Unable to change wallpaper - admin access required?

JimmyL · 25 Oct 2009

Hello all,

I performed an in-place upgrade to Windows 7 HP from retail Vista HP. I downloaded Windows 7 from Microsoft. This copy is activated.

All is well, except I am unable to change my wallpaper. I have tried changing the theme as well as trying the various ways of changing wallpaper. For most places, the option to change background wallpaper is simply grayed out. Under Personalize > Appearance, I try to change the wallpaper but I am told that the feature has been disabled by an admin and I need to contact that person. Seeing as I am the sole user of my computer and am an IT professional, I'm at a bit of a loss.

I went in to Windows Anytime Upgrade, and although nothing was out of the ordinary, anytime after that I was able to set my desktop background from a web image. Still, I cannot use photos I have on my machine for the wallpaper.

The only thought is that something went wrong with the permissions during the upgrade, and somehow I am not recognized as an admin. Thoughts, anyone? I am afraid that the solution might end up being a wipe and reinstall, but if I can avoid that, so much the better. Thanks.

Brink · 25 Oct 2009

Hello Jimmy, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You might see if doing the Step Two section in either METHOD ONE or METHOD TWO in the tutorial below can enable you to change the desktop background again.

Desktop Background Wallpaper - Prevent Change - Vista Forums

Hope this helps,
Shawn

LiveDiamond · 26 Oct 2009

Hey, I am having the exact same problem, except I bought my computer brand new and it had Windows 7 already installed. I am logged in as the 'administrator' but there have been a few times (other than the background changing thing) where I have been denied access because I'm not an administrator.

I went to the link provided here by Brink and maybe I'm missing something but Step 2 is "Click on the control panel button". Can you please let me know, if I'm not the administrator, who is, and how to make myself the admin.

Thanks.

Brink · 26 Oct 2009

Hello LiveDiamond, and welome to Seven Forums.

Please try the new link. It had the wrong link before.

LiveDiamond · 26 Oct 2009

Oh and ps, when I right-click on a picture online and then go to Set as Background, it a popup asks me "Are you sure you want to change your desktop wallpaper" I click ''yes'' and the window minimizes and yet nothing changes. This is driving me nuts!!

The gpedit.msc does not exist on my computer. I tried searching it and going through c, windows, system32..the closest thing I could find was gpedit.dll.

Brink · 26 Oct 2009

LiveDiamond,

You can use METHOD TWO to do the same thing in the registry. :)

LiveDiamond · 26 Oct 2009

Hey Brink,

First of all, thanks for your help so far. I tried step 2 in Method 2 and went through all the steps, restarted my computer and am still unable to change the background. When I am on a webpage and right click to 'set as wallpaper' the pop up once again asks me am I sure I want to change the background, I click yes, and a new internet explorer page pops up. Still no change in the background.

I bought this computer on Thursday- should I take it back??

Thanks,
Olivia

Brink · 26 Oct 2009

Olivia,

It seems that there may be more wrong than it seems. You might consider doing a repair install without losing anything to fix this.