Unable to change desktop background - can you help?

[SevenOfNine]

When trying to change the desktop background, I select the appropriate folder via the Browse button in Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Personalization\Desktop Background (as depicted in Option 3 in https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/70606-desktop-background-remove-picture-location-history.html ).


But for some reason, Windows never shows the background images in the new folder. It acts like I never changed the folder.


I have even tried simply copying some of the existing background images into that folder, but it does not help. I have also tried logging in as admin.



I was thinking of manually adding a registry string value to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Wallpapers\Images with the new path, but I have not been able to determine the encoding being used for that key.


Does anyone know what's wrong or know the encoding of that registry key?


I have a hunch that it may have something to do with the fact that I completely disabled Internet Explorer and Desktop Gadgets a long time ago. I don't want to undo all that work, nor do I recall every step I took to accomplish that task.

 

[file3456]

Yeah, you should never disable IE as it's a critical component to Windows.

Are the images jpgs?

You could try sfc /scannow in command to see if that'll restore IE components or not. If that doesn't work then a repair install may be in order.

 

[townsbg]

IE is so tightly integrated that it is practically inseparable from explorer (windows).

 

[SevenOfNine]

Are the images jpgs?

Yes.

 

[strollin]

Is Windows activated with a legitimate key? I believe one of the things windows does when not activated beyond the grace period is to not allow the background to be changed.