Member Avatar for Jen1388

I'm using Windows XP. I've had it for just over a year now. First of all I could pick out what desktops I wanted to, but for some reason all that shows up is a white background. I know the desktop is behind it, because I scrolled down the start menu bar and could see it.
I've tried clicking right, and going to properties, but it only has a 'general' icon. And says...

Protocol: File Protocol

Type: HTML Document

Connection: Not Encrypted.

Address: file://C:\WINDOWS\Web\desktop.html
(URL)

Size: Not Available

Created: Not Available

Modified: Not Available.


I've tried changing it through my control panel, but nothing will work. It's really getting on my nerves now. My dad has tried, but can't find out how to do it. So I was wondering whether anybody else had this problem... have I disabled my active desktop without realising? Or is it a bigger problem then that?
Please help me!

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Dani AI

Generated

This thread illustrates a classic Windows XP “Active Desktop” symptom: the desktop is being rendered from an HTML wrapper (the system file desktop.html), so normal wallpaper and icons appear hidden or replaced by a blank/white page. ’s follow-up shows the problem was caused by a web-item being enabled in the Desktop settings; ’s warning about spyware was also sensible because some unwanted programs do toggle an HTML desktop.

A few practical notes and additional troubleshooting that aren’t fully covered in the replies:

  • Why it happens: Active Desktop lets Windows show an HTML document as the desktop. If that document is empty, corrupted, or points to something blocked, the desktop will look blank even though Explorer is running. Malware or a misconfigured desktop item can create that condition.
  • Quick checks: inspect the desktop HTML file’s timestamp and size (it lives under the Windows\Web folder on XP) and boot to Safe Mode to see whether the plain desktop returns. A new user profile can confirm whether the issue is profile-specific.
  • Recovery options beyond toggling the web item: run an up-to-date anti‑malware scan, use System Restore to revert a recent change, run “sfc /scannow” to repair system files if Display properties are broken, or recreate a clean user account when corruption seems profile-limited. Back up the registry before any edits.
  • Cautions: avoid posting raw HijackThis logs outside the correct forum section (as noted) and back up important data before system-level repairs.

This combination of checks (file inspection, Safe Mode, anti‑malware scan, System Restore or SFC, and testing a fresh profile) will catch the usual causes—intentional web items, accidental settings changes, or a malware modification—without drastic measures.

Recommended Answers

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Member Avatar for techniner

Sounds liek you got hit with spyware.

Download Microsoft Anti Spyware from microsoft.com

Also go download HiJackThis

Post log results back.

Member Avatar for Catweazle

I'll move this to the Viruses and Nasties section, because that's the only section where HijackThis logs are allowed to be posted :)

Member Avatar for Jen1388

Thanks for the advice, I did download Spyware... then... I realised that I actually already had it on my pc... so that wasn't the answer, but I did managed to find out what was wrong.
And I thought I might mention it, just incase anybody else has this problem.
I had some sort of security button clicked in my desktop items. I went to my control panel, appearances and themes, then to 'change the desktop background', clicked on the little 'web' icon and there was a security button with a little tick... I unticked it, and all of a sudden my desktop started working again!!!

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