Cannot Change the Desktop Wallpaper or its Position

A virus, certain spyware, a malformed registry, or other circumstances can transpire making it impossible for you to change the Windows XP desktop wallpaper. When you try to modify the background picture, neither the list of images nor the "Browse" button is clickable. If this happens, you can perform a registry tweak to restore the functionality. Note you must be an Administrator to perform this tip.

NOTE: Be careful what you are doing when modifying the registry as you can harm your computer or keep it from booting! Read the disclaimer.

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 .

What if I can't change my wallpaper position?

Several people have noted that with this fix they can change their desktop wallpaper, but not its position (stretch, tile, etc.). This situation has been noted with some HP computers and a "Wallpaper Picture Position Enabler" is available for some models. This discussion on Microsoft mentions how to get this possible fix.

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Tom Wilkinson (09/15/2009 22:07:58)

Create new user and logon. u will find default backgrounds are restored in the new user then use windows file and settings transfer wizard in system tools to transfer settings only to memory stick then log into old user and run transfer wiz and replace settings with saved ones and hey presto fix (solid)

saurabh (10/26/2009 13:50:10)

when change my wallpaper other day it goes blue and blank.while payin games or connectin to net pc hangs
plz help me
i have nividia 8400 gforce
2 gb ram
Found ACPI temperature (30.0C)
Found Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU E5200 @ 2.50GH
320 gb hdd
gpu temperature 61c normal while playing games it reaches up to 78c
plz help

Michael Obenita (11/12/2009 03:43:36)

I'd learn a lot of things in comp.

jim (11/12/2009 14:34:56)

this fixed my problem, thanks for taking the time to post this fix. the registry was indeed the issue

KamBrjz (11/18/2009 09:39:20)

Thank you very much!

abcd (12/13/2009 07:35:10)

Thank you so much. it was a big help. thanks again....

Rod (12/29/2009 22:09:34)

thank you .. this is the only site that helped me fix a problem!!

I will remember this site

THANK YOU AGAIN!

Tony (12/31/2009 14:46:50)

Hey thank you it worked!

vikramG (01/06/2010 04:28:35)

Hi,
Am unable to remove the blue background at the desktop icons.

I have tried all the options that i found in internet.

Is there any way to disable the blue background of the desktop icons using registry settings?

Am using Windows XP

Thank you
VirkamG

35 total posts | view profile

Andrew Malek (01/07/2010 17:47:40)

Glad I could help!

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