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Virus Infection “Unable to change desktop background image”

We recently repaired a heavily infected computer. After clean-up we were unable to change the desktop background image. Even after clean-up the names of the background images were all grayed out. After a bit of research we came across several registry keys which were added by a virus.

The first thing we did was to, uncheck “lock web content” in “display properties”.

Then we deleted the following registry keys….

Click “Start” hit run (can’t see run?), type ” Regedit ” (without the quotes) and navigate to the following entries, and delete them.

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
PoliciesActiveDesktopNoHTMLWallPaper = dword:00000001

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
PoliciesSystem Wallpaper = “”

Lastly, if all else fails, copy the following text into your notepad and save it as, desktop.reg.

REGEDIT4

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesActiveDesktop]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet ExplorerDesktopGeneral]
"WallpaperFileTime"=-
"WallpaperLocalFileTime"=-

[HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem]
"NoDispAppearancePage"=-
"Wallpaper"=-
"WallpaperStyle"=-
"NoDispBackgroundPage"=-

[HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer]
"NoActiveDesktopChanges"=-
"ForceActiveDesktopOn"=-
"NoActiveDesktop"=-
"NoSaveSettings"=-
"ClassicShell"=-
"NoThemesTab"=-

[HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelDesktop]
"Wallpaper"=-
"WallpaperStyle"=-

[HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelColors]
"Background"="0 78 152"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorerRun]
"notepad.exe"=-
"notepad2.exe"=-
"winlogon.exe"=-
"paint.exe"=-

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentversionExplorerBrowser Helper Objects{FFFFFFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFFFFFFFFFF}]

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentversionExplorerBrowser Helper Objects{FFFFFFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFFFFFFFFFA}]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerSearch]
"SearchAssistant"="http://ie.search.msn.com/{SUB_RFC1766}/srchasst/srchasst.htm"
"CustomizeSearch"="http://ie.search.msn.com/{SUB_RFC1766}/srchasst/srchcust.htm"
"Default_Search_URL"="http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain]
"Default_Search_URL"="http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch"
"Search Page"="http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch"

[HKEY_USERS.DEFAULTSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain]
"Search Page"="http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch"
"Search Bar"="Search Bar"="http://search.msn.com/intl/searchpane/en-au/prov2.htm"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerSearchUrl]
""="http://home.microsoft.com/access/autosearch.asp?p=%s"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet Explorermain]
"Search Page"="http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch"
"Search Bar"="http://search.msn.com/spbasic.htm"
"Use Custom Search URL"= dword:00000000
"Use Search Asst"=-

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtStats{FFFFFFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFFFFFFFFFF}]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtStats{FFFFFFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFFFFFFFFFA}]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{FFFFFFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFFFFFFFFFF}]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{FFFFFFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFFFFFFFFFA}]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{357A87ED-3E5D-437d-B334-DEB7EB4982A3}]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSIDVMHomepage]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSIDVMHomepage.1]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface{1E1B2878-88FF-11D2-8D96-D7ACAC95951F}]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib{1E1B286C-88FF-11D2-8D96-D7ACAC95951F}]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTVMHomepage]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTVMHomepage.1]

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowser Helper Objecta]

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet003ServicesHTTPParametersS]

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet003ServicesHTTPParametersS]

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet003ServicesSharedAccessParametersr]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerDesktopComponents1]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun]
"Intel system tool"=-
"WindowsFZ"=-

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREAntivirusGold]

Or download it here.

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 22nd, 2007 at 10:13 pm and is filed under Windows XP. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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5 Comments to “Virus Infection “Unable to change desktop background image””

  1. hlndr says:
    May 9, 2008 at 9:38 am

    And this worked? You can now change your desktop background?

    Reply
  2. hlndr says:
    May 9, 2008 at 10:16 am

    Here’s my problem. A couple of months ago I downloaded and installed a program called Custom Windowblinds by Stardock. After a couple of weeks I decided that the program didn’t do what I thought it was going to do and I uninstalled it (using Add and Remove in my Windows XP). Ever since then I have bee unable to change my desktop background. I can open the Display window and on the Themes tab I can scroll through the themes listed in the little window and browse my computer for themes not listed and themes I have made. I can choose one of those themes and click Apply and the theme will change. All of the colors, icons, fonts, skins and sounds associated with the theme I chose will change as they are supposed to but my desktop background will change to a solid color (whatever color the desktop is suppose to be for that theme. No background picture. When I go to the Background tab I can see the different backgrounds listed in the little window but I am unable to scroll through them, highlight them or change them and the Browse button (used to choose a background picture not listed in the little window) is blanked out making it unavailable. Here’s the interesting part. When I reboot my computer….as Windows is shutting down and gets to the stage of shut down where all of your desktop icons, etc. disappear…..my desktop background picture will show up. Like it has been there all the time but was hidden by the plain color one. I have tried so many different trouble shooting steps, scans, clean-ups and searches that I have lost count. I am getting ready to format my hard drive and do a complete clean reinstall of Windows if another solution doesn’t present itself very soon. Any suggestions?

    Reply
  3. admin says:
    May 11, 2008 at 9:20 am

    Try typing “gpedit.msc” without the quotes into the run box. This will open the “Group Policy Editor”. Under “User Configuration”, expand “Administrative Templates”, then expand “Desktop”. All the options should be set to “Not configured”. If not, double click the setting to change it to “Not configured”.

    There are also quite a few viruses and spyware that could cause these problems. Make sure you have current virus protection. And run a spyware removal program like Spybot Search and Destroy.

    If this did work and your interested in a different theme, try the “Zune Theme” from Microsoft. Unlike Stardock and other theme products, this theme will not add a process.

    Reply
  4. Lisa111 says:
    June 21, 2009 at 5:26 pm

    My heros. I’ve been trying to change my desktop picture since last year. I had Macafee and my computer still got a virus. Whats a good antivirus to use?

    Reply
  5. admin says:
    June 23, 2009 at 8:43 pm

    We thought it easier to write a post in response to the last comment. It can be seen here.

    Reply

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