If you use a Windows XP machine then there is very little chance that you have never seen the phrase “Restore Active Desktop” inplace of your wallpaper. This usually happens due to improper shutdowns (like power failure or some device failure that may cause the computer to shutdown) or when some application or windows itself gets confused and triggers the BSOD (Blue Screen of Death).
Many a times when this happens it is most likely that the instructions given dont answer your current situation, like Your answer to all these is no i never did any of these
Did you recently change your background to a web page?
Did you recently add a new item to your Active Desktop?
Do you want to turn off your Active Desktop?
but you might have done this
Did your browser stop working, or did you restart your computer without shutting it down first?
There are situations where none of the cases match and worse the Restore my Active Desktop button doesnot work!! It just tells you that a script error has occured. How do you loose this ugly instruction screen and get back your wallpaper now??
One way is to open some image and set it as a wallpaper or if you dont want to spend time looking for a new picture as a wallpaper and want your previous wallpaper to comeback follow the setps below:
- Right-click anywhere on the Desktop and click Properties
- In Display Properties change to the Desktop tab, where you will see a monitor image with your wallpaper and the list of images below it
- Choose any other image in the list than the one currently selected and then select the original image used as wallpaper and click Ok, your wallpaper is back! ( To make this step simpler just selct the image above or below the currently selected one and then select the original image then click Ok )
You are done. You should now see your wallpaper instead of the Restore my Desktop instructions.
97 comments ↓
I’m having a similar problem with my PC desktop. But I can’t use this aid because when I right click on the screen, and go to properties, it didables my actions. Please help me I’m begging.
that might be because of the user privileges being limited by your administrator(s)
What if you did that and your screen just went grey. Now when you go to the Properties and try to change it, The background options is disabled.
consult tech guy re problem brilliant help regards fireman tommy
I changed the desktop, but now there are no icons and when you try to put them back on, it acts like it does it but there is no new icon. The desktop is somewhere and I need to know where.
i think you chose to hide your desktop icons, to view the icons right click on the desktop and goto arrange icons and make sure ‘View Desktop Icons’ is ticked, if not click on it
If you have installed IE7 you are guaranteed to get a script error for this action.
The above advice will not work if you are on a security enabled windows 2003 domain. The only fix then is to perform a registry edit for the individual user.
Run Regedit
Navigate to:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\Components
Change the DeskHTMLVersion key from 272 to 0 and reboot. The original desktop should now be back.
All we need now is for Microsoft to actually fix the issue as none of this helps with a terminal server with full Group Policy restrictions on running regedit as a user - 3 reboots are necessary to fix the issue which is no use on a server used 24hrs a day by remote users.
You cannot intiate a remote desktop connection because
the windows logon software on the computer has been
replaced by incompatible software TCGina.dll .
To correct this problem, please habe the administrator
of the remote computer contact the program vendor for
a version that is compatible with windows,
my active desktop and start menu is gone and its not because its at the bottom of my screen its completely gone and i cant right click the background it wont let me please help
im having the same problem.the computer loads the start menu then the desktop items then the screen turns grey then turns white and their is a link that says restore active desktop which does absolutely nothing. then everything dissapears for a while then comes back for a while so you got to be quick.I don’t know how to fix it completly but i can go online by holding down the control key and then press the n key while holding the control key.this should take you to your web page you visited last.You can also try this,hold down control key then the delete key then the alt key.Make sure each key is pressed at the same time.then a box pops up.on the the box click on task manager.A new box should pop up.On the new box click applications then click switch to at the bottom of the box.If you want your desktop items and downloads and my computer instead of going to switch to go to new task witch is right next to it.another small box should pop up.delete whats in the box and type: explorer.exe then click ok.your desktop items should appear.let me know if any of this worked.good luck
worked a treat! thanks.
In active desktop .. show web content is disabled and then greyed out so i can’t re-enable it thereby totally keeping me from changing my wallpaper. Where d I go to re-enable web content so i can add wallpaper once again to my desktop? As a sidenote I did disable some services but I highly doubt this is what happened. I also recently removed several programs I no longer needed on this computer. I did a windows update and checked to see if there were any previous updates missing .. all is where on this front. Can someone help me? My husband is going nuts, he inherited this computer from me when I got my new one and really wants his nascar wallpaper there lol .. Please help save my sanity!
i hv lost my desktop. whenever i click on RESTORE MY ACTIVE DESKTOP following msg comes:
An error has occured on the script of this page
Line : 65
Character: 1
Error: Object doesn’t support this actoin.
