Can't set desktop background or view pictures

E

edknc

New Member
I'm trying to correct a problem on my wife's laptop. My daughter borrowed it and when it was returned, the desktop background was black instead of the picture that was previously there. My daughter doesn't know what happened to cause the change in the background.

I cannot set the background to anything other than a solid color. No images show up in the window when you try to personalize the background with the sample pictures. When you "Browse", the sample picture filenames show up but the icons associated with the files all show the default windows icon. When you select any of the files, the background doesn't change.

I saw various posts on the internet that associate desktop background problems with wallpaper policy settings in the registry, but this doesn't seem to be the case here. I think that the software that decodes the image files is not working, because also when I attempt to view the picture files with Windows Photo Gallery I get the message "Photo Gallery can't open this picture or video. This file format is not supported, or you don't have the latest updates to Photo Gallery". The picture file files do open and display properly with Microsoft Office Picture Manager, with Paint, and with Firefox.

Any suggestions, clues, etc...?
 

My Computer

System One

Hi edknc,

Welcome to Vista Forums!

Do you know when this problem began (presumably when it was borrowed)? Try a System Restore to a point in time BEFORE the problem began (before she borrowed it). Here's the procedure: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html. Be sure to check the box to show more than 5 days of restore points. If the first attempt fails, then try an earlier point or two. NOTE: You will have to re-install any software and updates you installed between now and the restore point, but you can use Windows Update for the updates.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. MP061 Inspiron E1705
    CPU
    2.00 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo 64 kilobyte primary memory
    Motherboard
    Board: Dell Inc. 0YD479 Bus Clock: 166 megahertz
    Memory
    2046 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM) [Di
    Sound Card
    SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor (17.2"vis)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HTS541616J9SA00 [Hard drive] (160.04 GB) -- drive 0, s/n SB2411SJGLLRMB, rev SB4OC74P, SMART Status: Healthy
    Case
    Chassis Serial Number: 5YK95C1
    Keyboard
    Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech HID-compliant Cordless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    1958 Kbps download ; 754.8 Kbps upload
    Other Info
    Optiarc DVD+-RW AD-5540A ATA Device [CD-ROM drive]

    Dell AIO Printer A940

    Conexant HDA D110 MDC V.92 Modem

    6TO4 Adapter
    Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller
    Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter
    Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
    Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface

    Router Linksys / WRT54G -01
Apparently something really got hosed up because the restore also wouldn't complete successfully. I had to use one of my wife's previous backups to restore.
 

My Computer

System One

What makes helping difficult is that we cannot see or touch the computer and have to rely on the information given. In this case your description leads us to believe that your daughter hit some key to make the changes that you described, which may be the case. The story gets more interesting with the additional information about the restore.
Thinking a bit outside the box, possibly she went to a site that gave you a virus or malware.
Run you antivirus full scan
Download and run malwarebytes. Make a full scan but be sure to update it first.

In addition this problem seems very similar to yours and possibly may be a fix. I give this warning, however. I personally do not like to tamper with the registry. Unless you are proficient in that area, problems can occur. I have not tried this fix and know of no one that has but I merely present it for you consideration. http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/cannot-change-the-desktop-wallpaper-fix/
That being said, I would only use the second suggestion, involving the control panel, which is specific for Vista, but then again, I have never needed that fix and am unfamiliar with the consequence.

To back up your registry
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/212412-registry-backup-restore.html
 
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My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Intel I5-2500K @3.3GHz
    Motherboard
    Asrock P67 Extreme4
    Memory
    16GB G.Skill Ripjaws X (4x4GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce 750 Ti SC 2GB
    Sound Card
    ASUS Xonar DG 5.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound
    Monitor(s) Displays
    auria eq2367
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD
    1TB WD Blue
    1TB Hitachi
    PSU
    SeaSonic X 650W 80 Plus Gold
    Case
    Corsair Obsidian 750D
    Cooling
    Corsair H60, Three 140mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless Keyboard K520
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Mouse M310
    Internet Speed
    Wave Broadband ~ 100 down 5 Up
    Other Info
    Laptop specs: HP g7-1365dx /
    CPU: AMD A6-3420M APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics /
    RAM: Crucial 8Gb (2x4Gb) /
    SSD: Crucial M4-CT128M4SSD2 ATA Device/ FW 000F /
    GFX: AMD Radeon HD 6520G /
    OS: Windows 10 Pro x64
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