My XP setup has been working OK but now it doesn't start with my proper desktop display settings. I have Windows Classic theme selected for the display properties but lately when I start Windows I get a desktop that is Windows Classic but with XP "windows and buttons" (Appearance tab). Each session I change back to Windows classic style "windows and buttons" but next time I start up the system comes up with XP "windows and buttons" with Display Properties>Appearance setting shown as XP "windows and buttons". Any Ideas why my Windows Classic Style is not being saved.
terry29946 0 Newbie Poster
Recommended Answers
Jump to PostHave you tried this?
Jump to PostYou could try setting up a new account and setting that up as you want then reboot and log-on to that account. If all works well then, just delete your old account and use the new one. If that will not work, we will have to look further.
Jump to PostI think if it were malware /trojan ,just creating a new account wouldn't fix the setting on the other acct,But i have no suggestion as how to fix it .except not making the new accT an administrato,r and just leave it ,don't use it !
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HoustonIT 12 Posting Whiz
terry29946 0 Newbie Poster
Thanks for the post but everything was already set correctly - nothing was stopping me change the display settings but, once again, when I started my system the "windows and buttons" was set to XP after I had set it to Classic before closing down. The system lets me change to Classic but aways starts up set to XP.
Bob_180_Bob 41 Posting Virtuoso
You could try setting up a new account and setting that up as you want then reboot and log-on to that account. If all works well then, just delete your old account and use the new one. If that will not work, we will have to look further.
terry29946 0 Newbie Poster
Thanks. I tried that (setting up a new account), and it worked correctly - I changed to Windows Classic, restarted the machine and the new account came up with Windows Classic - great. Thanks for your help but if anyone does know what was the original problem, please let me know.
terry29946 0 Newbie Poster
Following on from my last post, after I had created a new user, the original user started behaving correctly so it looked as though everything was solved. Last night I deleted the new user I had set up (as I didn't now need it) and this morning the original user came up but back with the old problem - XP windows and buttons instead of Classic!!!! It seems the new user, set to Windows Classic was keeping the original user correct??? Weird, any comments would be useful.
Bob_180_Bob 41 Posting Virtuoso
It is normally caused by a virus but it can be Windows just missbehaving.
Set up a new user again and run these:=
On-line Virus Scan
Go to one or all of these sites and do an online virus scan.
us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp
Check Malware
Go to http://www.besttechie.net/tools/mbam-setup.exe
and download and run Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.
Check Spyware
Go to www.safer-networking.org and download and run Spybot
kardzzz 0 Newbie Poster
i had the same issue then ran the 'sfc / scannow' function to re-copy my XP SP2 cd files in case any dll's etc had corrupt. I then went to microsoft to download all the latest patches again. All fine for me.
Start > Run > (type) sfc / scannow (put your CD in tray and let it do its stuff)
Hope that works for you also
terry29946 0 Newbie Poster
Thanks guys. I've already run a virus check (Avast), a spyware check (Spybot) and the "sfc / scannow" but they didn't help. I'll try the other suggestions. BTW as soon as I re-created a second user (after deleting it) the display in my original user came right again with the correct settings. Very strange.
Bob_180_Bob 41 Posting Virtuoso
Go to http://www.besttechie.net/tools/mbam-setup.exe
and download and run Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.
caperjack 875 I hate 20 Questions Team Colleague
I think if it were malware /trojan ,just creating a new account wouldn't fix the setting on the other acct,But i have no suggestion as how to fix it .except not making the new accT an administrato,r and just leave it ,don't use it !
terry29946 0 Newbie Poster
Thanks for that but I did that last night and Anti-Malware always hung and became unresponsive after 6 or 7 minutes (always at a different place in the scan) - never got it to finish a full scan, it did a quick scan OK and that was clean. I have run Spybot and Spyware Terminator and both gave a clean scan.
terry29946 0 Newbie Poster
I still haven't worked out why my XP system is behaving as it does but I have discovered a way to force it into Windows Classic display and it works fine now.
Start Menu > Run and type gpedit.msc. Navigate to User Configuration >
Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Explorer and
set the "Turn on Classic Shell" option to Enabled.
Hope this may help others and thanks again for all your support.
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