Appearance & Themes in Control Panel not working

Hello,
I have been trying to change the desktop background on my pc. When I
bring up the control panel, and click on appearance and themes, the page come
up fine. When I click on any task on the page, or any icon for that matter,
nothing happens. This may be part of a bigger problem, as my pc is running
dreadfully slow the last 2 days. I have already run virus scans, adware
scans, and contacted Dell support, but still the problem persists. Any help
would be appreciated.

Try this to change the desktop background...
Right click the Desktop | Properties | Desktop tab

If you're having problems with right clicking, see these...

Right-click is slow or weird behavior caused by context menu handlers
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm

Right-click is extremely slow only when Network is enabled
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/rcdelay.htm


Additional info...

How to Change the Font, Size, and Colors of Desktop Items
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;310543

How to configure Desktop Themes in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307855

HOW TO: Use the Windows Classic Theme in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/294309

HOW TO: Enable or Disable the New Interface Components in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/288186
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:5B562E6B-FCBF-46F8-B6FB-ED6B384A22A1@microsoft.com,
Manny Ortiz <Manny Ortiz@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> Hello,
> I have been trying to change the desktop background on my pc. When
> I bring up the control panel, and click on appearance and themes, the
> page come up fine. When I click on any task on the page, or any icon for
> that matter, nothing happens. This may be part of a bigger problem, as
> my pc is running dreadfully slow the last 2 days. I have already run
> virus scans, adware scans, and contacted Dell support, but still the
> problem persists. Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Wesley (or anyone else reading this)
I have been able to access the display properties window.
BUT, when I click on desktop tab, it hangs. no response. When I exit, I get
a "end program" window for rundll32.exe. I have been seeing this when I shut
down the last few days. But now i see it when the display props crash. I
have sent the error report to microsoft, many times already. How does one go
about fixing a dll? I have already done a run/cmd/chkdsk, on the advice of
Dell.
Thanks


"Manny Ortiz" wrote:

> Hello,
> I have been trying to change the desktop background on my pc. When I
> bring up the control panel, and click on appearance and themes, the page come
> up fine. When I click on any task on the page, or any icon for that matter,
> nothing happens. This may be part of a bigger problem, as my pc is running
> dreadfully slow the last 2 days. I have already run virus scans, adware
> scans, and contacted Dell support, but still the problem persists. Any help
> would be appreciated.

Manny,

If you're seeing rundll32 errors when shutting down this is a good
indication that you may have spyware or other malware.

Update your antivirus software and run a full system scan.

Update whatever anti-spyware applications that you have and run scans with
them also.

Also see this...
What's the suspicious Rundll32.exe process
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/rundll32.htm

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:5E598A51-49E8-4596-952E-CD11DC1EAC62@microsoft.com,
Manny Ortiz <MannyOrtiz@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> Hi Wesley (or anyone else reading this)
> I have been able to access the display properties window.
> BUT, when I click on desktop tab, it hangs. no response. When I exit, I
> get a "end program" window for rundll32.exe. I have been seeing this
> when I shut down the last few days. But now i see it when the display
> props crash. I have sent the error report to microsoft, many times
> already. How does one go about fixing a dll? I have already done a
> run/cmd/chkdsk, on the advice of Dell.
> Thanks
>
>
> "Manny Ortiz" wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>> I have been trying to change the desktop background on my pc.
>> When I bring up the control panel, and click on appearance and themes,
>> the page come up fine. When I click on any task on the page, or any
>> icon for that matter, nothing happens. This may be part of a bigger
>> problem, as my pc is running dreadfully slow the last 2 days. I have
>> already run virus scans, adware scans, and contacted Dell support, but
>> still the problem persists. Any help would be appreciated.

Hello again,
Thanks for responding again. I have run my own (McAfee)
anti-virus program. It updates automatically. I did a scan with AdAware. I
also did a full scan with a Trend Micro house Call (suggested by Dell). No
viruses found. Some spyware was found from Trend Micro, which i deleted
through that app. rundll32.exe still shows up. I tried the link you gave, but
couldn't run the commands advised. Tasklist is not available with XP Home Ed.
The WMIC.... was not recognized. It was supposed to give me a process list.
Also, through Automatic Updates there is a malware removal tool, which
updates monthly. I don't know if I have to manually run that or if its
automatic. On the plus side, I did figure a way to change my desktop image,
through Dell Expert Image App. But that still doesn't solve the dll32.exe
problem. Dell seems to think it's just a faulty dll. Could that be all there
is to it?
Thanks again.

