I want to change my desktop background, but when I go to OPTIONS, the images available are grayed out.?

Question

I used to be able to change my background at will, putting photos I had taken up, but now when I go to those options, the only thing I can do is change the background color as the images (inluding the BROWSE button) are grayed out. I have tried just about every imaginable combination of modifying themes and choosing backgrounds, but still, the only thing I can do is change the color of the desktop. However, when I go to shut down the computer, the image I previously had selected shows briefly.

Answer 1

Hmm thats weird.

Try right clicking on the picture itself and open with Internet Explorer or use Paint Program.

Then go to FILE on the menu and then use the option to "set as background" and see if that works instead. On IE, you can just right click on the picture and then "set as background".

Answer 2

You don't say which operating system you are running.

In Win XP, I don't know of an "Options" tab.

There are too many operating system to list instructions for them all, so I'll stick to Win XP.

You've just booted your computer, and your Desktop is showing with only your Icons and Taskbar there. No programs are running to obscure the Desktop.

Right-click on the Desktop and click on Properties, to bring up the Display Properties window.

Select the Desktop tab, and it should list all of the pictures available in the Background window. Scroll down and find the one you want, or Browse to find another.

The picture files you see listed in the Background window, are kept in the WINDOWS\WEB\WALLPAPER folder. I would suggest moving your favorite picture files there, then they will show up in this window and you won't have to browse each time. Notice that all of the Windows background files are .jpg files. Others will work, such as .bmp but .jpg are more reliable and predictable, especially if you're running an older operating system.

If this doesn't work, re-post with the exact steps you go through, each click of the mouse and what you see. And tell us which operating system.

Answer 3

It's a bit difficult to answer this without more info but I'll take a stab at some potential problems.

First, check to be sure that everything is cool with your graphics board / display driver. Has your resolution or color depth changed? (if you're unfamiliar with what these refer to I would suggest searching the Internet to find out the answer to these questions) If your graphics board or display driver are having issues it could impact many things - one of which would be your ability to modify your display settings.

Second, make sure that you have the proper "rights" to make such changes. If you're using a computer at work then it's likely that the permissions have been modified. If this is your own computer then it's possible that either something has changed the permissions (malware of some sort), or that your registry is corrupted. Again, these are technical questions and if you don't know what I'm referring to I would suggest you do further research. AND please note that making changes to your registry is only recommended for somebody that REALLY knows what they're doing!

Again, it's tough to remotely answer a question like this without more info. Hopefully this info helps.

Answer 4

If you are running windows software put the CD in the computer than reboot from the CD by hitting a key on the keyboard when it prompts you type r than 1 From there it will ask you for a password press enter that will take you to the c prompt from that point type chkdsk r this may run awhile so be patient

Answer 5

Have u tried to just go 2 a website and picked a picture and right cliked on it and chose "set as background"

Answer 6

Click Start-Run and type:

regsvr32 /i shimgvw.dll
regsvr32 /i shell32.dll

See if the problem is resolved. If not, proceed further:

Is Active Desktop Wallpaper set? If so you can remove from the registry (for
stand-alone systems).

Create a System Restore point, or take a valid registry backup.

Open Regedit.exe and navigate to these locations one by one:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop

In the right-pane, delete the following values if they exist:

1. Wallpaper
2. WallpaperStyle

Close Regedit.exe and re-login.

Answer 7

is your display setting ok, there not on something like 16 colors.