TexCook1,

I realize that this is a little late and that you probably have your problem
solved by now, but I thought I would post anyway because I too was quite
frustrated.

I had the exact same problem where my background was essentially hijacked,
and I could not change the picture. To get rid of another piece of spyware
that crept on to my computer I used a program called "Super Ad Blocker", I
know, kind of a suspicious name, but the program seemed to work fairly well.
It got rid of the spyware alright, but it still left my desktop hijacked,
which is when I started reading these posts.

To finally retrieve control of my desktop, I ran a program that I already
had installed. The program is called "Ad-Aware SE" and can be downloaded for
free from www.lavasoft.com. This is actually a really good program too, but I
guess they haven't added the bug that I needed Super Ad Blocker to get rid
of, 'cause it wouldn't get rid of that. And, I needed to run them in this
order, and now finally it would seam that my computer is mine again.

Hope this helps.

AlwaysFroosh

"TexCook1" wrote:

> Wesley,
> I have verymuch the same problem as George. I have gotten it down to the
> point I want to change my back ground on my desktop STILL I can not access
> any of the wallpapers listed. I have tried setting other pictures as
> wallpaper. It seems to work but doesnot. When I reboot however I can see the
> picture I set as wallpaper. It seems they are "behind" the desktop.
> I give up. I have tried everyone of the "fixes" listed.
> Is there a way to remove the desktop and reinstall it?
> Thanx
> --
> TexCook1
>
>
> "Wesley Vogel" wrote:
>
> > George,
> >
> > The tweak from Kelly's should've fixed the problem.
> >
> > Are you the only user on your machine?
> >
> > On the Desktop tab of Display Properties is anything grayed out? Are the
> > Browse button or the Customize button grayed out?
> >
> > Do you have XP Pro?
> >
> > If yes, Open Group Policy...
> > Start | Run | Type: gpedit.msc | Click OK |
> >
> > Navigate to this in the left hand pane...
> > [+] User Configuration\[+] Administrative Templates\[+] Control Panel \
> > [+] Display
> >
> > In the right hand pane...
> > Double click: Prevent changing wallpaper and set to: Not Configured.
> >
> > Prevent changing wallpaper
> > If you enable this setting, the Desktop tab still appears, but all options
> > on the tab are disabled.
> > -----
> >
> > If you have XP Home, Group Policy is not available.
> >
> > Try this instead.
> >
> > Open the Registry Editor...
> > Start | Run | Type: regedit | Click OK |
> >
> > In the left hand pane navigate to...
> > HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\
> > Policies\ActiveDesktop
> >
> > Is there an item under the Name column in the right hand pane called
> > NoChangingWallPaper?
> >
> > If there is post back with what the Value is, either 0 or 1.
> >
> > NoChangingWallPaper Value of 1
> > Disables all options on the Background tab of Display in Control Panel. As
> > a result, users cannot add or change the background design of the desktop.
> > The Background tab still appears, but all options on the tab are disabled.
> >
> > NoChangingWallPaper Value of 0
> > Enables all options on the Background tab of Display in Control Panel.
> >
> > --
> > Hope this helps. Let us know.
> >
> > Wes
> > MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
> >
> > In news:E19DBCAA-AAEA-41B4-B047-AB08E41EF6C7@microsoft.com,
> > George <George@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> > > Hi Wesley Vogel. Here I am again.
> > > I'm sorry but I can't still choose a background (wallpaper), it is
> > > disabled. I'd like to have my own pictures as backgrounds you know. I did
> > > what you said, but nothing happened.
> > > Well, I hope you can still help me. I really thank you for all the
> > > valuable help I'm getting from you.
> > > --
> > > George Gonzalez
> > >
> > >
> > > "George" wrote:
> > >
> > >> Thank you very much Wesley Vogel. It worked. You are such an expert.
> > >> But there's just a little problem left. When I right click to see the
> > >> properties the Desktop tab you know, has all the wallpapers that you
> > >> want to be displayed on the desktop. The problem is that no wallpaper
> > >> can be selected from the list. I already changed the theme, that's what
> > >> I wanted, but when I did it, everything changed (even the screensaver)
> > >> but the wallpaper. It seems it is locked or unavailable. I can see the
> > >> list but no selection can be made. Could you help me out with this
> > >> please?
> > >> Thank you very much and have a great day.
> > >> --
> > >> George Gonzalez
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> "Wesley Vogel" wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
> > >>>
> > >>> Read the instructions at the top
> > >>> 285. Right hand side
> > >>> Restore All Display Tabs
> > >>>
> > >>> --
> > >>> Hope this helps. Let us know.
> > >>>
> > >>> Wes
> > >>> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
> > >>>
> > >>> In news:3EFF012D-B492-486F-A557-A514F2A1B400@microsoft.com,
> > >>> George <George@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> > >>>> Hi there.
> > >>>> I have a problem with the display properties on my computer. Something
> > >>>> wrong happened with my desktop, so many icons were installed without my
> > >>>> consent and a friend of mine recommended me to install an AntiSpyware.
> > >>>> I did it that way and the icons were gone and the system was cleaned
> > >>>> from too many viruses, I guess so. But there's a problem left. When I
> > >>>> right click on my desktop to see the display properties, just two tabs
> > >>>> are on that window: the screen saver and the settings tabs are there.
> > >>>> The others have gone: wall paper and themes if I can remember. What
> > >>>> can I do to have the display properties the way it was originally? I'd
> > >>>> like to change the themes and the wallpapers on my desktop, and now it
> > >>>> is impossible to do. Everything happened since that day my computer
> > >>>> was infected. Somebody help mw please.
> > >>>> I will appreciate your help.
> > >>>> --
> > >>>> George Gonzalez
> >
> >