In Windows you can change desktop wallpaper, screen saver, themes and other appearance settings by right-click on Desktop and select "Properties".
Sometimes you might want to disable all or a few options in Desktop Properties to restrict users or you might want to enable those options in case they are disabled by your system administrator or a virus infection.
Following tutorial will help you in enabling or disabling all or a particular option in Desktop Properties:
NOTE: This tutorial will work for almost all Windows versions.
A. Disable Themes Tab in Desktop Properties:
Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now goto:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer
If "Explorer" key is not present, then create it. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoThemesTab and set its value to 1 to disable it.
B. Disable Desktop Tab in Desktop Properties:
Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now goto:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ System
If "System" key is not present, then create it. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoDispBackgroundPage and set its value to 1 to disable it.
C. Disable Screen Saver Tab in Desktop Properties:
Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now goto:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ System
If "System" key is not present, then create it. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoDispScrSavPage and set its value to 1 to disable it.
D. Disable both Themes and Appearance Tabs in Desktop Properties:
Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now goto:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ System
If "System" key is not present, then create it. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoDispAppearancePage and set its value to 1 to disable it.
E. Disable Settings Tab in Desktop Properties:
Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now goto:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ System
If "System" key is not present, then create it. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoDispSettingsPage and set its value to 1 to disable it.
BONUS TIP: In case you want to enable a restricted tab in Desktop Properties, just delete the required DWORD value as mentioned above or change its value to 0 instead of 1.
This article was posted by VG in following section: Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.
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Niranjala
I need to get rid of the "You May be a Victim of Software Counterfeiting"sign from my desktop. My Windows XP was installed a few years ago by a technician when I bought my computer ware. How do I do this. Is this OK to do it now.
Also. I keep setting my Desktop background to Ascent and it keeps going black after a few minutes. Why is this happening? And how do I correct it. I tried to download drivers and it rejects it now because I don't have Genuine Windows.
I appreciate if you reply to my email.
Thanks
Niranjala
Paul
I have a screen saver set up by my company that gets in the way when I'm trying to run certain tasks. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel and dissabled everything there, but it permanently shuts off the screen saver function so I can't get access to the screen saver console. This is okay, but as soon as I plug back into my company network, it turns the screen saver back on again. Is there any way to fix this so I have full control over my screen saver? Thanks!
VG
^^ It seems the server is implementing some group policy on each client system, thats why you are facing this problem. Unfortunately nothing can be done afaik.
Niranjala
I get this message below when I try to log onto to my account this morning:
"Windows cannot load the locally stored profile: Insufficient security rights or a corrupted local file. Windows has logged you in with a temporary profile any setting you make will not be saved". I cant access ANY OF MY OLD FILES NOTHING.
I Googled and found an answer asking Me to try and create a new user account. And I did that. But How Do I retrieve my old User account files? There is nothing on the desktop. Why has this happened.?
Give me instructions please.
I think my hard disk may be full. And I will have to get it cleaned up as well. In the meantime I need to access my Microsoft outlook.
Thanks
Niranjala
VG
^^ You can access your documents from "Documents & Settings" folder in system drive where Windows is installed. It should contain a folder with the same name as your previous login name.
Niranjala
Thank you for the above Advice,
I have a new issue. I have Genuine Microsoft Outlook 2007 installed. I have a product ID key etc. Today the updates have installed the star shaped icon on my task bar identifying Outlook as not genuine. But it is. What do I do to get rid of it?
I don't know what has happened as I had this software for two years now.
VG
^^ Did you share your key with someone else? If the icon showing its not genuine, then its not at least now.
Niranjala
No I haven't. I have been using this for two years and why now? There is also a message along with this asking me to purchase the Microsoft Outlook. and that I should install OGAPluginInstall.exe. now to verify its genuine further. What should I do.
I cant understand why I should buy it again. I paid for it once. And it is definitely not pirated.
Thanks, I appreciate any advice soon. There must be an error.
VG
^^ Install the OGAplugin installer and it'll tel you whether your outlook is genuine or not.
sukhvir
THis is great work dude.
You are doing awesome social service ;)