desktop background gone after virus

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

bartgordts wrote:

> my background in (XP) desktop has changed to a warning sign after
> infection with a trojan. In set up of the desktop, the background
> choice field is not an active field any more. I tried to correct this
> in regedit, but cannot find the right settings?
>

Here's how to get rid of the desktop warning being displayed by malware.
Go to the Display applet in Control Panel and look on the Desktop tab.
Click on Customize Desktop, and then click on the Web tab. You will see
that there are checkmarks next to "My Current Home Page" and probably
"Lock Desktop Items". Uncheck these. By highlighting the "My Current
Home Page" and clicking on the Properties button, you will be able to
determine the name of the file that is the message. It might be called
something like "security.html" or the like.

Click Apply and OK out when you've made your changes. Then you want to
find the *.html malware file and delete it. I know you said you removed
a virus, but did you also scan for non-viral malware? If you didn't,
get Spybot Search & Destroy (latest version is 1.4) and Ad-aware
(1.06). Install these programs (they are free), update them, and scan
for malware in Safe Mode.

Additionally, if the above doesn't help, if you can't enable desktop
backgrounds after a virus, MVP Kelly Theriot has a fix. Look under
Wallpaper-Desktop-Disable Changing here:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_w.htm

If Display tabs are missing, run Kelly's registry edit on line 285,
right-hand side "Restore all display tabs".

HTH,

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User