need help with stinkin' black wallpaper problem

[Tester]

I have 2 machines that both run win7 and I am not having problems with
either of them. I can't remember ever gettinga BSD.

So off you go.

PLONK!!!

but you do have problems of keeping correct timezone on your system.
Your current message was posted between the hours of: 02:26 and 04:38 on
23rd June 2011 but your time is showing: 22:12 on 22nd June 2011.

Xref: aioe.org alt.windows7.general:26191 === > Big_steel is here
Xref: aioe.org alt.windows7.general:26192 === > You are here
Xref: aioe.org alt.windows7.general:26193 === > D is here

hth

 

[Lee Waun]

but you do have problems of keeping correct timezone on your system.
Your current message was posted between the hours of: 02:26 and 04:38 on
23rd June 2011 but your time is showing: 22:12 on 22nd June 2011.

Xref: aioe.org alt.windows7.general:26191 === > Big_steel is here
Xref: aioe.org alt.windows7.general:26192 === > You are here
Xref: aioe.org alt.windows7.general:26193 === > D is here

My machine is set to pacific time zone which is a correct setting for where
I am.

However I download the postings and take this computer to work read the
texts offline and write posts but they don't get uploaded til the end of the
day when I get hime and again download new posts and then those messages
get uploaded hours after I composed them.

There is no wireless connection at work and I won't use my phone as a
tethered modem as data rates are too high here in Canada.

 

[Todd]

I have 2 machines that both run win7 and I am not having problems with
either of them. I can't remember ever gettinga BSD.

So off you go.

PLONK!!!

Lee,

The idea is to help people and to get help on this group, not
to artificially boast how well M$'s offerings works.

To help other and be helped that requires the free and open flow
of information. And, I and others need to trust the information
they read. I deal with W7 professionally on an almost daily
basis. I know W7 to be unstable. I would be a liar if I was to
state otherwise. And, I would be doing a dis-service to others I
gave advice to.

Now as to your system, I am glad you are happy with it. Gives
me hope. But, you to are probably crashing all the time and
are unaware of it. When I say unstable and crash, I am not
just referring to a spectacular crash (BSOD, won't reboot, etc.),
I am also including the little tiny ones that W7 commits ALL
THE TIME that most users are unaware of. If your turned off
that horrible smear/blur ball AERO theme and it came back
the next day, if your file share disappears after a week, if
your print drive keeps disappearing, your are crashing and
are unaware of it. I get a lot of these complaints. W7 has
a nice feature called an automatic roll back that occurs
seamlessly whenever it finds a crash/something weird and
you reboot your system. It is a way of masking the poor
quality in your product. (Linux, on the other hand, I deal
with both, has no such feature because its quality runs
circles around M$'s and has never needed such a feature.
W7 would look up tighter than a drum without it.)

So, if M$'s honor is more important to you that the truth,
please kill file me. That way we won't annoy each other.
If I misunderstand you and you are only giving me feedback,
then I do apologize for the misunderstanding and thank you
for the feedback.

And we are allowed to disagree with each other too, as long as
we are respectful of each other.

Okay, and sometimes I let my disgust over M$'s poor quality
fly. It is cathartic to share this with other professionals
in the same situation. Call it group therapy.

-T

 

[thanatoid]

The idea is to help people and to get help on this group,
not to artificially boast how well M$'s offerings works.

So, if M$'s honor is more important to you that the truth,
please kill file me. That way we won't annoy each other.
If I misunderstand you and you are only giving me feedback,
then I do apologize for the misunderstanding and thank you
for the feedback.

-T

I appreciate your most honorable approach and most interesting
and relevant information (snipped ONLY in the interest of
brevity and legibility).

 

[Todd]

I appreciate your most honorable approach and most interesting
and relevant information (snipped ONLY in the interest of
brevity and legibility).

Hi Thanatoid,

Thank you! Happy to give back to others, especially
when some many on the group so graciously give of
their intellectual knowledge and especially of
their time to me.



