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Unwanted wallpaper at startup

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by malikjaru 1 view

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Using Windows 98 laptop. Friend put picture of ex-girlfriend and he as wallpaper. Now when you turn on machine, this annoying photo comes up immediately with start up before loading windows desktop. Then once desktop is loaded, the other wallpaper that I set on desktop comes up like it's supposed to. How do I get rid of the annoying girlfriend photo that comes up on startup before? Can't find it anywhere and not sure even where to look. I REALLY NEED THIS OFF SO BIG POINTS TO BE AWARDED!

8 replies

by bfilmfan

It sounds as if he set the wallpaper in the registry.

DO a search on your hard disk for any files labeled *.bmp or *.jpg. You can view these files with the Windows PAINT program that is located in the Accessories folder.

Once you have identified friend and ex, delete the picture and the issue should be resolved.

I would not recommend that you attempt to modify the registry yourself. Have a computer literate friend do it for you and show you what he did.

by malikjaru

I don't have any computer saavy friends. I am about it. I assume I go into regedit to do this. Do I search regedit for .bmp and .jpg? If I delete the key it should not mess up my system right? Can you give instructions?

by sgt_shultz

i'd look at Desktop /properies/Background, not wall paper. then you can search for the file it says it's using on the hard disk and delete it then change the background to 'none'

by 408karl

I followed sgt_shultz instructions carefully, and it removed the wallpaper completely. Now my computer starts up in XP.

by cg it

do NOT delete the registry key.

There is a registry setting for wall paper. here is the Microsoft KB article on it http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555429

It is doubtfull that the registry was edited to prevent you from changing the picture rather the picture is a theme and not wall paper. Here is a Microsoft KB on themes.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307855

As Bfilmfan says you can search for the bmp or jpeg or whatever the picture format is using the search feature and delete the picture. That will get rid of it.

by cg it

Search meaning click start then click search, type in name of the file or *.bmp or jpeg . file names will be displayed once Windows searches the Hard Drive for the file.

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