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Guest garyrmaness
Posted

Recently my Trend Microsystems Antivirus detected several viruses and adware

on my machine. I managed to clean them all up, but now I cannot change the

background of my desktop. It won't even let me select a picture or browse to

another file. I am using a Dell Dimension 8400, 3.19 GHz processor. 1 GB

Ram. Windows XP, SP2 with all the latest security updates.

 

The latest viruses that were detected had to do with Java applets.

Unfortuanately I have already deleted them so I can't say exactly what they

were. But the description on the Trend website said that they were not

malicious.

 

In the fix from Trend, I had to Disable System Restore and scan again. This

allowed me to find the bugs and get rid of them. However, I am not at all

sure now how to actually restore the system. I guess I did not get a Windows

XP system disk when I bought this computer. I think it's all supposed to be

on the Restore track. Anyway I'm rambling and letting everybody know just

how much I don't know. Can some one help me with this?

 

Thanks.

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Guest Malke
Posted

Re: Desktop background frozen

 

garyrmaness wrote:

> Recently my Trend Microsystems Antivirus detected several viruses and adware

> on my machine. I managed to clean them all up, but now I cannot change the

> background of my desktop. It won't even let me select a picture or browse to

> another file. I am using a Dell Dimension 8400, 3.19 GHz processor. 1 GB

> Ram. Windows XP, SP2 with all the latest security updates.

>

> The latest viruses that were detected had to do with Java applets.

> Unfortuanately I have already deleted them so I can't say exactly what they

> were. But the description on the Trend website said that they were not

> malicious.

>

> In the fix from Trend, I had to Disable System Restore and scan again. This

> allowed me to find the bugs and get rid of them. However, I am not at all

> sure now how to actually restore the system. I guess I did not get a Windows

> XP system disk when I bought this computer. I think it's all supposed to be

> on the Restore track. Anyway I'm rambling and letting everybody know just

> how much I don't know. Can some one help me with this?

 

I would not rely only on your antivirus to removal non-viral malware. Do

the preparatory work and at least some of the scanning with Ad-aware and

Spybot Search & Destroy as described here:

 

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

 

That way you'll be sure the machine is clean. Once you are sure, see

this about the desktop background:

 

Go to the Display applet in Control Panel and look on the Desktop tab.

Click on Customize Desktop, and then click on the Web tab. You will see

that there are checkmarks next to "My Current Home Page" and probably

"Lock Desktop Items". Uncheck these, Apply/OK out.

 

If you can't enable desktop backgrounds after a virus, MVP Kelly Theriot

has a fix. Look under Wallpaper-Desktop-Disable Changing here:

 

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_w.htm

 

If Display tabs are missing, run Kelly's registry edit on line 285,

right-hand side "Restore all display tabs".

 

There are some additional registry keys if none of the above works for

you, but try those things first. I would prefer not to send you into the

registry for manual editing if it isn't necessary.

 

 

Malke

--

Elephant Boy Computers

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com

"Don't Panic!"

MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Posted

Re: Desktop background frozen

 

garyrmaness wrote:

> Recently my Trend Microsystems Antivirus detected several viruses and adware

> on my machine. I managed to clean them all up, but now I cannot change the

> background of my desktop. It won't even let me select a picture or browse to

> another file. I am using a Dell Dimension 8400, 3.19 GHz processor. 1 GB

> Ram. Windows XP, SP2 with all the latest security updates.

 

Ayush suggests:

 

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/wallpaperenable.reg

 

--- or ---

 

Manually (XP -Pro) :

1. Start > Run > gpedit.msc

2. Under User configuration > Click [Administrative

Templates\Control Panel\Display\]

3. There will be a value named "Prevent changing wallpaper" > Set it

to "Not

Configured"

 

If the above fails :

<url:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/921049/>

 

--

Joe =o)

Guest Ron Badour
Posted

Re: Desktop background frozen

 

I recently looked in my 8400 box containing CDs, manuals, etc., and I found

there was no system CD. In researching this, I found that Dell quit

providing CDs in lieu of an image on the hard drive which could be restored.

I told Dell support this was BS--what did I do for a system if the drive

died? I spent a lot of time finally getting this address for a system disk

free of charge:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form?c=us&l=en&s=gen&redirect=1

 

--

Regards

 

Ron Badour

MS MVP 1997 - 2007

 

 

"garyrmaness" <garyrmaness@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:0ACCC1E8-9B18-4399-A03F-5250C76F5B6E@microsoft.com...

> Recently my Trend Microsystems Antivirus detected several viruses and

> adware

> on my machine. I managed to clean them all up, but now I cannot change

> the

> background of my desktop. It won't even let me select a picture or browse

> to

> another file. I am using a Dell Dimension 8400, 3.19 GHz processor. 1 GB

> Ram. Windows XP, SP2 with all the latest security updates.

>

> The latest viruses that were detected had to do with Java applets.

> Unfortuanately I have already deleted them so I can't say exactly what

> they

> were. But the description on the Trend website said that they were not

> malicious.

>

> In the fix from Trend, I had to Disable System Restore and scan again.

> This

> allowed me to find the bugs and get rid of them. However, I am not at all

> sure now how to actually restore the system. I guess I did not get a

> Windows

> XP system disk when I bought this computer. I think it's all supposed to

> be

> on the Restore track. Anyway I'm rambling and letting everybody know just

> how much I don't know. Can some one help me with this?

>

> Thanks.


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