"Wesley Vogel" wrote:

> Manny,
>
> If you're seeing rundll32 errors when shutting down this is a good
> indication that you may have spyware or other malware.
>
> Update your antivirus software and run a full system scan.
>
> Update whatever anti-spyware applications that you have and run scans with
> them also.
>
> Also see this...
> What's the suspicious Rundll32.exe process
> http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/rundll32.htm
>
> --
> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>
> Wes
> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
>
> In news:5E598A51-49E8-4596-952E-CD11DC1EAC62@microsoft.com,
> Manny Ortiz <MannyOrtiz@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> > Hi Wesley (or anyone else reading this)
> > I have been able to access the display properties window.
> > BUT, when I click on desktop tab, it hangs. no response. When I exit, I
> > get a "end program" window for rundll32.exe. I have been seeing this
> > when I shut down the last few days. But now i see it when the display
> > props crash. I have sent the error report to microsoft, many times
> > already. How does one go about fixing a dll? I have already done a
> > run/cmd/chkdsk, on the advice of Dell.
> > Thanks
> >
> >
> > "Manny Ortiz" wrote:
> >
> >> Hello,
> >> I have been trying to change the desktop background on my pc.
> >> When I bring up the control panel, and click on appearance and themes,
> >> the page come up fine. When I click on any task on the page, or any
> >> icon for that matter, nothing happens. This may be part of a bigger
> >> problem, as my pc is running dreadfully slow the last 2 days. I have
> >> already run virus scans, adware scans, and contacted Dell support, but
> >> still the problem persists. Any help would be appreciated.
>
>

Hi Manny,

Try running System File Checker (sfc.exe).

[[If System File Checker discovers that a protected file has been
overwritten, it retrieves the correct version of the file from the cache
folder (%Systemroot%\System32\Dllcache) or the Windows installation source
files, and then replaces the incorrect file. ]]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310747

Load your XP CD in your CD drive.

Start | Run | Typeor paste: sfc /scannow | Click OK

It should take a while to run.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:3882808A-BDB0-4743-9CD1-7CDBF50FC6AF@microsoft.com,
Manny Ortiz <MannyOrtiz@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> Hello again,
> Thanks for responding again. I have run my own (McAfee)
> anti-virus program. It updates automatically. I did a scan with AdAware.
> I also did a full scan with a Trend Micro house Call (suggested by Dell).
> No viruses found. Some spyware was found from Trend Micro, which i deleted
> through that app. rundll32.exe still shows up. I tried the link you gave,
> but couldn't run the commands advised. Tasklist is not available with XP
> Home Ed. The WMIC.... was not recognized. It was supposed to give me a
> process list. Also, through Automatic Updates there is a malware removal
> tool, which updates monthly. I don't know if I have to manually run that
> or if its automatic. On the plus side, I did figure a way to change my
> desktop image, through Dell Expert Image App. But that still doesn't
> solve the dll32.exe problem. Dell seems to think it's just a faulty dll.
> Could that be all there is to it?
> Thanks again.
>
> "Wesley Vogel" wrote:
>
>> Manny,
>>
>> If you're seeing rundll32 errors when shutting down this is a good
>> indication that you may have spyware or other malware.
>>
>> Update your antivirus software and run a full system scan.
>>
>> Update whatever anti-spyware applications that you have and run scans
>> with them also.
>>
>> Also see this...
>> What's the suspicious Rundll32.exe process
>> http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/rundll32.htm
>>
>> --
>> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>>
>> Wes
>> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
>>
>> In news:5E598A51-49E8-4596-952E-CD11DC1EAC62@microsoft.com,
>> Manny Ortiz <MannyOrtiz@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
>>> Hi Wesley (or anyone else reading this)
>>> I have been able to access the display properties
>>> window. BUT, when I click on desktop tab, it hangs. no response. When
>>> I exit, I get a "end program" window for rundll32.exe. I have been
>>> seeing this when I shut down the last few days. But now i see it when
>>> the display props crash. I have sent the error report to microsoft,
>>> many times already. How does one go about fixing a dll? I have already
>>> done a run/cmd/chkdsk, on the advice of Dell.
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>>
>>> "Manny Ortiz" wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hello,
>>>> I have been trying to change the desktop background on my pc.
>>>> When I bring up the control panel, and click on appearance and themes,
>>>> the page come up fine. When I click on any task on the page, or any
>>>> icon for that matter, nothing happens. This may be part of a bigger
>>>> problem, as my pc is running dreadfully slow the last 2 days. I have
>>>> already run virus scans, adware scans, and contacted Dell support, but
>>>> still the problem persists. Any help would be appreciated.

