Changing desktop wallpapers stopped working properly (tried 5 methods)

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  1. Posts : 45
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit (Version 21H2 - OS Build 19044.1889)
       #1

    Changing desktop wallpapers stopped working properly (tried 5 methods)


    I've been using a free wallpaper changer for months and it's been working just fine, but only a few days ago an error came up (I didn't keep it unfortunately as I didn't think it would affect Windows changing wallpapers itself!) and now changing wallpapers almost doesn't work at all - but it's acting strange.

    I'll tell you what's not not working,what I've tried, then what does "work"....


    • Going to customisation>background and changing the background [or choosing solid colours] doesn't do anything ("choose a fit" works fine)
    • I've tried what it says here: Cannot change desktop background in Windows 10/8/7 - but couldn't try the Group Policy Editor because I don't have it on my Win 10 Home edition.
    • Renamed 'TranscodedWallpaper.jpg' to .old, and there wasn't any text in slideshow.ini (and when there was I deleted it, but made no difference)
    • The 'Ease of Access' 'Remove Background Images (where available)' wasn't enabled
    • I've even gone into the registry ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies" and "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies") - and created a 'NoChangingWallpapers' setting it to 0 in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE = Didn't seem to make any difference.
    • I'm currently going through the sfc /scannow. If I don't mention it again it means it's not found.fixed any problems.

    What DOES "work" works only intermittently, limitedly and seemingly randomly.

    Running 'control /name Microsoft.Personalization /page pageWallpaper' (and press enter) takes me to the place where the various 'picture locations' are.


    • Double-clicking/right-click>set as wallpaper does nothing* (except after point 2 [below] that it changes, but to a random one, and not the one I clicked on)
    • *highlighting a few at once (as an example) and right-clicking 'set as slideshow' sort of "works", but the background picture is broken - at times it looks like this:
      i68.tinypic.com/314p5x1.jpg
      or it seems to show a random one up that I didn't choose. But there seems to be very few it changes to.


    I seriously don't want to/hope I don't have to re-install Windows for this, as 1) I've got a few GiveawayoftheDay[.com]s I want to keep, and 2) especially having a game like Elder Scrolls V:Skyrim with 100s of mods, It'll completely ruin the savedgames and how it's all put together (as well as how long it takes to download all the games on Steam again!). FYI, I have Asperger's Syndrome

    I'd love some help on this please.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 5,439
    Windows 11 Home
       #2

    Run CMD as admin and copy/paste:

    reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /v "ForceActiveDesktopOn" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
    reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /v "NoActiveDesktop" /t REG_DWORD /d "1" /f
    reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /v "NoActiveDesktopChanges" /t REG_DWORD /d "1" /f


    The wallpaper location is this, try to put in your picture's location:

    reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /v "Wallpaper" /t REG_SZ /d "D:\Pics\Wallpaper.jpg" /f
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 45
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit (Version 21H2 - OS Build 19044.1889)
    Thread Starter
       #3

    What is meant to happen once I've done that? I tried the first part but nothing's changed

    I'm not sure what you mean by
    TairikuOkami said:
    The wallpaper location is this, try to put in your picture's location:

    reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /v "Wallpaper" /t REG_SZ /d "D:\Pics\Wallpaper.jpg" /f
    What do you mean by "The wallpaper location is this"? Most of my photos is on an external HDD (F Drive); my CD ROM drive is the D Drive
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 5,439
    Windows 11 Home
       #4

    You could try changing wallpaper via registry, if anything else fails, just input your picture's path.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 45
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit (Version 21H2 - OS Build 19044.1889)
    Thread Starter
       #5

    How would I do that? I was hoping to have a different picture on my desktop every day, and right-click>set as desktop doesn't work

    It sounds like a lot of hastle


    Ps. Where do I input the "reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /v "Wallpaper" /t REG_SZ /d "D:\Pics\Wallpaper.jpg" /f"? I tried it in Command prompt (as an admin) but says access denied
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 5,439
    Windows 11 Home
       #6

    Gaz1701 said:
    I've been using a free wallpaper changer for months and it's been working just fine, but only a few days ago an error came up
    Have you tried using system restore prior to the date, it stopped working?

    System Restore Windows 10
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 45
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit (Version 21H2 - OS Build 19044.1889)
    Thread Starter
       #7

    TairikuOkami said:
    Have you tried using system restore prior to the date, it stopped working?

    System Restore Windows 10
    Hmm, I haven't actually; thanks, I'll try that :)
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 45
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit (Version 21H2 - OS Build 19044.1889)
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Being completely typical with my computer, I'm getting an error message when trying to do a system restore; I also tried doing it in Safe Mode as well (with 2 different system restores, one from the 14th, and one from the 8th Feb [I think]). Even 'undoing' the error made this error:

    Changing desktop wallpapers stopped working properly (tried 5 methods)-problem-3.jpg
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 5,439
    Windows 11 Home
       #9

    Considering everything, that is not working, you better do a repair upgrade instead.

    Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 45
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit (Version 21H2 - OS Build 19044.1889)
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Hmmm, OK then, thanks a lot for helping me
      My Computer


 

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