My desktop wallpaper is gone

DR_HOUSE

Hi! I searched the web for information but not managed to solve this. My 1,5 year old son got to my PC and started clicking the desktop and pushing keys on keyboard. When I got back from the kitchen the desktop wallpaper has disappeared completely. It has been replaced by a plain blue background. When I shut my computer down, the wallpaper appears briefly before it shuts down. Any thoughts? Is there anything I can do to sort this out? I'm very basic in PC's so please explain like "for dummies" Thank you!

advertsfox

What OS are you using? Is it Windows XP?

DR_HOUSE

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I use Windows XP.

intellectual dosser

Wallpaper has gone out of fashion.

advertsfox

DR_HOUSE wrote: »

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I use Windows XP.

You're seeing it when you log off / shut down because that's the wallpaper on the Administrator account.

To get your wallpaper back, right click on the Desktop > Properties > Desktop > Choose your image from the list > Apply > OK.

NOTE: If the wallpaper you were using was set from within Internet Explorer (right click > Set as Background) and was in a temporary files folder which were cleared by your son, then the wallpaper would disappear. Next time, save the image locally and then set it as your wallpaper.

Torqay

advertsfox wrote: »

NOTE: If the wallpaper you were using was set from within Internet Explorer (right click > Set as Background) and was in a temporary files folder which were cleared by your son, then the wallpaper would disappear. Next time, save the image locally and then set it as your wallpaper.

Whatever image you set as wallpaper, whether it's a local or remote image (from browser), is stored in "Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\", usually as wallpaper1.bmp... at least in XP/2003. So, clearing the browser cache does not make a wallpaper disappear.

advertsfox

Torqay wrote: »

Whatever image you set as wallpaper, whether it's a local or remote image (from browser), is stored in "Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\", usually as wallpaper1.bmp... at least in XP/2003. So, clearing the browser cache does not make a wallpaper disappear.

That's correct but in case, I'm referring to the possibility of it being IE6 since OP is using Windows XP and the "Set as Background" behaviour of IE6 stored the file to be stored in a different and not in the below path (which is default IE7+ behaviour) which common cleanup tools would empty.

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Internet Explorer Wallpaper.bmp

OP - To get your wallpaper back, right click on the Desktop > Properties > Desktop > Choose your image from the list > Apply > OK.

DR_HOUSE

Thanks for your comments. I tried setting the image back by right click on the Desktop > Properties > Desktop > Choose image from the list > Apply > OK but nothing has changed. The name of the file is still there, just that when I click on it, nothing happens. I also used the "search" option and searched at first for "wallpaper*.bmp", then I searched for "*.bmp", the i searched for the exact name as appears in the desktop list on those settings, but still nothing. If I cannot find it like this, how is it possible to see it when I turn the PC off?

Torqay

Check this registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\"ConvertedWallpaper" (double click)

You can also delete this key and then set a new wallpaper. This should prevent the old wallpaper from showing up at shutdown.

DR_HOUSE

Torqay, how do I check that? I'm sorry, but as I said, I'm not very good with this. Thank you!

Torqay

Start > Run > type regedit and click OK. Then navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\. Highlight Desktop



Now double-click "ConvertedWallpaper" in the right-hand pane, and you will see this:



In the field Value Data, you'll see the original location of the old wallpaper.

You may delete the key "ConvertedWallpaper" but you should back it up, just in case (go to File > Export...).

DR_HOUSE

Done! Thank you so much for your assistance and also for your patience. I did not managed to restore the previous picture, but at least it's not showing up at shut down anymore. Thanks again!