Desktop wallpaper locked on solid color after malware removal

I recently had a brush with some malware, which I've now removed from my laptop. Unfortunately, I can no longer change my desktop wallpaper except for any the 'solid color' choices. I can see the various thumbnails of the windows wallpapers & pictures, but when I select them nothing happens.

I've been working with someone on the MG malware forum, and he suggested that I now come over here to get help.

I think something got removed from the registry either during the malware removal (I noticed this first after using combofix), or when I manually removed some of malware associated files.

Here's a link to my thread on the malware forum, which has all the logs and a history of what I did. http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=1132671

BTW I'm running vista home edition on a HP pavillion dv6500 laptop

 

Try this
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/256/1/Cannot-change-the-desktop-wallpaper.html

 

I'd already checked the 'Ease of Access" settings. I downloaded and successfully merged the file in the link you provided, but it didn't help. I still can't change the wallpaper.

Also, when I try to change the wallpaper, I do NOT receive any type of error message. Whether I double-click the thumbnail or highlight it and click OK, the only thing that happens is the "Choose a desktop" window closes.

 

Just a shot in the dark, have you tried downloading a new wallpaper to see if that will work?

 

If I find an image online, right-click it and select "set as background" it works okay. However if I download the same exact image to my desktop, right-click it and select "set as background" nothing happens

 

Hmm don't know if this will help but won't hurt. I had some problems with My Pictures file corrupting, no malware involved. Never found a answer to why...just a temp fix.

Try making a new folder for your pictures i.e. Pictures 2, move everything except the "sample pictures" (file that came with OS) in the My pictures to the new folder. Then download a new wallpaper to My Pictures and select that, see if it works.

 

No joy with this.

 

This is what I have in the Policies\system folder

Default REG_SZ (value not set)
HideLegacyLogonScripts REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
HideLogoffScripts REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
HideStartupScripts REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
RunLogonScriptSync REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (1)
RunStartupScriptSync REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (1)

The only thing I have in this folder is
Default REG_SZ (value not set)

I searched the registry for "wallpaper" and found most files in the following locations

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/ControlPanel/Desktop/
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Microsoft/Internetexplorer/Desktop/General
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Microsoft/Plus!/themes/Apply
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/wndows/Currentversion/explorer/Wallpaper
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/wndows/Currentversion/explorer/Wallpapers
Then last two are actual folders with the file "Default"

There's also similar entries in the HKEY_USERS

 

To back them up, can I just copy them to the desktop or a USB flash drive ? If there's no change to my problem (or if it screws up something else) after rebooting, can I just copy them back to the original registry folder, or do I have 'merge' or 'install' the files

It's my own PC.

When I typed gpedit.msc in the start search box, it couldn't find any matches. I made sure the hidden and sysem files were unchecked, but still found nothing

This was already unchecked.

 

I just had the same issue in XP. What i discovered is that the solid color "wallpaper" is covering your actual wallpaper. Place your mouse courseron the left side of the screen and you should be able to drag this solid color window intil it almost disappears. There will be small white window remaining on the llength of the right side of the screen. You can then put your mouse couser near the top of the white area and you will see the "x" to close it. Once you hit this it is gone and does not come back when you reboot. After you do this, you should be able to change settings in the "display" without any problem

Hope this helps. I am new to the forum and am not the most technical person, if someone would like to write this in more technical terms that would be great.

 

Thanks for the idea, but unfortunately it didn't work. I think I am going to back up all my files and try re-installing Vista from the HP recovery DVD.

I'll report back with the outcome

Thanks for everyone's help.