.

Secondarily, I examined C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper\..... and did locate the same wallpaper images that are also in C:\Windows\...... But the same conclusion still applies: none of these images will appear as the selected wallpaper on the desktop. It seems that Win XP has chosen to store these images (note: they are all *.bmp images) in two locations; perhaps the Web\Wallpaper is a backup if the C:\Windows\ images are accidently deleted???

I just finished downloading and installing in My Pictures an Opportunity Rover photo of Endurance Crater; never previously located on my hard drive; I then browsed over to this folder and selected the image as a centered desktop|wallpaper; after apply there is still no wallpaper on my desktop.

It is like an electrical short: the current starts and then can not complete its circuit. Do you remember that I noted from the very beginning that the chosen wallpaper makes a brief 1-2 second monitor appearance during shutdown or restart, but then it is gone; to me this means the image is somewhere in the OS, but is being kidnapped before it can make its appearance.
TTFN,
scott

 

I remember seeing this earlier in the thread. Seeing it again sort of jogged my memory. It would seem to me that if you see the pic when shutting down and starting that the wallpaper is being set but for some reason something else is being placed on top of it. There's one thing I can think of right now that could cause this type of behavior although it's a long shot. I messed with mine here and was able to duplicate what you're describing exactly.

Right click on the desktop>properties>desktop tab and click on the customize desktop button and then on the web tab. If there are any entries that are checked in the box where it says web pages, uncheck them, and then if the line that says lock web items on desktop is checked, uncheck it and click OK and then click apply.

As I said, this is a long shot as you would almost have to do what I did to make it happen and you'd most certainly remember doing it. It's possible though, that some program you installed could do some such thing or maybe a virus of some type. Who knows? We all know Windows sometimes seems to have a mind of it's own. Have a look and see.

 

We Are Back And We Have Wallpaper Again

Zander, you are the reincarnation of Gandalf, the wizard!!

< "Right click on the desktop>properties>desktop tab and click on the customize desktop button and then on the web tab. If there are any entries that are checked in the box where it says web pages, uncheck them, and then if the line that says lock web items on desktop is checked, uncheck it and click OK and then click apply ">

This is the ANSWER; at least my dear grandson, Ryan, is once again a wallpaper image on my desktop! I remember checking the "lock web items on desktop" long ago; I thought this would prevent the 20+ desktop icons from spontaneously moving into some default position. (I have them arranged around the perimeter of the desktop leaving the center clear for Ryan.) Now, I wonder what the purpose of the lock web items on the desktop really is?

To prove that checking this box would remove the wallpaper, I rechecked it again and immediately the wallpaper went away! Unchecking again, the wallpaper returned!

Thank you for your continued concern; I tell you these complex operating systems from MS and slowly grinding me into dust like the mortar and pestel in chemistry class.

 

Hi Scott,

Great! We have some very bright people here.

This was driving almost as crazy as it was you. On the upside, problems can make one learn, I bet you know a whole lot more about XP now - whether you wanted to or not

One puzzle though, did you check the box in the first place? Another one: the repair that you went thru should also have left that box unchecked I would think.

Regards - Charles

 

Hello Charles,
It is always fun to get responses from the BBS gurus! Yes, I did check the box at one time, although I don't remember when. I thought that by checking the box my desktop icons (I counted and there are over 30 of them) would be kept from moving around spontaneously! No, the michaelstevenstech method for Windows XP Repair Install did absolutely NADA with the checked box. It was still checked this morning when I was following Zander's instructions. Uncheck and wallpaper is back; check and it is gone.
Yes instruction and reading gives one information and experience; but can it all be remembered??? At 68 I can still remember genus and species names of parasite vectors from my junior year in college, but I can't remember where I set down my coffee cup 3 minutes ago.
All the best; BBS is the best,
scottdietert

 

That's why we keep feeding Zander, even though he is in the woods, alone and wrong...he has flashes of sheer brilliance, like this one.

The repair install would have left the box checked- a repair will not usually revert settings to default, if they are, indeed, valid settings.

A word about all those icons...do you need them? Most of them probably have a shortcut in your start> all programs. You can delete the shortcut on the desktop w/o deleting the program. You can also create folders and drag your icons into the folders. It's an extra click to get in there, but leaves more room to see a grandson...just a thought.

Johanna

 

Hi Johanna,

Thanks, that answers my question. Been a long time now since I ran a repair procedure.

