Fix Bing Dynamic Theme Stops Working After Clearing IE Temporary Internet Files

© Ramesh Srinivasan | Windows 7 | 7th September 2010

After using a third-party cache cleaning tool such as CCleaner, the Bing Dynamic Theme icon may be displayed in black color in the Personalize window, and desktop backgrounds don’t appear.

This happens if the "Enclosure" folder, present under the Temporary Internet Files folder is cleared. The "Enclosure" folder is where the Bing Dynamic wallpapers are stored, under a sub-directory with random GUID name. This was reported in CCleaner forums and an appropriate workaround has been posted. Until this issue gets fixed in newer builds, you may add the following folder path to the Exclude items listing in CCleaner settings:

C:\Users\{Username}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\enclosure

Note: Clearing the cache using Internet Options in IE doesn’t wipe off the "Enclosure" folder.

Resetting the Bing Dynamic Theme

Next, to make the Bing Theme functioning again, delete the Bing Dynamic Theme’s feed located at:

C:\Users\{Username}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Feeds

Delete the following Feed-MS file:

http~c~f~fthemeserver~dmicrosoft~dcom~fdefault~daspx~mp=Bing&c=Desktop&m=en-US~

Right-click Desktop, click Personalize

Select a different theme (for example, the "Windows 7" Aero theme)

Reselect Bing Dynamic and click "Download Attachments" in the Subscribe window that appears.

It should now download the wallpapers into a sub-folder (random GUID) under the "Enclosure" directory, and the Desktop Backgrounds should display/shuffle automatically.

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10 Comments

  1. James
    said this on Saturday, October 29th 2011 12:43 pm

    Thank you, it worked perfectly.

  2. Prateek
    said this on Friday, September 30th 2011 8:56 am

    Trust me, we were trying to fix this prolbem for almost a century and then came across your post!!!
    Thank you very much

  3. Cristyna
    said this on Saturday, August 6th 2011 9:00 pm

    It worked for me too. Thank you.

  4. Kempy
    said this on Saturday, March 12th 2011 6:42 pm

    Thank you! Worked like a charm!

  5. Todd Smith
    said this on Tuesday, November 2nd 2010 10:29 pm

    I believe because of Outlook 2007 and some extra protections they’ve added for attachment handling the RSS Feed attachments are getting blocked. To fix this I had to follow the instructions above but also add http://themeserver.microsoft.com to my trusted sites list under IE -> Internet Options -> Security -> Trusted Sites.

  6. Shahin
    said this on Monday, October 11th 2010 2:01 pm

    thank you. it worked for me.

  7. Jim Shanley
    said this on Wednesday, September 15th 2010 8:53 pm

    Ramesh, yes I installed and selected ‘Download Attachments’, the only way I can see something other than a black screen as my desktop is to select ‘Windows Classic.’

  8. Ramesh Srinivasan
    said this on Wednesday, September 15th 2010 7:25 pm

    @Jim: Did you get the “Download Attachments” window when reselecting the Bing Dynamic theme?

  9. Jim Shanley
    said this on Wednesday, September 15th 2010 6:15 pm

    I tried this, but I’m still getting a black desktop even after deleting the feed-MS file and selecting a different (Windows Aero) theme.

  10. Fleet Command
    said this on Thursday, September 9th 2010 4:33 am

    Bing Dynamic Theme! Never had heard about it… It’s good to know… And it is good to know that people in the CCleaner forum acted so politely.

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