Desktop won't display pictures
Thanks..but I've already tried everything else. Nothing seems to work so I thought since this was an "official" Microsoft tech site, you'd help, but I should have known better than expect Microsoft to do something over and above... it just creates more problems.
April 28th, 2008 8:22pm

Hi Ann,Could you please provide more information about your problem?What's the meaning of "desktop won't display pictures"? you set a picture as background and Vista didn't display it? or other problem?--------------------Regards,Eric Zhang
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April 30th, 2008 9:50am

When I go to display properties... I can't select the "browse" button or click on any of the images. The button is grayed out and the image listing is not selectable. Nor can I go to a picture, right click, choose "set as wallpaper" and have it show up as my desktop wallpaper. Nothing works. I've tried editing the registry....per instructions from Microsoft...and it still doesn't fix the problem. I have 5 computers and repair/teach.....and I've never come across anything like this. I'm sure that it must have something to do with a virus problem, but the machine is now clean and still the problem persists. Any ideas?
April 30th, 2008 5:51pm

Hi Ann,Please try the following stepss:run "gpedit.msc" to open local group policy editor, choose "user configurations" - "Administrative Template" - "Desktop" - "Desktop", choose "desktop wallpaper", enable the setting and style, then open a command prompt and run "gpupdate /force" to refresh the group policy, chen check whether the desktop will display the pictures.--------------------Regards,Eric Zhang
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May 1st, 2008 12:39pm

Hi,As this thread has been quiet for a while, we assume that the issue has been resolved. At this time, we will mark it as Answered as the previous steps should be helpful for many similar scenarios.If the issue still persists and you want to return to this question, please reply this post directly so we will be notified to follow it up. You can also choose to unmark the answer as you wish.In addition, wed love to hear your feedback about the solution. By sharing your experience you can help other community members facing similar problems.Thanks!--------------------Regards,Eric Zhang
May 6th, 2008 10:16am

I am having the same problem as Ann (I have Windows XP Home Edition) From Ann: When I go to display properties... I can't select the "browse" button or click on any of the images. The button is grayed out and the image listing is not selectable. Nor can I go to a picture, right click, choose "set as wallpaper" and have it show up as my desktop wallpaper. Nothing works. I've tried editing the registry....per instructions from Microsoft...and it still doesn't fix the problem. I have 5 computers and repair/teach.....and I've never come across anything like this. I'm sure that it must have something to do with a virus problem, but the machine is now clean and still the problem persists. Any ideas? From Benita My background was fine, then it went white and my button is grayed out and I can't do anything in the display. When I log off, my picture shows up. I tried your solution above and it didn't fix it the problem. Could you give some insight into this problem.
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May 26th, 2008 7:04am

I was able to fix this problem by doing a system restore.
May 26th, 2008 6:58pm

I'm having this problem now. My computer was fine until it restarted itself, and now my desktop background won't appear. I tried to change the picture and used a regular photo but still no luck on the desktop background. I can right click and add background, it just doesn't show up at all. I'm using Vista, and when I open the background image options the photo's there don't even load. They just show the image as the file type, not the image itself.
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August 30th, 2008 9:37pm

hey my problem is that i installed a game on my pc then restarted my pc, it logged in fine but then instead of showing the desktop it shows a black screen. all i can c is my mouse, no other menus are on the page. pls help, u can email me s_warley@hotmail.com
October 11th, 2008 12:28am

I have the exact same problem but when I run gpedit.msc it says it can't find it. What do I do?
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January 4th, 2009 1:44am

gpedit.msc is only available in XP pro. If you are running XP home you will not have gpedit.msc.
May 2nd, 2009 6:19pm

Ok, for what windows version is this? I put it in search at Start Menu and it turns up nothing
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September 16th, 2011 6:35am

I had the same problem and change my picture from bmp. to jpg. and it still didn't work. Finally I right clicked on my desktop then clicked refresh and it came back and is working fine. Easy fix!
November 10th, 2011 8:03pm

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