Problems saving wallpapers

Win XP HE SP2 / 2.4GHz / 256 MB RAM

I have just recently gone online, and I am "learning as I go". Recently, I had a problem recalling images. Initially, when I found an image I liked I "saved picture as" and put in the my pictures folder. This would save the file type as a Jasc paint shop picture (or something to that effect). Whenever I would "set as background" the image would not display. Then, I started using the "set as wallpaper" function to store images. I have to go to search>list files or folders>type: Internet explorer wallpaper> then rename the file and stick it where I want. It works, but it seems a bit of a round-about-way of saving images. When I use this method, the file opens with windows fax and picture viewer. However, when I go back to the old images (save picture as) and change the properties to "open with" windows fax and image viewer, they still won't display (no preview available). Also when going to Properties> Desktop, the old default images no longer display a preview (they do display on the background). The "new" images using my backdoor method show a preview and have a paintbrush Icon. Also, other images that already had the paintbrush icon display a preview. All saved images no matter what the method had an extension .bmp.

What happened????

 

all I do, is download a picture from the internet to my pictures.
open my pictures, go to the picture, right-click on it, select "set as desktop background", that's it.

 

Thanks for your response: MellowMan. I tried it, but that method did not work. When you said you download pictures, are you referring to right-clicking and choosing "save as"? Or is there a different way of doing it (other than the method I mentioned earlier).

 

what folder do you save you pictures to?

you can also set the desktop backround in the display properties by right clicking the desktop>properties>desktop

 

When you save pictures that you like save them as a Bitmap file(.bmp) or as a JPEG file(.jpg), which are the 2 most common image types and both can be used as wallpaper images, although .bmp is the most common file type for wallpaper images as far as I know.

 

In response to both the posts I just read: I save them in my pictures (which is a folder already set up by Jasc Paint Shop). As far as the extention goes, I never paid attention to it. I assumed it was .bmp by default. I will check the extension in the future. I did go back and look at the "old default" pictures, the file type is: Paint shop photo album picture. These are the "backgrounds" that no longer show a preview when I go to properties>desktop. They display on the background, but no preview anymore. I have saved another background since the original post (using the method MellowMan suggested), and I had to go back and do it my way. Is the fact I am trying to stick a .bmp into a photo shop folder the problem? I think I'll go test that theory now, and repost later.

Thanks for the support,
I hope I can be of service one day

 

If your downloaded pictures only save as bmp, you need to clear out your temporary internet files.

 

Okay, so I went back armed with new knowledge! And.................it still doesn't work unless I do it the way I've been describing. This is what happened: I found 2 different images. Both had .jpg on the original file extension. I tried the "save picture as" method. I even created a new folder in My Documents. The default extension was ART*.art. The only other option was .bmp. I tried them both. Nothing . Changed the properties to "open with" several programs including Windows image and fax viewer. Nothing . So back to square one, "set as background". This sets it as Internet explorer wallpaper. Then, I went to properties>desktop and there it was. I then noticed Browse, hey maybe if I'm already in the "backgrounds" area I might be able to browse to the "save picture as" folder and get it to work that way . Nope, still didn't work .

As a footnote to those who aren't as knowledgeable as the people who've been helping me..........You must re-name the internet explorer wallpaper to a new file name, or else whenever you "set as background" another image, it will erase the previous image. FYI: I discovered that browse took me directly to the internet explorer folder (where all my other downloaded backgrounds are) Hooray!! No more searching>for files or folders>Internet explorer wallpaper>rename. Just Properties>Desktop>Browse>then rename.
I'm still not sure why the default images don't have a preview anymore, but I honestly don't care. They sucked anyway, which is why I began downloading my own backgrounds to begin with. .

Lastly, I'm running XP SP2 does this explain why instructions from various sources (present company included) have been so varied?

Thanks for all the feedback! If anyone has anymore suggestions or feedback please post. I will check regularly as I really enjoy this forum. The members here have made me enjoy the web again! I didn't realize such places existed until today, and I was becoming very frustrated with having to download all this protection just visit a couple of, well you know, other sites.

 

r you trying to put ALL your wallpaper into the display properties, so it's easier than going through your my pictures folder everytime you want to change the desktop backround?

if so ... you just put them into c:\windows\web ... if not im a lil confused what you are truying to do

 

Did you clear your temporary internet files like I mentioned?

Also if *.art is an option, sounds like AOL image compression is turned on.

Are you using AOL? You might want to turn that off, if so.

 

Pyrate- No, I was simply trying to save images from the internet, but not having to set them as my background-then rename them everytime (to keep the previous image from being deleted "internet explorer wallpaper"). Currently, my method is the only method working.

Adrynalyne- Yes, and yes. You are completely correct. I am using AOL, and it is set to compress images when I am not using broadband. Which I am not. I am about to go through this site and see if any information exists on preferred browsers, broadband, and ISP's. I did not disable the compression, because it said it speeds up downloading. On my dial-up connection, some pages take forever. I think this does explain why the two images from yesterday originally had a .jpg extension, but in the IE folder it says the file type is Bitmap. Also, the file size is Huge (1.2MB to 2.4MB) for an image. Currently this is the only way to save images. There's got to be a better way.
If I disable the compression will more options be available (extensions)? Also, .bmp was an available extension, but when chosen for the image that I used "save picture as" it cannot be recognized by any program I try to open it with - including windows fax and image viewer (which is the extension it seems to prefer).???????????

 

I would say yes, I've seen it work.

Couldn't hurt to give it a shot.

 

I disabled compression on AOL, and now "save as" works like a charm! Thanks a lot !