-T

 

[Todd]

On 06/15/2011 10:17 PM, Todd wrote:

Hi All,

The latest. I got about ten minutes on the customer's machine
on Tuesday.

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

The custom is missing this registry key. This may may be
issue! Mine looks like:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList]
"ProfilesDirectory"="%SystemDrive%\Users"
"Default"="%SystemDrive%\Users\Default"
"Public"="%SystemDrive%\Users\Public"
"ProgramData"="%SystemDrive%\ProgramData"

Clue #3: User's profile:
Now this is where things get really weird. I would expect,
even in 64 bit, for the users profile ("%USERPROFILE%") to
be "C:\Users\Name". Instead it is strangely located in

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile

Checking

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Everything in this folder was pathed to %USERPROFILE%. For
example:

Name: AppData
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming

Nothing wrong here

His %USERPROFILE% "set" variable was set to the weird
path:

USERPROFILE=C:\Windows\system32\config\systemprofile

And, his
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

Was all screwed up. For example:
"My Pictures"="C:\\Windows\\system32\\config\\systemprofile\\Pictures"

They should be:
"My Pictures"="%%USERPROFILE%%\\Pictures"
(I may be wrong on the double "%%")


So, I need to find out where %USERPROFILE% is setin the
home edition.

Does anyone know where (registry?) %USERPROFILE% is set? Then
fix the Shell Folders registry key. I think this will solve
the issue. I do believe %userpropfile% is not actually set
but "formed" from the information in

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

What say your guys?

Many thanks,
-T

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Hi All,

The latest. I got about ten minutes on the customer's machine
on Tuesday.

The custom is missing this registry key. This may may be
issue! Mine looks like:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList]
"ProfilesDirectory"="%SystemDrive%\Users"
"Default"="%SystemDrive%\Users\Default"
"Public"="%SystemDrive%\Users\Public"
"ProgramData"="%SystemDrive%\ProgramData"

Clue #3: User's profile:
Now this is where things get really weird. I would expect,
even in 64 bit, for the users profile ("%USERPROFILE%") to
be "C:\Users\Name". Instead it is strangely located in

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile

Checking

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Everything in this folder was pathed to %USERPROFILE%. For
example:

Name: AppData
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming

Nothing wrong here

His %USERPROFILE% "set" variable was set to the weird
path:

And, his
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

Was all screwed up. For example:
"My Pictures"="C:\\Windows\\system32\\config\\systemprofile\\Pictures"

They should be:
"My Pictures"="%%USERPROFILE%%\\Pictures"
(I may be wrong on the double "%%")

So, I need to find out where %USERPROFILE% is setin the
home edition.

Does anyone know where (registry?) %USERPROFILE% is set? Then
fix the Shell Folders registry key. I think this will solve
the issue. I do believe %userpropfile% is not actually set
but "formed" from the information in

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

What say your guys?

Many thanks,
-T

Here's what I found (from the reg file I exported):
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Volatile Environment]
"USERPROFILE"="C:\\Users\\My Username"

"My Username" is just a placeholder I substituted.

I looked first in the environment settings in

My Computer -> Properties -> Change Settings ->
Advanced -> Environment Variables

but I couldn't find it there.

It did show up in the cmd window from
echo %userprofile%
or
set

so I knew it was set somewhere

Actually, I didn't find it in the registry when I searched for
userprofile (I lost it among too many hits!), so I looked again, using
the string that the set command gave me, and then I found it. Still too
many hits, but heck, it worked... I don't use regedit, or I never would
have found it

 

[Todd]

Hi All,

The latest. I got about ten minutes on the customer's machine
on Tuesday.

