I have been trying to set a picture as my background, but it will not work. I have tried every possible way I know how and I found a few related questions and tried those possibilities as well. I can change the color of the background, but I can't set any pictures. Nothing is greyed out. Can someone help.

Log on to the O/S with Admin priviledges. Unzip (Extract) the attached .reg file, then Merge that .reg file into the registry. (Right-click on it and choose MERGE.) Confirm, then restart your machine.

Post back with your results and any further questions.

This worked...all I did was run the file...thanks!

This file worked for me as well. Don't undersatnd what was wrong or what got fixed, but it worked. Thanks.

Thank youuuu!!!!
It works again!!!

You're welcome. It would seem that this problem is resurfacing as of late. Malware/Spyware/Adware related????



As an explanation, this contents of this file either;

1. becomes part of the registry,
2. or updates an already existing part of the registry,

at the machine level. (Where the Operating System is loaded, before any user levels. This is why you must login as an Administrator.)

The regedit version (for which the file applies/was written for) is always the first line in the reg file.

Then the key information (location) and ultimately the command, is stated/written to the registry.

In this instance you are setting the registry to disable the "No Changing Wallpaper" command. (Setting it to "0" (zero or off).



File contents:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policie s\ActiveDesktop]
"NoChangingWallPaper"=dword:00000000

(File ends here, one blank line above.)

Of course there's always the one clod who just doesn't get it and all too often that clod is me. I can't make any changes to my desktop background either. When I try... say setting a new color... it will flash the new color very briefly then revert to the old desktop.

The only thing I managed to do was change the picture from centered to stretched so that it's now full screen and I can't change it back or pick a different one. I've tried every fix I could find so far, including the one above and no luck so far.

Funny thing... the little preview shows my desktop with my new settings but the actual desktop itself doesn't change.

Background
--------------------------------------------------
Cannot Change the Desktop Wallpaper
SUMMARY: If you cannot change your Windows XP desktop wallpaper because all options are disabled, view this tip.

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.


This basically just reiterates Dan Penny's post but there is one additional key to search at the end.

Also verify on the Desktop / right click / unlock

Also verify on the Desktop / right click / properties / desktop / customize / web >>> unclick "lock" as well as remove any web content.



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 .

OK, thanks. I'll give that a try. I'm glad I found this place.

No problem. Let us know how it goes.