Q: My desktop has a black background. Whenever i go to Desktop Properties, it won’t let me change any of my backgrounds. I’m able to select the images, but the background never changed. I rather just have it back to the Vista background.
To restore the ability to change the desktop Wallpaper in your system, download the file wallpaper_enable.reg for Windows 2000/XP/Vista systems, and save the file to your Desktop. Right-click wallpaper_enable.reg and choose Merge to apply the settings.
The REG file removes the Wallpaper Policy setting from the following registry locations
Windows Vista specific setting
Click Start, Control Panel, Ease of Access, Ease of Access Center.
Under Make things on the screen easier to see, deselect the option:
Select Save.
You should be able to change the desktop background now.
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Bravo! I love you Man! It works. Finally. I am very happy woman again. Instead of black screen ( I had it for last few months) finally some nice picture. And it is very needed in this boring and gray Belgium. Believe me. I will drink a glass of my favorite Martini this evening for your health and wealth :) Ciao
This can also be caused by failing to activate Windows Vista. In SP1, the unchangeable black background is the only real penalty of not activating.
Thank you so much for your help! I tried everything and couldn’t figure it out for the life of me. I appreciate the help!!!!! :)
OH MY GOD!! Thanks so much. It really helped. =]
Thank you a million times over. I have had my computer for months and nothing seemed to worked…but this did, now I can enjoy my photos as the desktop background instead of the dreaded black screen
The man is a hero i just wasted hourd trying all sorts of crap on the web; Even tried exporting other users registry keys. Almost got to the point of deleting my user… But the ease of access thing was the culprit – dunno why. Anyway thanks to Ramesh for his fix….
thnks a lot. now i can change my desktop backround again
nothing will work for me i tried that wallpaper_enable.reg and did everything it says and when i go to change the background it says this this feature has been disabled then below that it says please contact your system administrator for details i have tried everything to fix it can anybody help me? i have windows vista
I too had this problem! I tried everything you suggested and still didn’t work…until I downloaded the wallpaper_enable.reg and followed your instructions. It worked!! Thanks very much.
Hi Bro, Whoever posted this answer. Thanks alot ! i can change my wallpaper again. Thanks Thanks Thanks