The custom is missing this registry key. This may may be
issue! Mine looks like:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList]
"ProfilesDirectory"="%SystemDrive%\Users"
"Default"="%SystemDrive%\Users\Default"
"Public"="%SystemDrive%\Users\Public"
"ProgramData"="%SystemDrive%\ProgramData"

Clue #3: User's profile:
Now this is where things get really weird. I would expect,
even in 64 bit, for the users profile ("%USERPROFILE%") to
be "C:\Users\Name". Instead it is strangely located in

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile

Checking

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell
Folders

Everything in this folder was pathed to %USERPROFILE%. For
example:

Name: AppData
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming

Nothing wrong here

His %USERPROFILE% "set" variable was set to the weird
path:

And, his
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

Was all screwed up. For example:
"My Pictures"="C:\\Windows\\system32\\config\\systemprofile\\Pictures"

They should be:
"My Pictures"="%%USERPROFILE%%\\Pictures"
(I may be wrong on the double "%%")

So, I need to find out where %USERPROFILE% is setin the
home edition.

Does anyone know where (registry?) %USERPROFILE% is set? Then
fix the Shell Folders registry key. I think this will solve
the issue. I do believe %userpropfile% is not actually set
but "formed" from the information in

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

What say your guys?

Many thanks,
-T

Here's what I found (from the reg file I exported):
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Volatile Environment]
"USERPROFILE"="C:\\Users\\My Username"

Hi Gene,

This is a great tip! Thank you! I wonder if
this string is generated at boot time from
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList?
I will definitely find out.

-T

"My Username" is just a placeholder I substituted.

I looked first in the environment settings in

My Computer -> Properties -> Change Settings ->
Advanced -> Environment Variables

but I couldn't find it there.

It did show up in the cmd window from
echo %userprofile%
or
set

so I knew it was set somewhere

Actually, I didn't find it in the registry when I searched for
userprofile (I lost it among too many hits!), so I looked again, using
the string that the set command gave me, and then I found it. Still too
many hits, but heck, it worked... I don't use regedit, or I never would
have found it

Sometimes when I have to hand remove a piece of software, it drives
me crazy trying to find all their trash in the registry. I feel your
pain!

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

On 06/19/2011 11:01 PM, Todd wrote:
On 06/15/2011 10:17 PM, Todd wrote:

Hi All,

The latest. I got about ten minutes on the customer's machine
on Tuesday.

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

The custom is missing this registry key. This may may be
issue! Mine looks like:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList]
"ProfilesDirectory"="%SystemDrive%\Users"
"Default"="%SystemDrive%\Users\Default"
"Public"="%SystemDrive%\Users\Public"
"ProgramData"="%SystemDrive%\ProgramData"

Clue #3: User's profile:
Now this is where things get really weird. I would expect,
even in 64 bit, for the users profile ("%USERPROFILE%") to
be "C:\Users\Name". Instead it is strangely located in

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile

Checking

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell
Folders

Everything in this folder was pathed to %USERPROFILE%. For
example:

Name: AppData
Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Data: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming

Nothing wrong here

His %USERPROFILE% "set" variable was set to the weird
path:

And, his
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

Was all screwed up. For example:
"My Pictures"="C:\\Windows\\system32\\config\\systemprofile\\Pictures"

They should be:
"My Pictures"="%%USERPROFILE%%\\Pictures"
(I may be wrong on the double "%%")

So, I need to find out where %USERPROFILE% is setin the
home edition.

Does anyone know where (registry?) %USERPROFILE% is set? Then
fix the Shell Folders registry key. I think this will solve
the issue. I do believe %userpropfile% is not actually set
but "formed" from the information in

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

What say your guys?

Many thanks,
-T

Here's what I found (from the reg file I exported):
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Volatile Environment]
"USERPROFILE"="C:\\Users\\My Username"

Hi Gene,

This is a great tip! Thank you! I wonder if
this string is generated at boot time from
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList?
I will definitely find out.

Sometimes when I have to hand remove a piece of software, it drives
me crazy trying to find all their trash in the registry. I feel your
pain!

Registry Workshop. It's not free, but I'm free of pain now.

There are others, but I have no direct experience with them.

 

[Todd]

Registry Workshop. It's not free, but I'm free of pain now.