Hello Wes,
I tried to run the sfc before. I read about it in one of
the newsgroups here, but was unable to. It didn't say to install the XP cd,
or to type in sfc /scannow in the run box. I typed it in the run/cmd box. It
said it was not recognized. But I did as you wrote, and it seems to have
done the trick. I can access everything through the control panel again. And
I have not seen the rundll error. I even rebooted to make sure it wasn't
there at shutdown. Thank you so much for your help. I wish now that I came
here first, it would have saved me the $99.00 dell charged for the call. (And
gave me no solutions). Thanks again!

"Wesley Vogel" wrote:

> Hi Manny,
>
> Try running System File Checker (sfc.exe).
>
> [[If System File Checker discovers that a protected file has been
> overwritten, it retrieves the correct version of the file from the cache
> folder (%Systemroot%\System32\Dllcache) or the Windows installation source
> files, and then replaces the incorrect file. ]]
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310747
>
> Load your XP CD in your CD drive.
>
> Start | Run | Typeor paste: sfc /scannow | Click OK
>
> It should take a while to run.
>
> --
> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>
> Wes
> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
>
> In news:3882808A-BDB0-4743-9CD1-7CDBF50FC6AF@microsoft.com,
> Manny Ortiz <MannyOrtiz@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> > Hello again,
> > Thanks for responding again. I have run my own (McAfee)
> > anti-virus program. It updates automatically. I did a scan with AdAware.
> > I also did a full scan with a Trend Micro house Call (suggested by Dell).
> > No viruses found. Some spyware was found from Trend Micro, which i deleted
> > through that app. rundll32.exe still shows up. I tried the link you gave,
> > but couldn't run the commands advised. Tasklist is not available with XP
> > Home Ed. The WMIC.... was not recognized. It was supposed to give me a
> > process list. Also, through Automatic Updates there is a malware removal
> > tool, which updates monthly. I don't know if I have to manually run that
> > or if its automatic. On the plus side, I did figure a way to change my
> > desktop image, through Dell Expert Image App. But that still doesn't
> > solve the dll32.exe problem. Dell seems to think it's just a faulty dll.
> > Could that be all there is to it?
> > Thanks again.
> >
> > "Wesley Vogel" wrote:
> >
> >> Manny,
> >>
> >> If you're seeing rundll32 errors when shutting down this is a good
> >> indication that you may have spyware or other malware.
> >>
> >> Update your antivirus software and run a full system scan.
> >>
> >> Update whatever anti-spyware applications that you have and run scans
> >> with them also.
> >>
> >> Also see this...
> >> What's the suspicious Rundll32.exe process
> >> http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/rundll32.htm
> >>
> >> --
> >> Hope this helps. Let us know.
> >>
> >> Wes
> >> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
> >>
> >> In news:5E598A51-49E8-4596-952E-CD11DC1EAC62@microsoft.com,
> >> Manny Ortiz <MannyOrtiz@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> >>> Hi Wesley (or anyone else reading this)
> >>> I have been able to access the display properties
> >>> window. BUT, when I click on desktop tab, it hangs. no response. When
> >>> I exit, I get a "end program" window for rundll32.exe. I have been
> >>> seeing this when I shut down the last few days. But now i see it when
> >>> the display props crash. I have sent the error report to microsoft,
> >>> many times already. How does one go about fixing a dll? I have already
> >>> done a run/cmd/chkdsk, on the advice of Dell.
> >>> Thanks
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> "Manny Ortiz" wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> Hello,
> >>>> I have been trying to change the desktop background on my pc.
> >>>> When I bring up the control panel, and click on appearance and themes,
> >>>> the page come up fine. When I click on any task on the page, or any
> >>>> icon for that matter, nothing happens. This may be part of a bigger
> >>>> problem, as my pc is running dreadfully slow the last 2 days. I have
> >>>> already run virus scans, adware scans, and contacted Dell support, but
> >>>> still the problem persists. Any help would be appreciated.
>
>

Glad you got it worked out, Manny!

See this about why sfc.exe didn't work in the command prompt. Probably your
Path.

