Vista Tutorial - Desktop Background Wallpaper

**Brink**

How to Change the Desktop Background Wallpaper in Vista

Information

The desktop background wallpaper is the image on the desktop from your personal collection or one that comes with Vista. You can also select a color for your desktop background or use a color to frame your background picture.

NOTE

The default Wallpaper folder is located at: C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper

Tip

You can download a ton of free wallpapers at: Free wallpapers, wallpaper download at Jurko.net

RELATED LINKS:

Here's How:

1. Right click on a empty area of your desktop and click on Personalize. (See screenshot below)

2. Click on Desktop Background. (See screenshot below)

3. To select a Image that is Displayed for the Wallpaper -
A) Highlight the image. (See screenshot below step 4)
NOTE: If you highlight the image, you can see a preview of it on your desktop.

4. To Select a Image from Another Location for the Wallpaper -
A) Click the drop down arrow under Picture Location.

B) Select a folder that has your image in it.
NOTE: You can edit this Picture Location list from within the registry location below to remove any listed location from the list here:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Wallpapers\Images

OR

C) Click on Browse and navigate to the location of the image.

5. Choose how the picture should be positioned on the desktop.
NOTE: Only Fit to screen, Tile, and Center are available for the Vista Home Basic and Home Premium editions. You will need to install DreamScene in Vista Ultimate before you see the Fit to screen keeping aspect ratio and Fit To Screen with cropping options.

6. Click on OK.

That's it,
Shawn

webangel · 11-07-2007

I have Windows Vista Basic and all of a sudden one day the desktop
background would not let me put any wallpaper on it.

It would only let me choose solid colors....I've searched high and low on
the internet on how to fix this problem but keep running into dead ends.
I went on the internet and tried a different picture but when I click on it to set it as my background it stays a solid color. Any ideas on how to fix this?

webangel

**Brink** · 11-07-2007

Hi WebAngel,

Welcome to the forum.

This should get rid of your problem.

How to Fix Only Solid Colors Available for Desktop Background :
1. Open Control Panel (Classic View).
2. Click on the Ease of Access Center icon.
3. Click on Make the computer easier to see. (See screenshot below)

Name: Ease_Center.jpg
Views: 8909
Size: 3.5 KB

Name: Ease_Center.jpg
Views: 8909
Size: 3.5 KB

4. Uncheck Remove background images (where available) . (See screenshot below)
5. Click Save.

That's it,
Shawn

webangel · 11-07-2007

Shawn,
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I was gonna try what you said to do but my screen doesn't look like the one that you showed above. Thanks for helping though. I appreciate it.
Cheryl

**Brink** · 11-07-2007

WebAngel,

Which part is different?

Did you click on Classic View in the upper left corner of the Control Panel?

You may need to scroll down a bit to see the options shown.

Shawn

webangel · 11-07-2007

Shawn,

Still doesn't want to work. I don't know. Thanks anyway for your help.
Cheryl

**Brink** · 11-07-2007

Cheryl,

Do not give up yet.

This is more drastic, but it should do the trick for you. Try doing a Repair Install. This tutorial will show you how.

How To Perform a Repair Installation For Vista

Shawn

**lcangel64** · 11-17-2007

Dear Webangel and all others who suffer with this desktop background issue:
I too suffered with this frustrating problem. Being the stubborn individual I am, I searched high and low for a solution. While I cannot take credit for figuring out the problem, I can send you to a link that FIXES THIS PROBLEM! It worked for me. Go to this page:
Solution for computer that can't change desktop wallpaper / background | Castellini on Computers Radio Show with Rick and Adam

You won't be sorry!

**Brink** · 11-17-2007

Hi lcangel64,

Welcome to the forum.

Nice tip. Thank you for providing it.

Shawn

w@t · 08-01-2008

good and bad
My desktop went to solid "in a flash" followed by spyware warning. Following the registry steps in the site provided bi Iangel64 I found there was no "Wallpaper"

the message i get when i try to modify the desktop background is "This feature has been disables pleasce contact your system administrator for details." Of course, I am the sys admin.

Any other hints before i go through teh repair cycle?

11-07-2007
webangel Newbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Windows Vista Basic 3 posts	Re: Desktop Background Wallpaper I have Windows Vista Basic and all of a sudden one day the desktop background would not let me put any wallpaper on it. It would only let me choose solid colors....I've searched high and low on the internet on how to fix this problem but keep running into dead ends. I went on the internet and tried a different picture but when I click on it to set it as my background it stays a solid color. Any ideas on how to fix this? webangel
My System Specs

11-07-2007
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64 25,806 posts	Re: Desktop Background Wallpaper Hi WebAngel, Welcome to the forum. This should get rid of your problem. How to Fix Only Solid Colors Available for Desktop Background : 1. Open Control Panel (Classic View). 2. Click on the Ease of Access Center icon. 3. Click on Make the computer easier to see. (See screenshot below) 4. Uncheck Remove background images (where available) . (See screenshot below) 5. Click Save. That's it, Shawn
My System Specs

11-07-2007
webangel Newbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Windows Vista Basic 3 posts	Re: Desktop Background Wallpaper Shawn, Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I was gonna try what you said to do but my screen doesn't look like the one that you showed above. Thanks for helping though. I appreciate it. Cheryl
My System Specs

11-07-2007
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64 25,806 posts	Re: Desktop Background Wallpaper WebAngel, Which part is different? Did you click on Classic View in the upper left corner of the Control Panel? You may need to scroll down a bit to see the options shown. Shawn
My System Specs

11-07-2007
webangel Newbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Windows Vista Basic 3 posts	Re: Desktop Background Wallpaper Shawn, Still doesn't want to work. I don't know. Thanks anyway for your help. Cheryl
My System Specs

11-07-2007
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64 25,806 posts	Re: Desktop Background Wallpaper Cheryl, Do not give up yet. This is more drastic, but it should do the trick for you. Try doing a Repair Install. This tutorial will show you how. How To Perform a Repair Installation For Vista Shawn
My System Specs

11-17-2007
lcangel64 Newbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Vista Basic 1 posts	Re: Desktop Background Wallpaper Dear Webangel and all others who suffer with this desktop background issue: I too suffered with this frustrating problem. Being the stubborn individual I am, I searched high and low for a solution. While I cannot take credit for figuring out the problem, I can send you to a link that FIXES THIS PROBLEM! It worked for me. Go to this page: Solution for computer that can't change desktop wallpaper / background \| Castellini on Computers Radio Show with Rick and Adam You won't be sorry!
My System Specs

08-01-2008
w@t Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 vista x64 2 posts	Re: Desktop Background Wallpaper good and bad My desktop went to solid "in a flash" followed by spyware warning. Following the registry steps in the site provided bi Iangel64 I found there was no "Wallpaper" the message i get when i try to modify the desktop background is "This feature has been disables pleasce contact your system administrator for details." Of course, I am the sys admin. Any other hints before i go through teh repair cycle?
My System Specs

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