Code:0
URL: file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Abhishek/Application%20Data/Microsoft/Internet%20Explorer/Desktop.htt
Do u want to continue running scripts on this page?
Nothing happens even if i click yes or no.
can u give any solution
when i right clik on desktop and then on properties it shows the message (the operation has been cancelled due to restriction in effect on this computer.
please help me out!!!
“Run Regedit
Navigate to:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\Components
Change the DeskHTMLVersion key from 272 to 0 and reboot. The original desktop should now be back.”
I did all this and it didnt stop the problem. My desktop keeps disapearing then coming back momentarily then disapearing again. It does this about 10 - 12 times, then disapeares for good and leaves me with just my dexktop picture and nothing else. I cant use the kayboard or the mouse - except to ctrl-alt-delete. This happenes with all users and it is erratic. Sometimes i can get 10 minutes before it starts, and sometimes it starts straight away and i cant use computer at all.
Only been happening about 3 days and since i bought WD external hard drive. I didnt install hardware and have unplugged it since this started.
HELP ME I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO
Thanks your advice sorted my problem out!
I have the same problem as John and Brett - which seems to be a result of a virus infection, subsequenty “healed” by AVG. One more problem is, however, that my Windows Task Manager tells me, it has been disabled by the administrator, that is - me, which I have not done. Help PLEASE!
A follow-up to my previous post: all the desktop icons have disappeared including those on the task manager toolbar despite the fact that they are checked ON in the desktop properties
I luckily navigated past the intricate ads for paid desktop restoration and am a happy and grateful user.
Thanks
Hooray!
It worked.
Thanks a million!!!
my Active X control will not go away i have tried to choose a diffrend backgroud but it does not work how can i fix it?
“Run Regedit
Navigate to:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\Components
Change the DeskHTMLVersion key from 272 to 0 and reboot. The original desktop should now be back.â€
– Thank a lot
– Madura
How do I restore my active desktop?
My active desktop is not working i click on “restore active desktop” and nothin happens, then right click on the blank screen and click on properties, still nothing happens i go to “run” and i typed in “Regedit” still nothing happened. I can access the internet but when i go to my mail it says somthing about cookies so i enabled everything and even tried default but it’s not working. I also can’t download ANYTHING the proces never works or i get an error message. I click on the little speaker for Volume and that doesn’t work either. I also when to system restore and clicked on that but nothing happens, help!!!!!!
This works!! Thanks
Run Regedit
Navigate to:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\Components
Change the DeskHTMLVersion key from 272 to 0 and reboot. The original desktop should now be back.
All we need now is for Microsoft to actually fix the issue as none of this helps with a terminal server with full Group Policy restrictions on running regedit as a user - 3 reboots are necessary to fix the issue which is no use on a server used 24hrs a day by remote users.
As some last answer for this issue I want to suggest this idea bellow.
;change the content of registry “HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\General \” to something else,i.e.null address,for a example like this “%SystemRoot%\Web\badSafeMode.htth”
Sorry,this fake address is bad joke,although.Please put it at your own preference.
My computer after showing the items on desktop was
giving a report “because your security setting disable
activex your computer may not work properly but I have reinstalled activex but I still find the message directing me to my Control Panel where I could not find any clue to the problem
after nassty trojan horse sorted, we were left with active x screen. Your advice above has rectified it-by choosing any image as a desktop backeground, my original chosen one has re-appeared thanks. However, in control panel - display, there are no tabs to change desktop picture screen saver etc, the only tab is desktop properties. Any idea where I can find them?
Thanks u soo much abt my problem of inactive desktop and missing desktop icons.
Post no. 6 by admin has solved my problem.
thanks so much for the help, I never knew this could correct the problem.
This doesn’t work, whenever I go to properties and the desktop tab it won’t let me select anything
[...] I may know, but not sure Similar to above quote - I’m pretty sure this should do it, hopefully Restore Active Desktop Not Working ? | Anything, but not Everything Just go to your display settings and change your desktop backround and click apply * hopefllly as [...]
thanks for the advice. it worked
the toolbar is as small as i can get it, i go to the box to put a check mark is autohide toolbar, but i dont have room to click (ok) & (apply).I have done everthing i know to do this vista leaves a lot to be desired, i cant do ANYTHING when i cant click apply & ok Please help God Bless!!!!!!Brim……
me too, i cannot use my properties because it’s always says ” application not found”
what i have to do?
please help me!
Good advice! Why can’t Microsoft give out useful information like this?!!
