Problems changing the wallpaper

[doojable]

My daughter's computer has recently encountered a problem. She can't change her wallpaper. We click on "Properties" and then on "Desktop" but the buttons to change the pics are grayed out and inaccessible.

Is there anyone out there with a suggestion or solution?

Let me know what info you need from me and I'll supply it.

Thanks in advance,

dooj

[cman]

If the computer is running windows XP.

On line 142, the right side of the page. "Allow wallpaper/background changes"

Right click and save this file to your desktop or a location you can find easy.

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Double click on it after you have saved it to your computer.

It is a registry hack so you may get a warning.

But it is safe and kelly's-korner is a well respected place of help.

Edited March 3, 2008 by cman

[doojable]

I tried doing what you instructed, but I got an error message saying that it could not be entered into the registry.

[cman]

It may have been disabled by a virus or trojan.

This is usually how this happens.

A good cleaning of the computer will help.

Here are some programs to run.

http://filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/

run the cleaner and registry cleaner...more then once, till nothing shows up

same with this next one

http://www.glaryutilities.com/index.html

the free one of course for glary

For trojan cleaning run these that are recommended here.

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Must-Read-B...-Log-t2852.html

The superantispyware will take a while if you put the setting on complete scan, or if you have a lot of stuff on the computer.

Then run that registry hack if the problem is still there.

[cman]

Those will take a while to run.

I'll check back late tonight or tomorrow.

Gotta go to work now.

These are all good programs and shouldn't harm your computer at all.

I use them on all my computers.

[doojable]

Those will take a while to run.

I'll check back late tonight or tomorrow.

Gotta go to work now.

These are all good programs and shouldn't harm your computer at all.

I use them on all my computers.

Thanks Cman! I've been running errands and haven't even started yet. I'll post something when I get it all done.

It's so good to have this help available!

[doojable]

I got rid of 71 nasties. REAL bad nasties....

But I still get a message that reads ..."error accessing the registry."

I'm wondering if there is another way to get this info on my computer...

[cman]

disconnect from the net and turn off your antivirus and other protection you may have and try it that way

the file you downloaded should look like a cube with some cubes in it

gotta get back to work, check in later........

o run that superantispyware in full/complete mode

start before you go to bed

check it in the morning

it takes quite a while sometimes

[doojable]

disconnect from the net and turn off your antivirus and other protection you may have and try it that way

the file you downloaded should look like a cube with some cubes in it

gotta get back to work, check in later........

o run that superantispyware in full/complete mode

start before you go to bed

check it in the morning

it takes quite a while sometimes

I did the stupid thing (because I didn't read far enough) and purchased the SpyZilla program- it knocked the stuff out and I'll get half of the price back in a rebate - so it's not so bad.

I'll try the rest tomorrow. Thanks.

Edited March 4, 2008 by doojable

[cman]

Working dayshift today.

Will check in this afternoon-est.

Here's another little helper.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Malwarebytes_Ant...ware_d5756.html

After running all the other stuff run this.

And always update before running these programs,

I figured you probably knew that though.

If there is an update option, for most there is.

Don't be concerned about that registry hack too soon.

It will work, you may have to redownload it though.

In fact delete it now and download after you are clean.

And reenable your antivirus before plugging back into the net.

Figured you knew that one also.

Btw, what antivirus is being used?

Edited March 4, 2008 by cman

[doojable]

Working dayshift today.

Will check in this afternoon-est.

Here's another little helper.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Malwarebytes_Ant...ware_d5756.html

After running all the other stuff run this.

And always update before running these programs,

I figured you probably knew that though.

If there is an update option, for most there is.

Don't be concerned about that registry hack too soon.

It will work, you may have to redownload it though.

In fact delete it now and download after you are clean.

And reenable your antivirus before plugging back into the net.

Figured you knew that one also.

Btw, what antivirus is being used?

The Anti-virus is PC-cillin. It found a Mem-watcher malware after everything else ran - but it had left other things on.

Argggggggggh.

[WordWolf]

Do you have SpywareBlaster? Spybot:Search and Destroy 1.5.2? AVG AntiSPYware?

A firewall and antivirus on?

Are ALL of them updated?

Have you run all the ones with scanners?

(If Spybot doesn't recommend something be removed, leave it in place.)

You might try "Clean My Registry". It hasn't steered me wrong.

http://www.smartpctools.com/clean_registry/

And an online antivirus scan. Since you're using a Trendmicro product already,

how about Panda, and BitDefender scans?

http://www.pandasecurity.com/homeusers/solutions/activescan/

http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html

After all that, I'd us the defragmenter, then restart your pc, then restart it AGAIN.

THEN see if it's all better.

[cman]

yes defrag for sure

http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/

best one i know of

----

for really deep cleaning of files use this

it's not for malware but a deep cleaner, i mean deep!

http://stevengould.org/downloads/cleanup/CleanUp452.exe

this is the download link-direct

-------

you know if you have the disks it might be good to just reformat and a fresh install

unless there are programs that you can'tr replace and want to keep

but i do think it can be cleaned up

post at geekstogo.com if you want their pros on it

they are good

tell them what you have problems with and what you have done

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/forums.html

so far you are doing good imo.....

[doojable]

Do you have SpywareBlaster? Spybot:Search and Destroy 1.5.2? AVG AntiSPYware?

A firewall and antivirus on?

Are ALL of them updated?

Have you run all the ones with scanners?

(If Spybot doesn't recommend something be removed, leave it in place.)

You might try "Clean My Registry". It hasn't steered me wrong.

http://www.smartpctools.com/clean_registry/

And an online antivirus scan. Since you're using a Trendmicro product already,

how about Panda, and BitDefender scans?

http://www.pandasecurity.com/homeusers/solutions/activescan/

http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html

After all that, I'd us the defragmenter, then restart your pc, then restart it AGAIN.

THEN see if it's all better.

She had AVG - and it didn't clean it out I replaced it with the one I purchased since they both had real time scanners and I didn't want them to conflict. I am meticulous about updating.

She has Spybot S+D, and Adaware, and I went to the TrendMicro site and used their deep cleaner on the website... but I should try that again.

Geez - it's a full time job!

Edited March 5, 2008 by doojable

[cman]

Do you have SpywareBlaster? Spybot:Search and Destroy 1.5.2? AVG AntiSPYware?

A firewall and antivirus on?

Are ALL of them updated?

These are certainly recomended.

But they are more preventive then actual cleaning.

SpyBot SD has a scanner you can use too.

These can be found at filehippo.com.

I and geekstogo recomend AVG antivirus.

As for a firewall, if you don't go through a router then you need one.

If not then I recomend just windows builtin firewall.

Because a router is a firewall, a hardware firewall.

If you use a firewall at this point you will be quite annoyed.

When we have finished cleaning, then consideration of a firewall is warranted.

[cman]

check this out doojable

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/cant-change...und-t38725.html

could fix it if the registry will accept it

there may be a warning, click proceed or whatever to continue

[doojable]

Done, done, done, done and done!

It's fixed! My daughter gave me a BIG hug and thanked me. Then she told me to give you guys a big (((((HUG))))) and thank you.

She says you're awesome!

MWWWWWWWWAH! ;)

Edited March 5, 2008 by doojable

[cman]

Cool!