Display Properties Malfunctioning

I am running XP pro. When I try to open display properties, it flashes on
the screen for a split second and then disappears. However, it does open up
in safe mode. I am pretty sure that it works in safe mode because wallpaper
is disabled. I have found that in normal mode I can open display properties
if delete the Wallpaper value in Hkey_Current_User\Control Panel\Desktop
However, when I go to change anything in the display tab, the window
disappears the moment I click on anything. I am also unable to change the
background color. It stays on grey no matter what color I select. I have
found that if I right-click on an image in Internet explorer and set image as
background, I am able to change the backgroud. However, this recreates the
Wallpaper value and I am once again unable to open display properties. I have
also tried opening the desk.cpl from several different locations on my
computer, all with the same result. I even ran sfc /scannow, so I doubt this
is caused by damage to the applet. I've been working on this for two days
now and am at my wits end. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Barbara

This site has a download to fix display properties,

at line #285 on the left.
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
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Mark L. Ferguson

..
"Barbara" <Barbara@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:55BEF59D-E70A-4F3C-8BDB-29D235C405FE@microsoft.com...
>I am running XP pro. When I try to open display properties, it flashes on
> the screen for a split second and then disappears. However, it does open
> up
> in safe mode. I am pretty sure that it works in safe mode because
> wallpaper
> is disabled. I have found that in normal mode I can open display
> properties
> if delete the Wallpaper value in Hkey_Current_User\Control Panel\Desktop
> However, when I go to change anything in the display tab, the window
> disappears the moment I click on anything. I am also unable to change the
> background color. It stays on grey no matter what color I select. I have
> found that if I right-click on an image in Internet explorer and set image
> as
> background, I am able to change the backgroud. However, this recreates
> the
> Wallpaper value and I am once again unable to open display properties. I
> have
> also tried opening the desk.cpl from several different locations on my
> computer, all with the same result. I even ran sfc /scannow, so I doubt
> this
> is caused by damage to the applet. I've been working on this for two days
> now and am at my wits end. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Barbara

Thanks, but that didn't fix it. Do you have any other ideas?

SFC should do it.
Some Windows Vista functions may not work, or Windows Vista may stop
responding: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833

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Mark L. Ferguson

..
"Barbara" <Barbara@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6D1FE419-1AA2-49E5-BBAB-430F2DD4771B@microsoft.com...
> Thanks, but that didn't fix it. Do you have any other ideas?

I've already tried running sfc, it didn't help. Really, I have run out of
ideas.

"Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:

> SFC should do it.
> Some Windows Vista functions may not work, or Windows Vista may stop
> responding: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833
>
> --
> Was this helpful? Then click the "Yes" Ratings button. Voting helps the web
> interface.
> http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales....htm#RateAPost
>
> Mark L. Ferguson
>
> .
> "Barbara" <Barbara@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:6D1FE419-1AA2-49E5-BBAB-430F2DD4771B@microsoft.com...
> > Thanks, but that didn't fix it. Do you have any other ideas?
>

I would remove and let windows automatically reinstall the video driver.
start/run, type:
devmgmt.msc (display adapter, action menu, uninstall, then 'scan for
hardware changes')

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Mark L. Ferguson

..
"Barbara" <Barbara@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:CCC72785-19C6-4329-B6C3-CC8C4AAEF139@microsoft.com...
> I've already tried running sfc, it didn't help. Really, I have run out of
> ideas.
>
> "Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:
>
>> SFC should do it.
>> Some Windows Vista functions may not work, or Windows Vista may stop
>> responding: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833
>>
>> --
>> Was this helpful? Then click the "Yes" Ratings button. Voting helps the
>> web
>> interface.
>> http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales....htm#RateAPost
>>
>> Mark L. Ferguson
>>
>> .
>> "Barbara" <Barbara@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:6D1FE419-1AA2-49E5-BBAB-430F2DD4771B@microsoft.com...
>> > Thanks, but that didn't fix it. Do you have any other ideas?
>>

I had already tried that using a slighly different method. For grins, I
tried it your way. Windows was unable to automatically reinstall the driver.
Even with the driver, uninstalled, display properties is still malfunction.
I had to re-download and reinstall the driver. No affect.

"Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:

> I would remove and let windows automatically reinstall the video driver.
> start/run, type:
> devmgmt.msc (display adapter, action menu, uninstall, then 'scan for
> hardware changes')
>
> --
> Was this helpful? Then click the "Yes" Ratings button. Voting helps the web
> interface.
> http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales....htm#RateAPost
>
> Mark L. Ferguson
>
> .
> "Barbara" <Barbara@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:CCC72785-19C6-4329-B6C3-CC8C4AAEF139@microsoft.com...
> > I've already tried running sfc, it didn't help. Really, I have run out of
> > ideas.
> >
> > "Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:
> >
> >> SFC should do it.
> >> Some Windows Vista functions may not work, or Windows Vista may stop
> >> responding: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833
> >>
> >> --
> >> Was this helpful? Then click the "Yes" Ratings button. Voting helps the
> >> web
> >> interface.
> >> http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales....htm#RateAPost
> >>
> >> Mark L. Ferguson
> >>
> >> .
> >> "Barbara" <Barbara@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:6D1FE419-1AA2-49E5-BBAB-430F2DD4771B@microsoft.com...
> >> > Thanks, but that didn't fix it. Do you have any other ideas?
> >>
>

If you are using IE , try disabling any add-ons .





On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:50:01 -0800, Barbara
<Barbara@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I am running XP pro. When I try to open display properties, it flashes on
>the screen for a split second and then disappears. However, it does open up
>in safe mode. I am pretty sure that it works in safe mode because wallpaper
>is disabled. I have found that in normal mode I can open display properties
>if delete the Wallpaper value in Hkey_Current_User\Control Panel\Desktop
>However, when I go to change anything in the display tab, the window
>disappears the moment I click on anything. I am also unable to change the
>background color. It stays on grey no matter what color I select. I have
>found that if I right-click on an image in Internet explorer and set image as
>background, I am able to change the backgroud. However, this recreates the
>Wallpaper value and I am once again unable to open display properties. I have
>also tried opening the desk.cpl from several different locations on my
>computer, all with the same result. I even ran sfc /scannow, so I doubt this
>is caused by damage to the applet. I've been working on this for two days
>now and am at my wits end. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Barbara

Well, I was scheptical of this idea, but I tried it anyhow because I was
desperate. Guess, what? It worked. Thank you so much to everyone with
your ideas. I was really stumped. I thought I was just going to have to
live with this irritating malfunction. I still don't know which add-on was
causing the problem, because I only re-enabled the ones that I wanted or that
were from Microsoft. This an amazing forum. I will definately come back
here next time I am stuck.

"bojimbo26one@aol.com" wrote:

>
> If you are using IE , try disabling any add-ons .
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:50:01 -0800, Barbara
> <Barbara@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >I am running XP pro. When I try to open display properties, it flashes on
> >the screen for a split second and then disappears. However, it does open up
> >in safe mode. I am pretty sure that it works in safe mode because wallpaper
> >is disabled. I have found that in normal mode I can open display properties
> >if delete the Wallpaper value in Hkey_Current_User\Control Panel\Desktop
> >However, when I go to change anything in the display tab, the window
> >disappears the moment I click on anything. I am also unable to change the
> >background color. It stays on grey no matter what color I select. I have
> >found that if I right-click on an image in Internet explorer and set image as
> >background, I am able to change the backgroud. However, this recreates the
> >Wallpaper value and I am once again unable to open display properties. I have
> >also tried opening the desk.cpl from several different locations on my
> >computer, all with the same result. I even ran sfc /scannow, so I doubt this
> >is caused by damage to the applet. I've been working on this for two days
> >now and am at my wits end. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Barbara
>

Well apparently disabling the internet explorer add-ons was just a
coincidence. I don't know why it started working. I think it had to do with
some windows updates. I did a repair install and some updates and it started
working. Coincidentally, I disabled add-ons. This evening I did some more
updates and it is no longer working. I think maybe one of the new updates
undid whatever was fixed. Either that or it something to do with resetting
the wallpaper using internet explorer. I'm going to try uninstalling recent
updates and see if that helps. Once again, I am frustrated. I already tried
using system restore with no luck. I will keep you posted if I find a
solution. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. --Barbara

As I mentioned in another branch of this thread, disabling internet explorer
add-ons didn't actually help. It was coincidence. I did, however finally
find a solution. I will post it as a final reply to "Display Properties
Malfuntioning"

"Barbara" wrote:

