set wallpaper incorrectly -- how to close a file in dock?

Excuse the noob question -- I don't even know where to ask this. We haven't owned a PC in ten years, and now we've got to relearn PC because my son's college's tech department doesn't guarantee mac support.

We've been poking around trying to figure things out, decided to change the wallpaper so we dragged a photo onto the desktop and figured out to set it as wallpaper. Now we can't get rid of the icon from the desktop. If we try to drag it to the recycle bin, it says

"the action can't be completed because the file is open in Dell Dock. Close the file and try again."

What =should= we have done to get a photo into wherever it could be used as the wallpaper? And how do we get this photo icon off the desktop?

Thanks so much!

Val

Torongo, thanks! I actually ended up calling Dell...there was quite the little roundabout they took me on, and I wish I'd managed to write it all down. I'll remember about getting a screenshot next time, thanks so much -- that's such a smart idea.

Torongo said:

Right click on the desktop, and go to Personalize. Hit desktop background, and you can browse for the file you wish as your background.

If you want to get rid of the picture thats on the desktop, you should just be able to drag it back into its folder. Or, if its a shortcut, you;ll be able to delete it unless its being used somewhere else as well.

The error your getting means the picture is open in Dell Dock, which judging from the site, it looks quite similar to ObjectDock. If you have a shortcut to the picture in your dock, you'll need to delete it I believe.

If you could post a screenshot of your dekstop, and your dell dock if my post doesn't help me, it'll be easier to localize your problem.

~Joshua~

Hi, Arc! Thanks!

Yeah, I'm sure he'll get used to it...he's young! I, on the other hand, am not. But I am what passes for the resident computer geek at our house, so I'll probably have to struggle along with him until he leaves for school.

Arc said:

Hi Valereee !! Using mac .... and back to PC a lot of years ? It is a bit different to operate a PC. If you want to set a picture as wallpaper, Just right click on the picture, you will get a context menu. Either second or third option is "set as desktop background " there, click on it. Wallpaper is changed.

Want to delete a file? Right click on the file again, and click delete (at the bottom ) in context menu .

But if a picture situated at desktop is used as wallpaper, and you have deleted it, you will get no wallpaper at the next logon. So dont delete the file which is in use.

About a file opened in dock ... look at the minimised windows at the dock, and try to close it. But if not found anything there, close dock using task manager ( will get the option by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del simultaneously ) , stop the dock from processes tab, delete the file, and restart the dock from applications tab, new task button .

Hope in a few days you will be accustomed with a pc