Run Regedit
Navigate to:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\Components
Change the DeskHTMLVersion key from 272 to 0 and reboot. The original desktop should now be back.
THANKS, IT WORKED FOR ME…
Thanks,worked perfectly
Change in registry following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\Components
Change the value of DeskHtmlVersion to zero instead of decimal 272.
Cheers!
Did The Steps And They Worked, But There Is Still The Blue Shadow Boxes Under My Icons. Any Ideas?
I tried this but all the image under background are frozen. Any idea’s?
I tried following the instructions but when I go to the list of images, the list is frozen. I can’t scroll through the list or click on any items visible. When I tried a color it said it updated but it didn’t. What now?
plese help me
I did the regeidt and it helped make the active screen go away but I still have a constant hourglass and can’t navigate anywhere or shut down properly.
my internet explorer folder does not have a desktop folder…so…yeah, also i can`t use the internet even though it has a good connection and all the other computers work, any help? already scanned with avg.
I would love to try to change the setting, but when i try to run regedit the message says Registry editing has been disabled by the administrator. I am the administrator, i never disabled editing. how do i change that?
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/6237/0109sm1.jpg
if I change the decimal instead of hexadecimal values, and now it turns on and doesn’t show anything but the background, NO start menus, no right clicks, nothing, even Ctrl-Alt-Del is not working. how do I fix it?
thanks
Hi all. I ran the Regedit procedure as outlined by Rik Evans in his earlier post, and my original background image was restored. Many thanks for the advice.
Before the “Restore My Active Desktop” problem occured, I have had problem with the Desktop Property.
Normally, when I right click anywhere on the Desktop, then property, it will take me to a small screen where I can select the property of the Desktop - be it image, or web. Now this facility is gone.
Whenever I right click anywhere, then Property, an hourglass will appear, then….nothing.
I went to Control Panel and click on Display…nothing.
Just wondering if anyone can offer some solution to fix this proble.
Thanks
Thank you for sharing. I came to this site to read how things really are
thanks it worked for me.
pls how can i download a safe antivirus on internet.
URL: file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/abc/Application%20Data/Microsoft/Internet%20Explorer/Desktop.htt
Do u want to continue running scripts on this page?
Nothing happens even if i click yes or no.
can u give any solution
I too had a same problem in AD enviornment
Problem was solved after changing the value in
regedit
thanks..it worked for me
[...] the directions given HERE to get back to [...]
administrator has limited previlige to change desktop setting so i am unable to restore actrive desktop
Brett, you’re the man!
Thanks a lot.
” If you have installed IE7 you are guaranteed to get a script error for this action. The above advice will not work if you are on a security enabled windows 2003 domain. The only fix then is to perform a registry edit for the individual user. Run Regedit Navigate to: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\Components Change the DeskHTMLVersion key from 272 to 0 and reboot. The original desktop should now be back. All we need now is for Microsoft to actually fix the issue as none of this helps with a terminal server with full Group Policy restrictions on running regedit as a user - 3 reboots are necessary to fix the issue which is no use on a server used 24hrs a day by remote users.”
Thanks to this bro,it worked fine for me
Rik Evans, you have saved my system !
I did as per http://angrys0ul.com/blog/2007/03/30/restore-active-desktop-not-working/#comment-7331 and got back my active desktop I lost few years back into my laptop. I had scratched google by all its ears, but never (I don’t know why) came across today’s search result!
Thanks a lot.
This worked! Thanks for saving me more months of staring at this jarring white wallpaper.
actually,i inserted an infected memory card to take photos from it…when i was doing it,my system was stuck and i could’nt do anything.
i repeated this for 3 times and the fourth time i got that active desktop wallpaper……
should i change my desktop picture everytime i start my computer?
if i dont change the photo,as soon as i start….its again getting stuck…..
now when i started my computer,i immideately changed the desktop photo and pressed chrome on the quick launch bar
should i turn on my active desktop?if so how?
To restore your active desktop:
1. Right click on desktop area.
2. From the drop-down menu displayed select ‘Arrange Icons By’
3. Then make sure that the option ‘Lock Web Items On Desktop’ is not applied. If it is selected, simply click on it to de-select it.
I don’t know if this will solve your problem but it worked for me
Check this out! I had the issue where I had the restore active desktop message stuck on my screen. When I clicked the button I got the script error and nothing would happen.
I found this quick little app that solved the problem. I scanned it with avast and spyware terminator and believe it to be safe.
