PRB: Applications Cannot Change the Desktop Bitmap

 Last reviewed: November 2, 1995
Article ID: Q74366
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) versions 3.0 and 3.1
  • Microsoft Win32 Application Programming Interface (API) included with: 

        - Microsoft Windows NT versions 3.5 and 3.51
    - Microsoft Windows 95 version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

The desktop bitmap is not updated when an application updates the Wallpaper entry of the [Desktop] section of WIN.INI and then sends a WM_WININICHANGE message to the desktop window.

RESOLUTION

By design, there is no supported method for an application to dynamically change the desktop bitmap under Windows 3.0 and 3.1.

MORE INFORMATION

Please note that an application could accidentally (or maliciously) reference a desktop bitmap in a format that would GP fault the system. For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q69292
   TITLE     : PRB: Video Driver GP Faults When Handling Large Bitmaps
Because the entry in WIN.INI has changed, this means that Windows will GP fault every time the user tries to start it in the future, making Windows no longer available.

In Windows 3.1, the application can call 

   SystemParametersInfo(SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER,....)
which has safety checks built in.

Additional reference words: 3.00 3.10 3.50 3.51 4.00 95 WM_WININICHANGE
KBCategory: kbui kbprb
KBSubCategory: UsrIni

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Last reviewed: November 2, 1995
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