> Well, I was scheptical of this idea, but I tried it anyhow because I was
> desperate. Guess, what? It worked. Thank you so much to everyone with
> your ideas. I was really stumped. I thought I was just going to have to
> live with this irritating malfunction. I still don't know which add-on was
> causing the problem, because I only re-enabled the ones that I wanted or that
> were from Microsoft. This an amazing forum. I will definately come back
> here next time I am stuck.
>
> "bojimbo26one@aol.com" wrote:
>
> >
> > If you are using IE , try disabling any add-ons .
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:50:01 -0800, Barbara
> > <Barbara@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >
> > >I am running XP pro. When I try to open display properties, it flashes on
> > >the screen for a split second and then disappears. However, it does open up
> > >in safe mode. I am pretty sure that it works in safe mode because wallpaper
> > >is disabled. I have found that in normal mode I can open display properties
> > >if delete the Wallpaper value in Hkey_Current_User\Control Panel\Desktop
> > >However, when I go to change anything in the display tab, the window
> > >disappears the moment I click on anything. I am also unable to change the
> > >background color. It stays on grey no matter what color I select. I have
> > >found that if I right-click on an image in Internet explorer and set image as
> > >background, I am able to change the backgroud. However, this recreates the
> > >Wallpaper value and I am once again unable to open display properties. I have
> > >also tried opening the desk.cpl from several different locations on my
> > >computer, all with the same result. I even ran sfc /scannow, so I doubt this
> > >is caused by damage to the applet. I've been working on this for two days
> > >now and am at my wits end. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Barbara
> >

PROBLEM SOLVED! After days of struggling with this issue I finally found a
solution. Apparently, when I installed my nVIDIA drivers for my new vidio
card, it added a tab to my display properties. The MSI tab was causing
display properties to malfunction and not open. I went int Windows\system32
and deleted the file name msicpl.dll This fixed it. It got rid of he extra
tab and now display properties works perfectly. If you are having this
problem and you have recently installed software or a utility that adds an
extra tab to display properties, try this solution. Uninstall any software
or utility that may have added the tab. In my case it just happened to be
the MSI tab.

"Barbara" wrote:

> I am running XP pro. When I try to open display properties, it flashes on
> the screen for a split second and then disappears. However, it does open up
> in safe mode. I am pretty sure that it works in safe mode because wallpaper
> is disabled. I have found that in normal mode I can open display properties
> if delete the Wallpaper value in Hkey_Current_User\Control Panel\Desktop
> However, when I go to change anything in the display tab, the window
> disappears the moment I click on anything. I am also unable to change the
> background color. It stays on grey no matter what color I select. I have
> found that if I right-click on an image in Internet explorer and set image as
> background, I am able to change the backgroud. However, this recreates the
> Wallpaper value and I am once again unable to open display properties. I have
> also tried opening the desk.cpl from several different locations on my
> computer, all with the same result. I even ran sfc /scannow, so I doubt this
> is caused by damage to the applet. I've been working on this for two days
> now and am at my wits end. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Barbara

I'm not sure, but I think the fix at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/317128
might have also done the trick. I'll never be able to try it though since I
solved it another way.

"Barbara" wrote:

> PROBLEM SOLVED! After days of struggling with this issue I finally found a
> solution. Apparently, when I installed my nVIDIA drivers for my new vidio
> card, it added a tab to my display properties. The MSI tab was causing
> display properties to malfunction and not open. I went int Windows\system32
> and deleted the file name msicpl.dll This fixed it. It got rid of he extra
> tab and now display properties works perfectly. If you are having this
> problem and you have recently installed software or a utility that adds an
> extra tab to display properties, try this solution. Uninstall any software
> or utility that may have added the tab. In my case it just happened to be
> the MSI tab.
>
> "Barbara" wrote:
>
> > I am running XP pro. When I try to open display properties, it flashes on
> > the screen for a split second and then disappears. However, it does open up
> > in safe mode. I am pretty sure that it works in safe mode because wallpaper
> > is disabled. I have found that in normal mode I can open display properties
> > if delete the Wallpaper value in Hkey_Current_User\Control Panel\Desktop
> > However, when I go to change anything in the display tab, the window
> > disappears the moment I click on anything. I am also unable to change the
> > background color. It stays on grey no matter what color I select. I have
> > found that if I right-click on an image in Internet explorer and set image as
> > background, I am able to change the backgroud. However, this recreates the
> > Wallpaper value and I am once again unable to open display properties. I have
> > also tried opening the desk.cpl from several different locations on my
> > computer, all with the same result. I even ran sfc /scannow, so I doubt this
> > is caused by damage to the applet. I've been working on this for two days
> > now and am at my wits end. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Barbara