desktop display locked??

[hayboy]

I have lost the ability to view my desktop, all it shows is a blue screen. A
brief pic will show on shutdown, about 1-2 sec. When I go into display it
seems the desktop option is locked or something. Every thing else seems ok.
What gives? Thanks

 

[Girish Ramnath]

try to boot in safe mode and check. restart the computer and keep tapping F8
key. then choose safe mode.

"hayboy" wrote:

> I have lost the ability to view my desktop, all it shows is a blue screen. A
> brief pic will show on shutdown, about 1-2 sec. When I go into display it
> seems the desktop option is locked or something. Every thing else seems ok.
> What gives? Thanks

 

[hayboy]

"Girish Ramnath" wrote:

>
> try to boot in safe mode and check. restart the computer and keep tapping F8
> key. then choose safe mode.
>
> "hayboy" wrote:

Tried safe mode twice. the only thing that appears to work in the display
properties box is the background color. Its shows nothing selected and the
menu of pictures I have will not move , seems to locked. Thanks
>
> > I have lost the ability to view my desktop, all it shows is a blue screen. A
> > brief pic will show on shutdown, about 1-2 sec. When I go into display it
> > seems the desktop option is locked or something. Every thing else seems ok.
> > What gives? Thanks

 

[Nightowl]

hayboy <hayboy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote on Mon, 24 Sep 2007:

>I have lost the ability to view my desktop, all it shows is a blue screen. A
>brief pic will show on shutdown, about 1-2 sec. When I go into display it
>seems the desktop option is locked or something. Every thing else seems ok.
>What gives? Thanks

Hello hayboy

You could try this: in Display Properties | Desktop, click the Customize
Desktop button, then on the Web tab.

Uncheck everything in the box and also uncheck Lock Desktop Items
underneath it. Back in the box, delete anything except My Current Home
Page (but make sure that's not checked) and then OK your way out.

Any luck?

--
Nightowl

 

[hayboy]

"Nightowl" wrote:

> hayboy <hayboy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote on Mon, 24 Sep 2007:
>
> >I have lost the ability to view my desktop, all it shows is a blue screen. A
> >brief pic will show on shutdown, about 1-2 sec. When I go into display it
> >seems the desktop option is locked or something. Every thing else seems ok.
> >What gives? Thanks
>
> Hello hayboy
>
> You could try this: in Display Properties | Desktop, click the Customize
> Desktop button, then on the Web tab.
>
> Uncheck everything in the box and also uncheck Lock Desktop Items
> underneath it. Back in the box, delete anything except My Current Home
> Page (but make sure that's not checked) and then OK your way out.
>
> Any luck?
>
> --
> Nightowl

No Luck, only 1 other item than my page and the desktop lock box was not
checked. Looks like I might have to live with a blue screen and my icons .
Thanks---Hayboy
>

 

[Nightowl]

hayboy <hayboy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote on Thu, 27 Sep 2007:

>No Luck, only 1 other item than my page and the desktop lock box was not
>checked. Looks like I might have to live with a blue screen and my icons .

Sorry that didn't help. You could try this fix from MVP Kelly's site:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Line 142, on the right: Allow wallpaper/background changes

Instructions for using the file are at the top of the page.

--
Nightowl

 

[Keith]

A coworker had the exact same issues: The solution was offered by someone
else (I can't claim credit) and it worked perfectly.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...&p=1&tid=db53235e-6679-4d86-8f5a-a0800080a9f1
--
Your life is the sum of your experiences, make them worthwhile...


"Nightowl" wrote:

> hayboy <hayboy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote on Thu, 27 Sep 2007:
>
> >No Luck, only 1 other item than my page and the desktop lock box was not
> >checked. Looks like I might have to live with a blue screen and my icons .
>
> Sorry that didn't help. You could try this fix from MVP Kelly's site:
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
> Line 142, on the right: Allow wallpaper/background changes
>
> Instructions for using the file are at the top of the page.
>
> --
> Nightowl
>

 

[Nightowl]

Thanks, Keith, that's useful to know.

For the benefit of anyone reading the thread in the future: the solution
Keith mentioned came from our own MVP Doug Knox, who said:

>This is often the result of a virur or other malware infection. Click
>Start, Run and enter REGEDIT Go to:
>
>HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
>Policies\System
>
>Look in the right pane for a value called Wallpaper. If it exists,
>delete it. You may also want to check to ensure you don't have Active
>Desktop content enabled.


Keith <Keith@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote on Mon, 8 Oct 2007:

>A coworker had the exact same issues: The solution was offered by someone
>else (I can't claim credit) and it worked perfectly.
>
>http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroups/reader.mspx?&q
>uery=Locked+Display+properties&lang=en&cr=US&guid=&sloc=en-us&dg=micros
>oft.public.windowsxp.general&p=1&tid=db53235e-6679-4d86-8f5a-
>a0800080a9f1

--
Nightowl