Microsoft KB Archive/171287

Microsoft Knowledge Base

Error Message on White Desktop with Active Desktop Enabled

Last reviewed: July 11, 1997
Article ID: Q171287

     BETA INFORMATION  BETA INFORMATION  BETA INFORMATION  BETA     

     This article discusses a Beta release of a Microsoft 
     product. The information in this article is provided as-is
     and is subject to change without notice. 

     No formal product support is available from Microsoft for 
     this Beta product. For information about obtaining support
     for a Beta release, please see the documentation included 
     with the Beta product files, or check the Web location 
     from which you downloaded the release.

     BETA INFORMATION  BETA INFORMATION  BETA INFORMATION  BETA     

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.0 for Windows 95
• Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.0 for Windows NT 4.0

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS

If you are using the Active Desktop, the desktop may appear white with the following text displayed in the upper-left corner:

   <%WinShell = CreateObject("WinShellHTMLPreProc")%>

You may also experience the following symptoms:

• You cannot start the Display tool in Control Panel. You can start the Display tool if you restart the computer, but only once per restart.
• When you press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to open the Close Program dialog box, Rundll or Display Properties is listed as not responding.
• Images or HTML content added to the desktop are not visible.
• You cannot change the desktop wallpaper (background), and the Reset All button on the Web tab in Display properties does not restore the desktop to a usable state.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if you choose one of the following files as the desktop wallpaper:

• Controlp.htm
• Folder.htm
• Mycomp.htm

RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

NOTE: For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Right-click an empty area on the desktop, point to Active Desktop, and then click View As Web Page to clear the check mark.

2. Delete or rename the following file:

       - With user profiles disabled:

            Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop.htx
   
       - With user profiles enabled:
   
            Windows\Profiles\<user name>\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet
               Explorer\Desktop.htx
   

3. Change the following registry value to an empty string:

         HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\

   General\Wallpaper

4. Right-click an empty area on the desktop, point to Active Desktop, and then click View As Web Page.

MORE INFORMATION

The Mycomp.htm, Controlp.htm, and Folder.htm files are template files used to display HTML content in folders. These files should not be used as the desktop wallpaper. When you attempt to set the Mycomp.htm or Controlp.htm file as the desktop wallpaper, you receive the following prompt:

   The wallpaper you selected is a hidden and/or system file. Choosing
   this file for use as a wallpaper is not recommended. Are you sure you
   want to continue?

Additional query words: 4.00 Keywords : kberrmsg kbui msient msiew95 Version : WINDOWS:4.0 Platform : WINDOWS THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Last reviewed: July 11, 1997 ©1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Legal Notices.