Windows 7: My personalization is all messed up suddenly.

I looked around here, but I couldn't find a problem quite like mine.

I've had the same desktop theme forever. I customized it. I tried to get rid of the pic on my desktop for a new one. It wouldn't change. The desktop picture wouldn't go away until I did a reboot. The only themes that will work are the high contrast themes. Since I had a blank desktop with those I tried to add a picture, but I still can't.

When I try to use any other theme besides High contrast it'll change the color of the windows and change the music. The screen saver isn't on and when I pick one and click save, it doesn't save. I can't change the color of the windows and I still can't put a desktop picture on nor does it use the desktop picture that theme comes with.

This is out of the blue. It was working fine not so long ago. What could have happened and how do I fix it?

Thank you

please attach a screenshot of how your desktop looks now.
and you may start with a SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker
once the scan is done, you require to restart. and post back.

Here's the shot.

Ok, thanks. I'll try that tmr scan tmr.

How will the screen cap help? Btw, the desktop has now been set to the Aero windows 7 theme. The window color never changed from the high contrast.

Thank you.

have you created a new user account and see if the same problem happens there

Edit: try this click on the start orb and type the following in search and when the jpg image shows up right click on it and "open file location"

1 - Go to this folder: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\
(copy and paste that into the Start/search or Run box).
2 - Delete the TranscodedWallpaper.jpg file.
3 - Try to set your wallpaper again.


and post back.

THAT fixed everything. I deleted the transcodedwallpapre.jpg and now every theme will work. Thank you VERY much!

glad it worked . if you have any other problems, let us know.

I have the same issue. I tried both of KoolKat's ideas with no help.

I select a theme and the personalization screen shows this (the desktop shows the initial picture of the theme):


After I close personalization and open it again (the theme slide show does not advance), I get a black picture at the bottom of the window at desktop background. Here is the screen shot of that. The desktop does not change to black, only stays at the initial photo of the theme and doesn't advance.

FYI,
Found my fix here ------------> possibly a fix for windows 7 start black wallpaper...

Mathgot's tip worked like a champ !!