Windows Err Msg: Unable to Use XXXX.BMP As a Desktop Bitmap

• Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0, 3.0a

SYMPTOMS

When you use the desktop wallpaper feature in the Windows 3.0 Control Panel, the following error message may be displayed:

   Unable to Use XXXX.BMP As a Desktop Bitmap

CAUSE

Any of the following can cause this problem:

• There is not enough free memory or free system resources to display the picture.
• The picture is not a valid bitmap (.BMP) file.
• The path to the bitmap is incorrect when selecting a bitmap from another directory.

WORKAROUND

Verifying There Is Enough Memory

To verify that there is enough memory or resources, make sure that Windows is not running in real mode. Real mode may not allocate enough free memory or system resources to Windows to display a bitmap as a background wallpaper. Large bitmaps, such as CHESS.BMP, cannot run in real mode. Large bitmaps such as this CHESS.BMP require more free memory than is likely to be available in real mode.

Verifying the Picture Is a Bitmap

To verify that the picture is a valid bitmap, do the following:

1. Load the file into Paintbrush.

2. Save the picture, as a bitmap called TEST.BMP, to the WINDOWS directory.

3. Run Control Panel and choose the Desktop icon.

4. In the Wallpaper section, select TEST.BMP. (Note: If Windows is running in real mode, you must restart Windows in order to see the new wallpaper.)

Selecting a Bitmap as Wallpaper

To select a bitmap for use as wallpaper from another directory:

1. Run Control Panel and choose the Desktop icon.

2. In the Wallpaper section, enter the complete path and filename of the bitmap. This will copy the bitmap to the Windows program directory and select it for use as a wallpaper. The bitmap must be copied because Windows looks for bitmaps located within the Windows program directory only.