No desktop background image!

[trojanman2218]

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.

 

[richc46]

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

 

[Jonathan_King]

Was the option in the Policy Editor by any chance?

 

[WalkerA WinTeam]

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.

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

 

[trojanman2218]

WalkerA, that worked thanks!

 

[richc46]

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

 

[WalkerA WinTeam]

WalkerA, that worked thanks!

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

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

 

[elm]

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!

 

[elm]

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.

 

[WalkerA WinTeam]

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

Cheers,

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

 

[richc46]

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

Cheers,

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

Yes, Elm has reacted in true Forum spirit. Elm has been helped and now wants to to help others. Thanks.

 

[motc7]

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

Cheers,

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

Shouldn't he post that as a tutorial?

 

[WalkerA WinTeam]

Well of course a tute would be awesome, but I don't know if it's fair to expect it... although the community would certainly appreciate one, elm

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

 

[Kerri]

I now have a desktop background!!! thanks

Hi Elm,
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! I have been without a desktop background for months, until I read your post today!! Wow, I don't know what I did, but I have spent hours trying to fix it, but your advice did the trick! Thanks so much for posting your solution to try and help others, you have made at least one person very very happy!
Kerri

 

[WalkerA WinTeam]

Welcome to SevenForums, Kerri - so glad Elm's solution worked for you! Let us know if you need anything else.

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

 

[bbbl67]

Hi folks, I have a slightly different, but related problem. More of an annoyance than a problem really. My problem is that after some random amount of time, my background picture stops changing. The background doesn't go black or not show any pictures at all, it just stops rotating between the pictures. I go into the Personalize settings, and when I go there, I see that only one picture is selected, out of the many that were previously selected. I then just reselect all of those pictures, and it gets fixed, until the next time it happens randomly again. This happens over and over again.

I went into %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\ as suggested in this thread, and I do find that both the files mentioned, TranscodedWallpaper.jpg & slideshow.ini are located in there properly. So I'm not sure why the slideshow stops.

The only pattern I can see is that it seems to happen after I've been away from the computer a bit, and after the screensaver has kicked in. It never happens while I'm in front of the computer.

 

[elm]

Well of course a tute would be awesome, but I don't know if it's fair to expect it... although the community would certainly appreciate one, elm

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

No problem, here it is: Windows 7 Background Image Problem Fix

Hope it makes enough sense; even for inexperienced users.

 

[elm]

[...] The only pattern I can see is that it seems to happen after I've been away from the computer a bit, and after the screensaver has kicked in. It never happens while I'm in front of the computer.

That's interesting. Have you tried deleting both files, and restarting your PC? How often does it happen?

 

[richc46]

Elm, most excellent. I will give you 50 rep points. It is half of what you need for a skilled badge. I wish I could give you the entire 100. If you have questions how to see your rep points or questions about badges or any other Forum procedure, just ask.
If you are lucky, another will come along and give you the remaining points that you need. I looked if up, you need 40 more.

 

[elm]

(...) If you are lucky, another will come along and give you the remaining points that you need. I looked if up, you need 40 more.

Cool. Thanks, you guys!