Unable to Display Hypertext Markup Language Files as Wallpaper

ID: Q190693

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Windows 95
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS

After you select a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) file for your computer's wallpaper, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

  • The background of your desktop may appear blank.


  • No icons are visible on the desktop.


  • When you right-click the desktop, you may not see a context menu.


  • You may see your HTML wallpaper displayed in a browser window, and a bitmap (.bmp) file may appear as the background of your desktop.



CAUSE

This issue can occur if any of the following conditions exists:

  • The Active Desktop is not enabled.


  • System Policy Editor is configured to prevent the use of HTML files for wallpaper.


  • System Policy Editor is configured to hide all desktop items.



RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

You can edit the registry using System Policy Editor (Poledit.exe) or Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Check with your network administrator before you make any changes to the registry.

To resolve this issue, use the appropriate method:

Active Desktop Is Not Enabled

To enable the Active Desktop, right-click an empty area on the desktop, point to Active Desktop, and then click View As Web Page to add a check mark.

System Policy Editor Prevents Using HTML Files For Wallpaper

To resolve this behavior, use System Policy Editor to disable the "No HTML Wallpaper" policy. To do so using System Policy Editor, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.


  2. In the Open box, type poledit, and then click OK.


  3. On the File menu, click either Open Policy or Open Registry as appropriate.


  4. Double-click the user's policy file or Local User as appropriate.


  5. Double-click the Desktop category to expand it, and then click "Desktop Wallpaper Settings" (click the words, not the check box).


  6. Click the "No HTML Wallpaper" check box to clear it, and then click OK.


  7. On the File menu, click Save, and then quit Policy Editor.


  8. Restart your computer.


Note that you can load Poledit.exe from the Windows 98 CD-ROM in the Win98\Tools\Reskit\Netadmin\Poledit folder. Make sure to add all the .adm files from this folder. This policy exists in the Shellm.adm file.

System Policy Editor Hides All Desktop Items

To resolve this behavior, use System Policy Editor to disable the "Hide All Items on Desktop" policy. To do so using System Policy Editor, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.


  2. In the Open box, type poledit, and then click OK.


  3. On the File menu, click either Open Policy or Open Registry as appropriate.


  4. Double-click the user's policy file or Local User as appropriate.


  5. Double-click the Windows 98 System category to expand it, double-click the Shell category to expand it, and then click the "Restrictions" (click the words, not the check box).


  6. Click the "Hide All Items on Desktop" check box to clear it, and then click OK.


  7. On the File menu, click Save, and then quit Policy Editor.


  8. Restart your computer.


Note that you can load Poledit.exe from the Windows 98 CD-ROM in the Win98\Tools\Reskit\Netadmin\Poledit folder. Make sure to add all the .adm files from this folder. This policy exists in the Shellm.adm file.


MORE INFORMATION

For more information about System Policy Editor, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q147381
TITLE : How to Use System Policies On a Standalone Computer

Additional query words: 98 4.00

Keywords : kbenv kbui msiew95 win98
Version : WINDOWS:4.0,4.01
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: February 13, 1999
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