Microsoft KB Archive/921049

= Options to change wallpaper may be missing or unavailable on a Windows XP-based computer =

Article ID: 921049

Article Last Modified on 8/25/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional

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Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry



SYMPTOMS
When you try to change the desktop wallpaper in a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer, the options may be missing or unavailable. Therefore, you cannot change your wallpaper or use other options that are located in the Display Properties dialog box. This problem may occur after you remove spyware from the system.



CAUSE
This problem occurs when a registry key is set to hide or to lock the display settings on the computer. The registry key can be set by an administration policy or by malicious software.



RESOLUTION
Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:  Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

 In the right-pane, right-click the  value if the value exists, and then click Delete. Repeat step 3 for the following registry values if these values exist in the registry:     </li>  </li>  </li></ul>

Note Locate any registry value that says &quot;Wallpaper&quot; if it exists. In the right pane, right-click the registry value, click Delete, and then click OK.</li> Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE_\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

</li> In the right-pane, right-click the NoDispAppearancePage value if the value exists, and then click Delete.</li> Repeat step 6 for the following registry values if these values exist in the registry: <ul>  </li>  </li>  </li>  </li></ul>

Note Locate any registry value that says &quot;Wallpaper&quot; if it exists. In the right pane, right-click the registry value, click Delete, and then click OK.</li> For the changes to take effect, you may have to restart the computer after you delete these registry values.</li></ol>

<div class="moreinformation_section">

MORE INFORMATION
The following list describes the previous registry values. The list also describes how the settings of these values affect the options that are located in the Display Properties dialog box:

Display Name: Disable Display Control Panel

Description: Prevents the Display icon in Control Panel from working

Value Name:

Type: DWORD

Setting: 1 = Enabled and 0 (zero) = Disabled

Display Name: Hide Background page

Description: Prevents the displaying of the Background tab

Value Name:

Type: DWORD

Setting: 1 = Enabled and 0 (zero) = Disabled

Display Name: Hide Screen Saver page

Description: Prevents the displaying of the Screen Saver tab

Value Name:

Type: DWORD

Setting: 1 = Enabled and 0 (zero) = Disabled

Display Name: Hide Appearance page

Description: Prevents the displaying of the Appearance tab

Value Name:

Type:

DWORD Setting: 1 = Enabled and 0 (zero) = Disabled

Display Name: Hide Settings page

Description: Prevents the displaying of the Settings tab

Value Name:

Type:

DWORD Setting: 1 = Enabled and 0 (zero) = Disabled

Keywords: kbregistry kbdisplay kbtshoot kbprb KB921049

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