Unable to change Windows XP wallpaper

Before following the steps below, realize you must access and be familiar with the Windows registry.

1. Click Start, select Run, type regedit, and press Enter.

2. In the Registry Editor window, browse to the folder below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

3. In the System folder, delete all the values below by highlighting them and pressing Delete on the keyboard. When done, you should not see any of the values below in the System folder.

• NoDispAppearancePage
• NoDispCPL
• NoDispBackgroundPage
• NoDispScrSavPage
• NoDispSettingsPage
• Wallpaper *

If any other value is seen containing the word "wallpaper," delete that value as well.

Once the steps above are completed, try changing the wallpaper again. If changing it works, close the Registry Editor window as this issue is resolved. If you're still unable to change the wallpaper, try the additional steps listed below.

1. In the Registry Editor window, browse to the folder below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

2. If System does not exist, make sure the steps above are completed by repeating them. If System exists, delete all the values below by highlighting them and pressing Delete on the keyboard. When done, you should not see any of the values below in the System folder.

• NoDispAppearancePage
• NoDispCPL
• NoDispBackgroundPage
• NoDispScrSavPage
• NoDispSettingsPage