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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carol
when I try to run regedit I get a message Regristry Editing has been disabled by your administrator
VG
^^ Please check the Help & Support topic.
dhezna
that's really great article....
sysprip install
Hi this hanumat lodha
kindly suggest me how to gain more knowladge of windows server 2003 and with exchange server configuretion in domian group.
Thanks
H. S. Lodha
Bayron
Awesome site. Thanks a ton
dao
I followed the steps for enabling my desktop so I can browse for pic. but it didn't for me why?!!
Riya
ur technique to prevent users from changing wallpapers is possible only when the wallpaper is from ur hard disk, but once u set the background directly from internet, the wallpaper changes even if the restrictions are made in regedit.....so any way u can prevent this too?
Niranjala Galhenage
My Outlook email address receives mail,but I cant send emails. I have changed countries temporarily but it was working well until I changed location within the same city. I am in Istanbul. I tried to reset as adviced through Microsoft Outlook but is still not working. I can log onto my server but cant send emails. Please help.
Niranjala
VG
^^ Double check the email server settings in your account list.
Niranjala Galhenage
please explain and could you kindly be a bit more specific. I am not an advanced user. Thanks
Niranjala