Why don't my commands work?
http://internet.cybermesa.com/~bstew...dprompt.html#6

Keep having fun. :-)

By the way, I do accept cash. LOL

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:F5E46E19-510A-4582-9E07-C16DDA637E2D@microsoft.com,
Manny Ortiz <MannyOrtiz@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> Hello Wes,
> I tried to run the sfc before. I read about it in one of
> the newsgroups here, but was unable to. It didn't say to install the XP
> cd, or to type in sfc /scannow in the run box. I typed it in the run/cmd
> box. It said it was not recognized. But I did as you wrote, and it
> seems to have done the trick. I can access everything through the control
> panel again. And I have not seen the rundll error. I even rebooted to
> make sure it wasn't there at shutdown. Thank you so much for your help. I
> wish now that I came here first, it would have saved me the $99.00 dell
> charged for the call. (And gave me no solutions). Thanks again!
>
> "Wesley Vogel" wrote:
>
>> Hi Manny,
>>
>> Try running System File Checker (sfc.exe).
>>
>> [[If System File Checker discovers that a protected file has been
>> overwritten, it retrieves the correct version of the file from the cache
>> folder (%Systemroot%\System32\Dllcache) or the Windows installation
>> source files, and then replaces the incorrect file. ]]
>> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310747
>>
>> Load your XP CD in your CD drive.
>>
>> Start | Run | Typeor paste: sfc /scannow | Click OK
>>
>> It should take a while to run.
>>
>> --
>> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>>
>> Wes
>> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
>>
>> In news:3882808A-BDB0-4743-9CD1-7CDBF50FC6AF@microsoft.com,
>> Manny Ortiz <MannyOrtiz@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
>>> Hello again,
>>> Thanks for responding again. I have run my own (McAfee)
>>> anti-virus program. It updates automatically. I did a scan with
>>> AdAware. I also did a full scan with a Trend Micro house Call
>>> (suggested by Dell). No viruses found. Some spyware was found from
>>> Trend Micro, which i deleted through that app. rundll32.exe still shows
>>> up. I tried the link you gave, but couldn't run the commands advised.
>>> Tasklist is not available with XP Home Ed. The WMIC.... was not
>>> recognized. It was supposed to give me a process list. Also, through
>>> Automatic Updates there is a malware removal tool, which updates
>>> monthly. I don't know if I have to manually run that or if its
>>> automatic. On the plus side, I did figure a way to change my desktop
>>> image, through Dell Expert Image App. But that still doesn't solve the
>>> dll32.exe problem. Dell seems to think it's just a faulty dll. Could
>>> that be all there is to it? Thanks
>>> again.
>>>
>>> "Wesley Vogel" wrote:
>>>
>>>> Manny,
>>>>
>>>> If you're seeing rundll32 errors when shutting down this is a good
>>>> indication that you may have spyware or other malware.
>>>>
>>>> Update your antivirus software and run a full system scan.
>>>>
>>>> Update whatever anti-spyware applications that you have and run scans
>>>> with them also.
>>>>
>>>> Also see this...
>>>> What's the suspicious Rundll32.exe process
>>>> http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/rundll32.htm
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>>>>
>>>> Wes
>>>> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
>>>>
>>>> In news:5E598A51-49E8-4596-952E-CD11DC1EAC62@microsoft.com,
>>>> Manny Ortiz <MannyOrtiz@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
>>>>> Hi Wesley (or anyone else reading this)
>>>>> I have been able to access the display properties
>>>>> window. BUT, when I click on desktop tab, it hangs. no response. When
>>>>> I exit, I get a "end program" window for rundll32.exe. I have been
>>>>> seeing this when I shut down the last few days. But now i see it when
>>>>> the display props crash. I have sent the error report to microsoft,
>>>>> many times already. How does one go about fixing a dll? I have
>>>>> already done a run/cmd/chkdsk, on the advice of Dell.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "Manny Ortiz" wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>> I have been trying to change the desktop background on my pc.
>>>>>> When I bring up the control panel, and click on appearance and
>>>>>> themes, the page come up fine. When I click on any task on the
>>>>>> page, or any icon for that matter, nothing happens. This may be
>>>>>> part of a bigger problem, as my pc is running dreadfully slow the
>>>>>> last 2 days. I have already run virus scans, adware scans, and
>>>>>> contacted Dell support, but still the problem persists. Any help
>>>>>> would be appreciated.