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Click on 16 and download file. scan and open it and viola! restart your pc and you’re set!
It doesn’t work! You see I have a student laptop, so everything is pretty much blocked. I can’t get it back. It has been BOUT A MONTH SINCE IT FIRST STARTED SAYING THAT.
Thank You,
You fixed my problem.
my registry was disabled by administator..what do i do? pls help…. afetr the reg edit..nothing follows..i cant follow the steps…
Dude thanks this helps!
“Run Regedit
Navigate to:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\Components
Change the DeskHTMLVersion key from 272 to 0 and reboot. The original desktop should now be back.”
“Run Regedit
Navigate to:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\Components
Change the DeskHTMLVersion key from 272 to 0 and hit F5. The original desktop should now be back.”
Thanks for the advice on changing DeskHTMLVersion key from 272 to 0 - it worked! And I didn’t even need to reboot!
Thank you for the info but it did not work.
This is truly the script error from hell! I’ve tried every remedy posted on the web to try and fix this problem to no avail. I even ran a Microsoft hotfix that is suppose to solve the problem. It did absolutlely nothing. It’s not some virus or trojan. I’ve run several antivirus/malware software applications and nothing! The problem with the DeskHtMLVersion remedy posted is that it is only good for one boot. You have to edit your registry and change the value from 272 to 0 before you restart your computer everytime. I read where one guy said he had developed an executable that keeps the DeskHTMLVersion at zero and it was available on RaphidShare for download. I went to RaphidShare and the file is no longer there. Does anyone have a permanent fix for this problem please???
UPDATE: Just found the true fix! It’s a script you have to copy and run on your computer. It keeps your DESKHTMLVERSION set at 0 permanently. It can be found here: http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?t=433748 Just look for message #4 and follow the instructions. I almost went Mac over this.
Hey if you cant select a different background from the menu things because they cannot be selected. Go to your pictures, right-click and select “Set as Desktop Background” This should fix everything.
If you cant select an image from the menu you’re viewing, go to your pictures, right-click an image and then select set as desktop background. This should work.
I CAN GO TO CONTROL AND DISPLAY AND PUT A PICTURE ON MY DESKTOP. WHEN I TURN THE PC OFF AND COME BACK TO TURN IT ON, THE PICTURE HAS GONE AND I HAVE A BLACK SCREEN WITH MY ICONS. ANY IDEAS, THANKS IN ADVANCE
AND HERE IS ANOTHER, MOST TIMES IF I GO TO PRINT SOMETHING, MY SCREEN GOES BLACK, CAN GET NOTHING TO SHOW ON SCREEN SO HAVE TO TURN OFF AT THE MAIN WALL SWITCH.
i wnt my deszk top back
THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!!!
[...] be a little more helpful - Restore Active Desktop Not Working ? | Anything, but not Everything You didn’t say which OS you are using so I assumed it was [...]
Congrats!! It is a very simple solution!!
i m having problem in desktop, it shows half wallpaper and half is white background
want to make sure this is a real blog and not a some sort of spam
so then what do you do if the adminastrarors disabled it?
works likw magic….many thanks
Thanks Tanisha ….It works
I spent over 2 hours trying half dozen other recommended overly complicated remedies. The WallPaper took 30 seconds and it actually was the only recommendation that solved the problem.
thanks it worked saved me time from looking at a blank background
stop
Run Regedit
Navigate to:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\Components
Change the DeskHTMLVersion key from 272 to 0 and reboot. The original desktop should now be back.
Thank a lots, it worked.
Another way to overcome from this problem
1. At first download a unlocker software and install it
2. Then go to the address
file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Abhishek/Application%20Data/Microsoft/
3. Now right click on
Internet Explorer Folder click on unlock click on unlock all
4. Again right click on the Internet Explorer Folder click unlock choose delete option after deletion…..
your problem will say good by
qysh me hek bre qeta restore active desktop
This problem is not solved using this solutions
i won restor my computer it treated with a virus…..
i won refresh my computer . in a proper maner.
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Hey thanks a lot Rik!
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\Components
Change the DeskHTMLVersion key from 272 to 0 and reboot
Also worked for me! You rock!
I’m having a similar problem in my PC desktop. I tried following the instruction but when i go to the desktop tab my machine was hanged after then when i restart machine it was automatically restart again what can i do..
Dude thanks this helps!
“Run Regedit
Navigate to:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\Components
Change the DeskHTMLVersion key from 272 to 0 and reboot. The original desktop should now be back.”
Thanks, i run regedit and it solve the problem.
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