Hey for a while i havent been able to apply backgrounds or change them. When i go to properties -> desktop the backgrounds i can choose from are all greyed out and if i go to the internet and apply a background my background stays grey. i can only change my background to plain colors. ive went to customize desktop and unchecked the 1 thing thats there and it still doesnt work. When i restart my computer, i see the background i set a while back for like 2 seconds then it goes plain grey. ive run spyware programs and it still doesnt work. any ideas?

If this is a new problem you can try a System restore to a point prior to the problem.

start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

If that doesn't help see if anything here helps:

Try:

start Run... and type:

regsvr32 /i shell32

& hit Enter > then:

regsvr32 themeui

& hit Enter > then:

Reboot the computer.


if that doesn't work:

See -

Options to change wallpaper may be missing or unavailable on a Windows
XP-based computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/921049/en-us


The Desktop tab does not appear in the Display Properties dialog box in
Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922370/en-us


Restore Desktop Display Properties:-
Line 285 Right hand side - restore display tabs.
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm


Note that this behavior is almost always Malware or Virus triggered. Run you Virus scanner and post a HijackThis log in that section of the forum.

http://www.techhelpforum.com/showthread.php?t=3702