Regards - Charles

 

Hiding desktop shortcuts in desktop folders

Hello Johanna,

Glad also to hear from you, too; now if Newt, who some think has a "fishy" smell will respond, I think that will almost account for everyone!

Yes, in fact, I've already done what you suggest: in addition to 30+ icons that are visible on the desktop, you should count those hiding in my desktop folders: 1. Dell Dsktp Icons, 2. CTRL Panel Add/Rem Display, 3. My Documents, 4. Maintain Security, 5. Math Science Time Weather, 6.HP Printer, 7.GCS Graphics Pix Scan, 8.Music Word Proc, 9. Internet,10. Start Up

You have to "cut me a little slack; "
I live on the Desktop; all life begins on the Desktop; it is my virtual desk; as my PC desk is too small for much more than the Dell PC and its support.

TTFN,
Scott

 

Just read this for the first time - Great Thread - fantastic reading. And to scottdietert - you got some excellent help but you are an unbelievable "helpee" - my hats off to you.

 

Hello Rockster2U

Thank you Rockster2U,

Your praise is appreciated; as a former teacher and later mid-level manager, I learned that to help someone (a student or employee) the latter must not only listen carefully, but explain with patience what the continuing problem/confusion is; and finally the two parties must exchange accurate feedback until each has a real understanding of the other's point of view.
Most help fails, I feel, because the 2 participants just are not committed to an eventual positive outcome.

Best to you and all the BBS staff and visitors; I'm sure I'll be back again.
scottdietert

 

Wow! I'm glad to hear you've finally solved this! I really wasn't sure if that was the problem or not but it was the only thing I could come up with that would cause what you were describing. I only wish I'd have thought about it a bit more the first time you mentioned the fact that the wallpaper appeared at startup and shutdown. It sort of rang a bell at the time but I guess I must have been too lazy at the time to put on my thinking cap to try to figure out what could cause that type of thing and I just let it blow right by. For this I apologize. I should have thought of it then. It would have saved everybody involved in this thread a bit of time and also you a bit of grief. It's a good thing you mentioned it a second time as I had long forgotten about it. Just goes to show that when something rings the bell in your head you should take time to stop and think.

It does just what it says. With windows you can add web items to your desktop. A couple of examples of a web item would be a webpage or a picture in .jpg format. They can be located either on your hard drive or somewhere on the web. If it's something located on the web that changes in real time it will always change when they change on the webpage they are located on. An example might be a stock market ticker. If you find one on the internet you can add it to your desktop and it'll appear there and if it's one that shows market prices in real time you'll always see it on your desktop displaying stock prices in real time just as you would if you viewed it on the webpage it's located on (as long as you're connected to the internet). When you add web items to your desktop you can drag them to wherever you want them to be. If you move them to where you want them and then check the lock web items on desktop line they become locked on the desktop and you can no longer move them (sort of like the lock toolbars thing in IE). If you're the curious type you can see what I mean by creating a blank text file and rename it so that it has an .htm extension instead of .txt. Then go into the web tab in the display properties applet and click on the "new" button and then browse to the file. When you select it, it'll appear on your desktop as an empty white box. Then, if you click on the box, a title bar (for lack of a better term) will appear at the top. You can click on the title bar and move it where you want, or close it or whatever. Move the box where you want it and then check the lock web items on desktop line again (in your case you should uncheck the other web items you have first or you may end up with a green screen again). Now when you click on the box, the title bar won't appear. You won't be able to move the box or close it. This is what I think is happening with your green screen. My guess is it's just a solid green .jpg file that is the same size or is being stretched to the same size as your screen resolution so that when it's selected and locked on the desktop it becomes unmovable and covers up everything except the icons. They'll always appear on top of web items unless you have them hidden. Without looking at things on you puter it's the best explantion I can come up with. If you want you can even add this BBS to your desktop. Simply click the new button and type in the address and it'll appear on your desktop but it will just be in a box. You won't see any parts of IE when it's part of your desktop. You can move it where you want or drag it to any size you want. If you drag it to full screen size you'll see the windows bbs with all of your desktop icons on top of it. The only thing to be aware of is that if you add something to your desktop from the internet and you're on dial-up it may want to dial-up the internet when you first start windows in order to sychronize the webpage on your desktop.

Johanna

Not quite always!

 

I don't know if this will help or not. I use IrfanView for my wallpaper. You select any JPEG, GIF or BMP then go to Options>Set as Wallpaper and you can choose stretched, centered or tiled.

