Summary

In Windows Vista's Desktop background applet, the Picture Location drop-down is preset with the following locations/entries by default:

  • Windows Wallpapers
  • Pictures
  • Sample Pictures
  • Public Pictures
  • Solid Colors

When you browse the dialog and choose an image file for the desktop wallpaper from a different location, the target folder path is added to the Picture Location drop-down listing.

This article explains how to clear those additional entries.

Clearing the custom locations from the Picture Location drop-down box

  • Click Start, type regedit.exe and press ENTER
  • Navigate to the following location:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Wallpapers \ Images

  • In the right-pane, each value (from 0 to 9) stores a directory path where images are stored. To remove an entry from the Pictures Location drop-down listing, right-click on the corresponding registry value, and choose Delete.
  • Exit the Registry Editor.
To clear all the custom locations (0-9) in the Picture Location drop-down box, you may also use the REG file wpmru_remove.reg available at the bottom of this page.