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Where does XP keep the current wallpaper?


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Guest Quorlia
Posted

I am assuming that there is a system file somewhere that is a copy of the

wallpaper and I would like to know what this file is called.

 

Here's why......

 

I created a montage of photo's which I then set as my wallpaper by

right-clicking on the desktop, browsing for the file and setting it. The

file was located in a sub-folder of My Documents. Later, I was doing some

"housekeeping" and I thought I didn't need the folder so I deleted it

(forgetting that my wallpaper was in it).

 

I want to edit the montage to add another photo, but when I come to look for

the file I can't find it. I've done a whole system search and it is gone. I

peeked in the current.theme file and realised what I had done - the file

points to this non-existent folder.

 

But my wallpaper has not gone away so presumably there must be a file

somewhere which is a copy of my wallpaper that XP actually uses when loading

the wallpaper. What I want to know is what is this file called?

 

Thanks

 

Quorlia

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Guest Richard in AZ
Posted

Re: Where does XP keep the current wallpaper?

 

Typically the wallpaper files in Windows XP are in the folder:

C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper

But if you use the browse feature in setting up wallpaper, then the computer will remember the

second, or third, location and will also search these location for pictures as well. This little

feature is very irritating if you once point to "MY PICTURES" folder since now every picture in that

folder will be listed in your wallpaper choices FOREVER.

 

Hope this helps you find your wallpaper and if any real technical nerd knows where in the registry

to turn off the access to MY PICTURES I would appreciate it.

 

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

news:A8F7BEDE-AB7C-423F-B072-9C113B9DD567@microsoft.com...

>I am assuming that there is a system file somewhere that is a copy of the

> wallpaper and I would like to know what this file is called.

>

> Here's why......

>

> I created a montage of photo's which I then set as my wallpaper by

> right-clicking on the desktop, browsing for the file and setting it. The

> file was located in a sub-folder of My Documents. Later, I was doing some

> "housekeeping" and I thought I didn't need the folder so I deleted it

> (forgetting that my wallpaper was in it).

>

> I want to edit the montage to add another photo, but when I come to look for

> the file I can't find it. I've done a whole system search and it is gone. I

> peeked in the current.theme file and realised what I had done - the file

> points to this non-existent folder.

>

> But my wallpaper has not gone away so presumably there must be a file

> somewhere which is a copy of my wallpaper that XP actually uses when loading

> the wallpaper. What I want to know is what is this file called?

>

> Thanks

>

> Quorlia

Posted

Re: Where does XP keep the current wallpaper?

 

C:\Documents and Settings\user name\My Documents\My Pictures

C:\WINDOWS\Web\Wallpaper

C:\Windows\Resources\Themes

 

--

 

All the Best,

Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

 

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

 

 

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

news:A8F7BEDE-AB7C-423F-B072-9C113B9DD567@microsoft.com...

>I am assuming that there is a system file somewhere that is a copy of the

> wallpaper and I would like to know what this file is called.

>

> Here's why......

>

> I created a montage of photo's which I then set as my wallpaper by

> right-clicking on the desktop, browsing for the file and setting it. The

> file was located in a sub-folder of My Documents. Later, I was doing some

> "housekeeping" and I thought I didn't need the folder so I deleted it

> (forgetting that my wallpaper was in it).

>

> I want to edit the montage to add another photo, but when I come to look

> for

> the file I can't find it. I've done a whole system search and it is gone.

> I

> peeked in the current.theme file and realised what I had done - the file

> points to this non-existent folder.

>

> But my wallpaper has not gone away so presumably there must be a file

> somewhere which is a copy of my wallpaper that XP actually uses when

> loading

> the wallpaper. What I want to know is what is this file called?

>

> Thanks

>

> Quorlia

Posted

Re: Where does XP keep the current wallpaper?

 

> Hope this helps you find your wallpaper and if any real technical nerd

> knows where in the registry to turn off the access to MY PICTURES I would

> appreciate it.

 

 

Workarounds:

 

Create another folder (under your user profile), remove the pictures from My

Pictures that you don't want listed under Backgrounds and in the My Pictures

folder, create a shortcut to the new folder. Or create subfolders within My

Pictures.

 

Add Folders to the "Save As" Dialog (Places Bar) Line 117

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

 

Disable Default Save As to My Pictures (Line 263)

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

 

Add Folder to Start Menu to replace/re-route My Pictures (Line 2)

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

 

To use the Regedit: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click it

and answer yes to the import prompt. REG files can be viewed in Notepad by

right clicking on the file and selecting Edit.

 

--

 

All the Best,

Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

 

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

 

 

"Richard in AZ" <me@mailinator.com> wrote in message

news:eUqgh2o3HHA.5212@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> Typically the wallpaper files in Windows XP are in the folder:

> C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper

> But if you use the browse feature in setting up wallpaper, then the

> computer will remember the second, or third, location and will also search

> these location for pictures as well. This little feature is very

> irritating if you once point to "MY PICTURES" folder since now every

> picture in that folder will be listed in your wallpaper choices FOREVER.

