I can't make a picture my desktop background.

It is now getting very annoying for me. Am trying to change my desktop background image but don’t know what is the problem am unable to do it. When I go to desktop properties I can click on various background images under desktop tab, and it even show up in the preview box. But as soon as I click on Apple or Ok, my desktop appears only with the background color and not the image.

AM trying to do this from 2 days but it is still the same. Can any one help ?

Did you tried locking up desktop items ? If not do it now and see if it works. You can do this by going to Desktop properties > customize desktop > web > locate and "lock desktop items".

Other than this, did you tried setting background directly by right clicking the image ? If yes, what happens ? If not, open any image, right click on the same and click on set desktop background.

Thanks for your attempt buddy, but that dint worked?

What else ?

Seems very strange problem. Anyway, I found something on web that may help you in this. If yours is Xp Professional, follow these steps:

• Press Win + R key or Click Start and RUN, Type GPEDIT.MSC and Enter.
• Now go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Display.
• Here you will find a key named “Prevent Changing Wallpaper” on the right side, double click the same and make it “Disable”.

Now close this window, restart the system and try changing wallpaper it should work.


If you are using XP Home Or Professional Edition, than follow below steps:

• Press Win + R key or Click Start and RUN, Type GPEDIT.MSC and Enter.
• Now go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
• Explorer\ActiveDesktop
• Here you will find a key named “NoChangingWallpaper”. Double click the same and set it value to ‘0’ (Zero).

That’s it. If still facing any problem, refer this Microsoft Article.

I think you need to check if your Active Content is enabled for desktop. It is the one if disabled will not allow you to place .jpg files on desktop. To ensure the same, go to display properties, click on Customize Desktop and checkmark Active Desktop.

u can write ...... gpedit.msc ... in Run ... from start menu and press ...ok....

open user configuration ....then choose
administration templates ....then choose.....
desktop...then from right pane choose...
desktop wallpapper ..press double click on it ....then choose from dialog box
previous setting ..and choose ..not configred ..ok ...close the window of this program ...and applay the steps to display wallpapper on desktop
........i hope this work to u

Thanks very much! This was very helpful.