Cannot Apply Changes or Recover XP Desktop

Stuck in grey hell

from Stardock Forums

I went on vacation for 4 months, and have returned to remember that somehting in the Stardock suites has changed my system to a crappy crey and I cannot change it anymore.



I have made sure no Stardock apps are running at Start Up anymore.



I have used Theme Manager to try to return to the normal XP stuff.



I have tried applying a new Theme of Blind... Nothing.



It acts like it is changing, downloads and says it is applying... but nothing.  My browsers, explorers and windows toolbars all have this look:





I have even gone into my Desktop Properties and tried to set it back to a normal theme, but nothing works.  In fact, the background in the XP theme in windows shows as white?  This isn't the normal look here:





HELP ME!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!
Scott
wincustomize
8,423 views 35 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
which version of WB? open WB configuration and if 'system information' is on the left...click it a copy/paste the info here
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
which version of WB? 4.x or 5?

shareware or paid?

if 5 & pd, then open WB configure, click system information on the left & copy/paste it here.
if the shareware, the time probably ran out by now. I believe it was 60 days.
DeskScapes - Bring your desktop background to life.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
oh, now my first post shows up
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
WindowBlinds 5 v 4.96 - or so it says... downloaded March 21, 2006.  Paid.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Ahhh... It looks like in WindowBlinds, somehow the WINDOWS CLASSIC theme got saved over top of the WINDOWS XP theme... cuz they are both the same.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
mine's 5.01.006 dated 3/21/2006

copy/paste the system information from WB configuration (last option on the left of WB config)
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think I'm in real trouble now. There's a fellow here with
a pitchfork and pointed tail. ...Oh Hell!

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
dang, forgot the chameleomonkeyfrog =>>
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I broke him
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
duct tape to the rescue:
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Do you still have the XP themes showing in the appearance tab?

Did you ever turn off theme services and not turn it back on?
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

Yes, I have turned it off and on... I am stumped.  I am going to uninstall and reinstall everything


 
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
are you downloading and installing via SDC?
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Is the "Luna" Windows theme file in "C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes" folder?

If not, you can download it here (right-hand column, link "Restore Luna Theme") http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

After downloading and extracting to the location you downloaded the file to, you can drill down to the needed file(s) and place them in the "Resources" folder.

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sorry, forgot to mention it is line #187, right-hand column in comment #15.
Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

BLESS YOU CORKY!  I got my taskbar, etc., back!


One more question though...


Now, it seems, I cannoit set a wallpaper.  When I right-click the screen and open properties and go to the Desktop tab, I cannot select a file, I can only change the color of the background, not select a wallpaper.


 


The THEMES Tab shows a white background no matter what I select.



The DESKTOP Tab shows the same thing... no matter what I select as the color.  And the options and file names are greyed out and unclickable.



Any thoughts??
Scott
Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top
In the desktop tab click customize desktop and check the web items - if lock web items is selected - unselected it - if it's unselected, sometimes selecting/unselecting wakes it up
Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks, Bichur.... tried it.  Applied it and unapplied it several times... nothing.
Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top

hmm...did you ever turn off themes services?


can't try any options at work. (damn the electric fence, damn the electric fence), active desktop turned off?
Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top
what happens if you pick a pic in a folder, right click on it and set as wallpaper?
Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top
ignore the themes services question, forgot I already asked
Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top
clicking a pic and saying set as desktop wallpaper has no effect.  It doesnt show up.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I suspect WindowBlinds is still controlling the wallpaper section.

If you still have WindowBlinds installed, you could try to load WB config panel > go to Basic Settings > deselect the "Apply any wallpaper included" option > click "Apply Changes" (note - previous to doing this, you should select either the Windows XP or Windows Classic skin in the config panel).

After applying changes, open the Display Properties\Themes tab > select Windows XP > click "Apply" (the "Bliss" wallpaper should display in the preview window for this procedure).

If this fails for some reason, try rebooting immediately after the attempt to apply the Windows XP theme > go to "C:\WINDOWS\Web\Wallpaper" folder and right-click on the "Bliss" image > use "Set as desktop background" (as referred to by Bichur).

Finally, if this fails for some strange reason, try applying a skin with WindowBlinds (with the "Apply any wallpaper included" still disabled) > reboot > unload WB > use "Display Properties\Themes tab\Theme list" to select and apply the Windows XP theme.

Let us know how it goes.

Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top

Well, Corky...they were all excellent ideas...



But still... SOMETHING is overriding my wallpaper.  I can tell, because I I shut down my system, I get a flash of the wallpaper I had selected (in this case, Bliss), but when the system boots up, it is overriding it with a plain blue screen.  I have followed the steps above meticulously... and nothing.



Can we think of anything else in the Stardock universe that might override the wallpaper?



Thanks for all your help and patience, folks...
Scott