There are others, but I have no direct experience with them.

Thank you for the tip!

 

[Todd]

Okay. The latest. I got his profile fixed in his registry
and his files moved back to the default. Everyone is a lot
happier with the expected profile location. Except I still got
the stinkin' black screen. I think I am going to have to
give up on this one, which annoys me.

:'( :'( :'(

I told the customer if he wants his wall paper back, I am going
to have to wipe and reinstall (as suggest by others in these
parts).

-T

I hate being stumped!

 

[danieldesroches]

You're the ****ing man! I made an account just to say thank you!

Hi Guys,

I have a customer with 64 bit W7 home something or other, Premium
I think. He got himself into something! The last thing I have not
conquered is his stinkin' black wall paper. I am only able to
change it to another solid color, but the next logon changes
it back to black.

Anyone come across this and what did you do to fix it?

I have been keeping a running list of what I did to fix
the problem, along with references as to where I got the
fix action. So far, all four fixes have not resulted
in joy.

Any tips?

Many thanks,
-T



Windows 7 Black Background issue:


Fix #1:

How to Enable/Remove Background Images to have Only Solid Colors in
Windows 7

From:
http://www.sevenforums.com/graphic-cards/24863-black-desktop-background.html
From:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/67200-remove-background-images-where-available.html

--> Control Panel
--> Ease of access
--> Ease of access center
--> Make the computer easy to see
--> at the end of the page, in the section labeled "Make
things on the screen easier to see"

To Be able to Use Images for your Desktop Background

A) Uncheck the Remove background images (where available) box, and
click on OK.
NOTE: This is the default settting.

To Only Be able to Use Solid Colors for your Desktop Background

A) Check the Remove background images (where available) box, and
click on OK

Note: sometimes, marking/unmarking, applying, unmarking/marking,
applying will correct a corruption

Fix #2:
From:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...-premium/8d350714-8b71-4d29-b8fe-0f67707ce36e

--> Open a file manager:
--> Browse to %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\
--> rename TranscodedWallpaper.jpg (not to an image file)
--> insure contents of "slideshow.ini" are empty. Only the
header "[Slideshow]", without the quotes,
should be present. Note that after altering
"slideshow.ini", a reboot is required.


Fix #3:
From:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...-that-is/e250ea2c-3dbb-4879-8770-ba42d533a04c

1. <win><r> regedit

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Policies


2. Then right click on Policies > New > KEY > name it as “ActiveDesktop”.

3. Next in Right Hand Side, right click > New > DWORD > name it as
“NoChangingWallPaper”.

The DWORD value 1 will restrict change in desktop wallpaper. To allow
change give it value as 0.




Fix #4:
From: http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?pid=731202


1. <win><r> regedit

2. Go to "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\" folder and click on it

3. On the right hand side find there are a bunch of entries. Find the
key named "wallpaper" and double click on it and put the path of the
picture you want as your new wallpaper (example path is
"C:\Users\Bob\Pictures\new_wallpaper.jpg" )

4. Right-click on the "Desktop" folder in regedit that you found in
step 2 and click Permissions.

5. Click "Advanced"

6. Go to "Owner" tab, highlight your name in the box that says 'Change
owner to' ( There are only two choices the other is Administrator )…
once your user name is highlighted click "OK"

7. Click on "Advanced" again

8. Uncheck the button that reads "Include inheritable permissions from
the object's parent" … click "Remove" when prompted

9. Click "Add"

10. Type "Everyone" and click "OK"

11. Check Allow "Read Control" and click "OK"

12. Click "OK" again

13. Highlight "Everyone" and check to Allow "Read" and click "OK"

14. Restart [reboot] or Relog into windows and Tadaaaaa!

If you ever want to change the background again after this, you don't
need to redo all these steps, just rename the new wallpaper to have the
same name as the one you're using at that time and move the file to the
same folder, replacing when prompted. Then redo step 14.

Thanks so much it actually worked been looking for solution for a hour!