>

> Hope this helps you find your wallpaper and if any real technical nerd

> knows where in the registry to turn off the access to MY PICTURES I would

> appreciate it.

>

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

> news:A8F7BEDE-AB7C-423F-B072-9C113B9DD567@microsoft.com...

>>I am assuming that there is a system file somewhere that is a copy of the

>> wallpaper and I would like to know what this file is called.

>>

>> Here's why......

>>

>> I created a montage of photo's which I then set as my wallpaper by

>> right-clicking on the desktop, browsing for the file and setting it. The

>> file was located in a sub-folder of My Documents. Later, I was doing

>> some

>> "housekeeping" and I thought I didn't need the folder so I deleted it

>> (forgetting that my wallpaper was in it).

>>

>> I want to edit the montage to add another photo, but when I come to look

>> for

>> the file I can't find it. I've done a whole system search and it is

>> gone. I

>> peeked in the current.theme file and realised what I had done - the file

>> points to this non-existent folder.

>>

>> But my wallpaper has not gone away so presumably there must be a file

>> somewhere which is a copy of my wallpaper that XP actually uses when

>> loading

>> the wallpaper. What I want to know is what is this file called?

>>

>> Thanks

>>

>> Quorlia

>

>

Posted

Re: Where does XP keep the current wallpaper?

 

Try a search for "Internet Explorer Wallpaper" , make sure that you

search hidden and system folders too.

 

Quorlia wrote:

> I am assuming that there is a system file somewhere that is a copy of the

> wallpaper and I would like to know what this file is called.

>

> Here's why......

>

> I created a montage of photo's which I then set as my wallpaper by

> right-clicking on the desktop, browsing for the file and setting it. The

> file was located in a sub-folder of My Documents. Later, I was doing some

> "housekeeping" and I thought I didn't need the folder so I deleted it

> (forgetting that my wallpaper was in it).

>

> I want to edit the montage to add another photo, but when I come to look for

> the file I can't find it. I've done a whole system search and it is gone. I

> peeked in the current.theme file and realised what I had done - the file

> points to this non-existent folder.

>

> But my wallpaper has not gone away so presumably there must be a file

> somewhere which is a copy of my wallpaper that XP actually uses when loading

> the wallpaper. What I want to know is what is this file called?

>

> Thanks

>

> Quorlia

Guest Richard in AZ
Posted

Re: Where does XP keep the current wallpaper?

 

I know the work around, but there should be a registry tweak that kills the link to MY PICTURES.

 

"Kelly" <kelly@mvps.org> wrote in message news:unANnAp3HHA.5740@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> Hope this helps you find your wallpaper and if any real technical nerd knows where in the

>> registry to turn off the access to MY PICTURES I would appreciate it.

>

>

> Workarounds:

>

> Create another folder (under your user profile), remove the pictures from My Pictures that you

> don't want listed under Backgrounds and in the My Pictures folder, create a shortcut to the new

> folder. Or create subfolders within My Pictures.

>

> Add Folders to the "Save As" Dialog (Places Bar) Line 117

> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

>

> Disable Default Save As to My Pictures (Line 263)

> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

>

> Add Folder to Start Menu to replace/re-route My Pictures (Line 2)

> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

>

> To use the Regedit: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click it and answer yes to the

> import prompt. REG files can be viewed in Notepad by right clicking on the file and selecting

> Edit.

>

> --

>

> All the Best,

> Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

>

> Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!

> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

>

>

>

> "Richard in AZ" <me@mailinator.com> wrote in message news:eUqgh2o3HHA.5212@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> Typically the wallpaper files in Windows XP are in the folder:

>> C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper

>> But if you use the browse feature in setting up wallpaper, then the computer will remember the

>> second, or third, location and will also search these location for pictures as well. This

>> little feature is very irritating if you once point to "MY PICTURES" folder since now every

>> picture in that folder will be listed in your wallpaper choices FOREVER.

>>

>> Hope this helps you find your wallpaper and if any real technical nerd knows where in the

>> registry to turn off the access to MY PICTURES I would appreciate it.

>>

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

>> news:A8F7BEDE-AB7C-423F-B072-9C113B9DD567@microsoft.com...

>>>I am assuming that there is a system file somewhere that is a copy of the

>>> wallpaper and I would like to know what this file is called.

>>>

>>> Here's why......

>>>

>>> I created a montage of photo's which I then set as my wallpaper by

>>> right-clicking on the desktop, browsing for the file and setting it. The

>>> file was located in a sub-folder of My Documents. Later, I was doing some

>>> "housekeeping" and I thought I didn't need the folder so I deleted it

>>> (forgetting that my wallpaper was in it).

>>>

>>> I want to edit the montage to add another photo, but when I come to look for

>>> the file I can't find it. I've done a whole system search and it is gone. I

>>> peeked in the current.theme file and realised what I had done - the file

>>> points to this non-existent folder.

