Solution for computer that can’t change desktop wallpaper / background

Rick
2 min read

This solution WILL fix your problem, but don’t run away afterwards and forget about us.

HelpMeRick.com contains hundreds of tips (and video tips) that YOU can use as a reference for yourself and
especially as a reference to send links to your friends/family so you don’t have to write out or explain the steps yourself!

I ran into this problem earlier this week and found the solution. The customer could not change his desktop background to any of the stock photos in Windows or his own photos…something that any Windows user should be able to do. Turns out that the root cause of the problem is spyware. Even after removing the spyware a registry (skeleton of Windows) entry gets left behind disabling the users ability to change the background. Deleting this entry restores the ability for the user to again have a normal functioning desktop.

WARNING: THIS SOLUTION IS ONLY FOR COMPUTERS THAT HAVE THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. AND IT IS INTENDED TO ONLY BE CARRIED OUT BY AN EXPERIENCED TECHNICIAN OR COMPUTER USER WITH REGISTRY EXPERIENCE.

Click Start
Click Run
Type: regedit
Navigate to the following registry entry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System”Wallpaper”=SZ:C:\WINDOWS\desktop.html (yours might be slightly different)
Click one time on the entry
Push Delete on the keyboard
Click Yes
Close the Registry editor

HOW TO MAKE YOUR ICON TEXT TRANSPARENT:

1. Open the Control Panel

2. Click System

3. Click the Advanced tab

4. Click Settings in the Performance section

5. Check the “Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop” check box

6. Click OK until you close the windows

Please consider donating any amount to our cause by clicking the donate link on the right. Thanks.

Tags:browser delete donate labels Microsoft navigate paste photos restore review spyware Windows

386 thoughts on “Solution for computer that can’t change desktop wallpaper / background”

Jader November 8, 2009 at 5:23 pm

Hi Rick, it says I should only do this if I am an experienced computer user which I am not. My computer allows me to set pictures as desktop backgrounds but will not let me do anything beyond (like change it from tile to center etc). Should I attempt to do what you mentioned or is there something else i should do?
1. Rick November 8, 2009 at 10:13 pm
  
  Try the ComboFix and Malware Bytes programs I have linked on my “Links” page .
Don Gino November 29, 2009 at 3:55 pm

Just GREAT! I finnaly fix it! THANKS!!!
I struggled with this issue for more than 6 months.
I used ComboFix Spyware Removal Tool and in 5 minutes…there you go: i have a background picture instead the boring solid color.
Thanks again man!
anon December 15, 2009 at 9:42 am

Hey I have this problem. it happened after I unplugged my computer in a thunderstorm while it was shutting down, I know stupid me, but it’s not only not able to change the background to a picture but also a lot of settings were deleated and the restore does not work.
anon December 15, 2009 at 9:42 am

oh and in reg edit there is no “wallpaper” thing
1. Vivian December 13, 2012 at 7:10 am
  
  I do not have the “Wallpaper”=SZ:C:\WINDOWS\desktop.html” option either! What can we do???
2. 1. Derek February 4, 2013 at 3:24 am
    
    I have the same problem! Did you ever find a fix?
  2. DaveW February 4, 2013 at 7:54 pm
    
    If you don’t have this registry entry, you have a different problem, even though the symptoms are the same, and you will have to find a different solution. Unfortunately for you, there are probably many things that could be causing this particular problem.
April July 9, 2011 at 2:37 am

Unfortunately, this did not work for me. Once I get to the System folder, I only have:

defult
disableregistrytools

Also, tried to install ComboFix but because I have AVG, it won’t install. I’ve been dealing with this issue for MONTHS and have tried so many different things. I’m not open to uninstalling AVG just to install ComboFix, just because I doubt it would work anyway.

If there is anything else someone can recommend at this point, I’d love to hear it. I’m desperate. PLEASE HELP!

FYI: I’m using Windows 7 with a Dell Inspiron. I can change the background to solid colors only, but no other images. Thanks!
Sara April 27, 2012 at 6:59 am

Thanks very much & I managed it, very help full support keep it up
alyssa November 9, 2012 at 2:57 pm

i have the same problems that others have messaged about but i went through all the steps and when i get to policies there is nothin i even tryed puttin in a new key named active desktop n it did nothing i dont kno what else to do
Unknown November 12, 2012 at 6:06 am

theres no “Wallpaper”=SZ:C:\WINDOWS\desktop.html.. Only a Default?
Nicole November 15, 2012 at 2:04 am

THANK YOU SO MUCH! Problem solved!! 🙂
Peter December 3, 2012 at 4:57 am

Worked like a charm thanks
Savuth January 16, 2013 at 2:14 am

Please do me a favor. My computer used Windows 7. I got a problem. Actually I really can change the desktop background already, but when I restart my computer I still see the black background the same as before I didn’t change the background yet.And again I still try to change it again and it is possible to change, but after I switch off or restart computer the black background still appear again and again regularly. Please give me some solutions to this problem. Thank in advance for your kind help.

Regards,
Andrei February 21, 2013 at 4:14 am

hi.. you can easily change the wallpaper automatically using Bionix Wallpaper Changer, the computer doesn’t matter. it works on all computers, even on the very old ones. http://www.bionixwallpaper.com/articles/change%20the%20background%20wallpaper.html
Cruz March 3, 2013 at 11:06 pm

Where did you actually end up getting the points to post ““Solution for computer that can?t change desktop wallpaper / background | HelpMeRick.
com – Computer help for beginners – Castellini on Computers” universityofbridgeport ?
Thank you ,Lin
shubham March 29, 2013 at 11:43 pm

for solution of wallpaper change plz go to this blog 100 % working gurantee
http://shubham715.blogspot.in/
mohit mishra April 4, 2013 at 4:45 am

iam not set the dekstop backgoround so help me sir…
Ryan April 13, 2013 at 8:40 am

Will this work for windows 7? Just wondering if it is an all-in-one type of fix. Thanks.
Jay June 30, 2013 at 9:50 am

I have this similar problem. I can put a pic up but within mins or hrs the pic disappears. Then I am back to the black background. I tried the steps above but after the step of currect verisions, policies….I dont have system. Someone help….im getting very bored with a black background.
Mirvin July 14, 2013 at 3:56 am

Well i searched about that but there isn’t any Policies\System
“Wallpaper”=SZ:C:\WINDOWS\desktop.html
there is deployment, gameUX, and shell extensions
sharath July 24, 2013 at 12:14 pm

i am trying to fix my laptop with os windows 7 professional. it is doing the same thing exactly and i just got it today. I am at the step:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
but once i get to policies i have no system option or any option for that matter. please help me….
joe hindman August 7, 2013 at 8:32 pm

here is my problem …

when i go to personalization settings and click on change desktop background it shows my current themes okay, but if i go to browse and click on a new picture and click OK it doesn’t change the picture or apply the settings.

But if i open a folder with the picture i want and click on use for desktop background it changes then.

so anyone know why and what is going on ??

OS INFO
Win 7 Pro 64 Bit

Thank You
heather September 15, 2013 at 9:25 am

wheres run? it says press start then run… wheres run????