Cannot change desktop background

[zmturner]

I don't know how long it has been going on but for some time now I can get the wallpaper to change. I know how to do it, but it will not change on my account or my wife's. We are both admin's. This annoying as all get out. Please somebody help me.

 

[Brink]

Hello Zmturner, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Are you getting any error messages? Is your Windows 7 showing as activated?

You might also check to see if any of these may the issue as well.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/62048-desktop-background-specify-prevent-change.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/62038-desktop-background-allow-prevent-changing.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/67200-remove-background-images-where-available.html

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

 

[zmturner]

No I am not getting any error messages The wallpaper simply will not change.

 

[Brink]

Have you checked at the other tutorial links to see if one of them may the issue with it being disabled?

Do you have the Windows 7 Starter edition?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/47294-desktop-background-change-windows-7-starter.html

 

[zmturner]

I have windows 7 home premium.
I have tried the 3 suggestions you made plus I have searched this site and Microsoft's website for help but to no avail.

 

[Brink]

Run a sfc /scannow to see if it may be able to find and repair any bad or corrupted system files that may be causing this.


If that does not help, then as a test, try specifying the wallpaper you want to use with the tutorial below to see if it will change it afterwards.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/62048-desktop-background-specify-prevent-change.html

As an alternative test to the specifying one above, create a new administrator account to see if you are able to change the desktop background in it.

 

[zmturner]

I completed the scan and it was ok.
I will try creating a new account to see if that works. If not what next?? Should I do a install repair?

 

[Brink]

Yeah, if it does not work in a new account as well, then a repair install will be next since you do not know how far back this started for a system restore instead.

 

[zmturner]

Well I tried the install repair and that didn't work. My desktop is blank and my wife's still has the wallpaper from before the repair. ????

 

[Brink]

Look like you may need to bite the bullet and do a clean install.

 

[zmturner]

Yeah I can't even
pullup the regedit

 

[zmturner]

Brink,
Why won't "regedit" work? I think if i could get into i might be able to fix the wallpaper issue.

 

[Brink]

If you are unable to backup any files that you want to keep, then you should do a custom install instead of a clean install. A custom install is just like a clean install, but will have a C:\Windows.old folder with a copy of all of your current installation files in it when the new installation is complete.

 

[Brink]

Brink,
Why won't "regedit" work? I think if i could get into i might be able to fix the wallpaper issue.

It's starting to sound like you may have been infected with some sort of malware or virus with not being able to change your background or open regedit.

What does it do when you try to open regedit? Any error messages?

You might see if you can enable regedit using this.

Regedit - Enable or Disable - Vista Forums

 

[zmturner]

I got the regedit fixed and by using this link it fixed my desktop background. Hooray!
http://www.tech-pro.net/how-to-change-desktop-wallpaper.html

 

[Brink]

That's great new Zmturner. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.