 

Hello Shadowhawk,

As a devoted bird watcher, I really like that nom de'plume! I'm a long-time user of IrfanView; it handles all my images created by camera and downloaded from the Internet. Unfortunately, if you unwittingly check the "lock desktop items" box, as Zander so brilliantly discovered, it seems wallpaper (IrfanView created, as well) is extinguished.
Don't you think this would be BOLDLY visible SOMEWHERE in Gates's and company's faqs or published notes???

Take care,
scott

 

Zander: " It does just what it says. "

Another great explantion, Zander!

I'm going to nominate you to write the definitive guide to Win XP: "What Bill, etal. never told you about XP. "
It is too bad, however, that once you "lock desktop items" to display the selected internet address, this action deletes any wallpaper and shifts the desktop icons to the left by default. But I remember what Thomas Wolfe said: "You can't go home again. "
I'm hooked on wallpaper, but have saved some internet links that I now can access them if I wish. Offering any classes in Richland, WA (longitude: 119.3° W and 46.3° N) ?

Thank you again for your assistance,
scott

 

Actually, you don't have to select lock web items on desktop to make them display there. Just add the item, click ok and then apply. All the lock thing does is make it so you can't move, resize or close them. If the lock isn't set on, when you put your cursor on a web item that's on the desktop the title bar I spoke of will show up on top of it. If you look at the upper right hand corner you'll see a box, a box with a rectangle in it and an X. Clicking the box will make the item go full screen and your icons won't move be shifted to the left but your wallpaper will be covered up entirely. Clicking the box with the rectangle will make it shift the icons to the left and then the web item will be sized to take up the remainder of the screen. The left hand side will then have your icons on it and the wallpaper will be visible although you won't be able to see it all as part of it will be behind the web item.The X is obvious, it closes the window. You can also resize them just as you would any other window. Put your cursor on the edge of the item and it will change to the double arrow cursor and you can then drag it to the size you want it.

MS has a few web items available for download though I don't know if they would be of any use to you or not. You could try adding one of them to your desktop just to play with it a bit. You can add them by clicking the new button on the web tab and then click the "visit gallery" button.

Oh, and you're most welcome for the help.

 

Some questions

Hello Zander,
<Ouote: "If the lock isn't set on, when you put your cursor on a web item that's on the desktop the title bar I spoke of will show up on top of it. If you look at the upper right hand corner you'll see a box, a box with a rectangle in it and an X. Clicking the box will make the item go full screen and your icons won't move be shifted to the left but your wallpaper will be covered up entirely. ">

Question: Where are we at this moment? I'm assuming we are at this location: Rt click on empty Desktop|Properties|Display Properties|Customize Desktop| Desktop Items|Web Tab.

Are we together at this point? The Web Tab window has rectangular data entry space with a small empty checkmark-like square followed by a new internet web site I have selected and entered that is entitled "Mars Exploration Rover Mission: Home "
It appears as [] Mar Exploration Rover Mission: Home

More to follow if we are together at the same point:

Scott

 

So far we're on the same page. What's next?

 

Hello Zander: Here is the "more to follow "

<Quote: If you look at the upper right hand corner you'll see a box, a box with a rectangle in it and an X. Clicking the box will make the item go full screen and your icons won't move be shifted to the left but your wallpaper will be covered up entirely>
I'm now on the Web Tab window with the Mars Rover web site, but there is no evidence of the box in the upper right hand corner, no rectangle and no X, which has left me wondering if you and I are on the same PC window?

Please understand this is not the concern that the missing wallpaper presented ; but my curiosity has led to more questions.

Sincerely,
scott

 

When you add the web page does it open on the desktop as a small square window or does it extend from the top of the desktop to the bottom of the desktop. On mine the only one that extends from top to bottom when I first open it is my home page. All others open in a small square window. Either way, when it first opens you won't see the bar with the squares and X (it's hidden) until you hold your cursor on the window. With the small window, I have to hold my cursor somewhere near the top of the window and then it will appear. When the window extends from the top of the desktop to the bottom and it's covering only part of the desktop from side to side you have to put and hold your cursor on the window and at the very top of the screen for the bar to appear. Same thing goes if the window is showing full screen. This won't work if you check the box that says lock desktop items though. If you check that box, it locks the window(s) however they happen to be set at the time. The bar won't appear if you check that line. It works much the same way as your taskbar does when you have it set to auto-hide. Give it a try and see if it works for you.