>>>

>>> But my wallpaper has not gone away so presumably there must be a file

>>> somewhere which is a copy of my wallpaper that XP actually uses when loading

>>> the wallpaper. What I want to know is what is this file called?

>>>

>>> Thanks

>>>

>>> Quorlia

>>

>>

>

>

Guest Nightowl
Posted

Re: Where does XP keep the current wallpaper?

 

Hi Quorlia

 

Try looking in:

C:\Documents and Settings\yourname\Application Data\Microsoft. It's

usually there under the name Wallpaper1.bmp (if it wasn't originally a

..bmp file XP will convert it!)

 

If it's not there, look in the registry under:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\desktop]

 

In the right-hand pane the entry Wallpaper should point to the file.

 

 

Quorlia <Quorlia@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote on Tue, 14 Aug 2007:

>I created a montage of photo's which I then set as my wallpaper by

>right-clicking on the desktop, browsing for the file and setting it. The

>file was located in a sub-folder of My Documents. Later, I was doing some

>"housekeeping" and I thought I didn't need the folder so I deleted it

>(forgetting that my wallpaper was in it).

>

>I want to edit the montage to add another photo, but when I come to look for

>the file I can't find it. I've done a whole system search and it is gone. I

> peeked in the current.theme file and realised what I had done - the file

>points to this non-existent folder.

>

>But my wallpaper has not gone away so presumably there must be a file

>somewhere which is a copy of my wallpaper that XP actually uses when loading

>the wallpaper. What I want to know is what is this file called?

 

--

Nightowl

Posted

Re: Where does XP keep the current wallpaper?

 

There is and I gave it to you.

 

--

 

All the Best,

Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

 

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

 

 

"Richard in AZ" <me@mailinator.com> wrote in message

news:uBm3k$r3HHA.5740@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>I know the work around, but there should be a registry tweak that kills the

>link to MY PICTURES.

>

> "Kelly" <kelly@mvps.org> wrote in message

> news:unANnAp3HHA.5740@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>> Hope this helps you find your wallpaper and if any real technical nerd

>>> knows where in the registry to turn off the access to MY PICTURES I

>>> would appreciate it.

>>

>>

>> Workarounds:

>>

>> Create another folder (under your user profile), remove the pictures from

>> My Pictures that you don't want listed under Backgrounds and in the My

>> Pictures folder, create a shortcut to the new folder. Or create

>> subfolders within My Pictures.

>>

>> Add Folders to the "Save As" Dialog (Places Bar) Line 117

>> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

>>

>> Disable Default Save As to My Pictures (Line 263)

>> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

>>

>> Add Folder to Start Menu to replace/re-route My Pictures (Line 2)

>> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

>>

>> To use the Regedit: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click it

>> and answer yes to the import prompt. REG files can be viewed in Notepad

>> by right clicking on the file and selecting Edit.

>>

>> --

>>

>> All the Best,

>> Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

>>

>> Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!

>> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

>>

>>

>>

>> "Richard in AZ" <me@mailinator.com> wrote in message

>> news:eUqgh2o3HHA.5212@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>> Typically the wallpaper files in Windows XP are in the folder:

>>> C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper

>>> But if you use the browse feature in setting up wallpaper, then the

>>> computer will remember the second, or third, location and will also

>>> search these location for pictures as well. This little feature is

>>> very irritating if you once point to "MY PICTURES" folder since now

>>> every picture in that folder will be listed in your wallpaper choices

>>> FOREVER.

>>>

>>> Hope this helps you find your wallpaper and if any real technical nerd

>>> knows where in the registry to turn off the access to MY PICTURES I

>>> would appreciate it.

>>>

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

>>> news:A8F7BEDE-AB7C-423F-B072-9C113B9DD567@microsoft.com...

>>>>I am assuming that there is a system file somewhere that is a copy of

>>>>the

>>>> wallpaper and I would like to know what this file is called.

>>>>

>>>> Here's why......

>>>>

>>>> I created a montage of photo's which I then set as my wallpaper by

>>>> right-clicking on the desktop, browsing for the file and setting it.

>>>> The

>>>> file was located in a sub-folder of My Documents. Later, I was doing

>>>> some

>>>> "housekeeping" and I thought I didn't need the folder so I deleted it

>>>> (forgetting that my wallpaper was in it).

>>>>

>>>> I want to edit the montage to add another photo, but when I come to

>>>> look for

>>>> the file I can't find it. I've done a whole system search and it is

>>>> gone. I

>>>> peeked in the current.theme file and realised what I had done - the

>>>> file

>>>> points to this non-existent folder.

>>>>

>>>> But my wallpaper has not gone away so presumably there must be a file

>>>> somewhere which is a copy of my wallpaper that XP actually uses when

>>>> loading

>>>> the wallpaper. What I want to know is what is this file called?

>>>>

>>>> Thanks

>>>>

>>>> Quorlia

>>>

>>>

>>

>>

>

>


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