Windows 7 - No desktop background image!

I recently bought a new computer with windows 7. It had the default background or whatever. I wanted to change it so i clicked on a picture and changed the background to it. I then didn't know how to switch it back to what it originally was, so I started searching. I swear I found an option that said something along the lines of 'disable desktop background' so I clicked that and the background went black. I then found the place where you're supposed to edit your desktop background and I clicked an image I wanted and saved it and everything but the background was still black. No matter what I do I can't get the background to be anything but black. Any ideas? Or does anyone know anything about a thing you can click to disable background images, cuz i'm pretty sure that's what the problem is though I can't find that option anywhere now.

Dont know what you did, but can you right click on desktop, personalize and then pick a new background. If not what happens?

Was the option in the Policy Editor by any chance?

Hi trojanman2218 and welcome!

Sounds like you mucked about in Ease of Access settings! In the Start menu search field, start typing "turn off" and the first few results should contain "Turn off background images." Click that. [Alternatively, go to Control Panel > Ease of Access > Ease of Access Center > Make the computer easier to see] Scroll down and uncheck "Remove background images (where available)". That should do the trick - let us know if it doesn't.

Cheers,

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

WalkerA, that worked thanks!

You were helped by one of our best. Have a Happy New Year.

Glad I could help C'mon back now, ya hear? Happy New Year...

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

Hey there you wonderful helpers,

Since today I've got the same problem (black screen, no jpgs appearing as background images anymore), but the above described box is not checked to begin with, and my Win 7 doesn't seem to allow any background other than a single color. It started with me right-clicking on the desktop to "show next background image" a little too fast, presumably.

Now Windows seems to be stuck with the problem, and even recovering the last system settings won't help. (Sorry if I'm not using the proper terms here, my Win 7 version ain't in English.)

Help!

Never mind, with a little more diggin' I found the solution for my problem, which also appears to be quite a common problem with Windows 7!

Detailed instructions

Open the following window/folder:

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\

Then delete the file TranscodedWallpaper.jpg, or replace it with a background image of your choice with the same name, and try changing the wallpaper/slideshow/theme again! It did solve my problem.


If this didn't work, you might have to delete the (hidden) file slideshow.ini as well, though then you'll have to restart your PC. After the restart you're likely free to set a new wallpaper/slideshow/theme.

Good luck!

Big thanks to everyone who posted in the following thread for this solution: Windows 7 Desktop Background Picture won't change. Was working fine, changing everyday, then one day, stopped changing and now stuck on the same picture for 2 weeks.

Wow, thanks for posting your solution, elm! This will be helpful for future users who have the same problem.

Cheers,

Walker
Windows Outreach Team