How can I stop "My Pictures" from being listed in avail. wallpapers?

First off, I'm running XP Home SP3. I've installed no screen saver or
wallpaper manager programs.

For some reason, my computer has started listing all of the hundreds of
images in the "My Pictures" folder whenever I try to select a new
wallpaper. It seems that this tendency started after I installed SP3.

I *abhore* this new way of Windows doing things. Not only that, but
whenever I click on "Browse" to select another folder to select
wallpaper from, the default folder location is.... "My Pictures". GAAACK!!

I'm already aware of the registry hack for changing the default
wallpaper folder; supposedly you should be able to go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion,
doubleclick on the "WallPaperDir" value and then change the path listed
in that value.

However, when I look in the registry there, the value for "WallPaperDir"
is already %SystemRoot%\Web\Wallpaper. I've tried changing this to other
locations, but nothing seems to work.

Can anybody tell me what's going on?
1. Why won't the default location change?
2. What event changed it in the first place?
3. Where is the default location really stored if not at the above
registry value?

TIA

--
John Corliss

John Corliss wrote:
> First off, I'm running XP Home SP3. I've installed no screen saver or
> wallpaper manager programs.
>
> For some reason, my computer has started listing all of the hundreds of
> images in the "My Pictures" folder whenever I try to select a new
> wallpaper. It seems that this tendency started after I installed SP3.
>
> I *abhore* this new way of Windows doing things. Not only that, but
> whenever I click on "Browse" to select another folder to select
> wallpaper from, the default folder location is.... "My Pictures". GAAACK!!
>
> I'm already aware of the registry hack for changing the default
> wallpaper folder; supposedly you should be able to go to
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion,
> doubleclick on the "WallPaperDir" value and then change the path listed
> in that value.
>
> However, when I look in the registry there, the value for "WallPaperDir"
> is already %SystemRoot%\Web\Wallpaper. I've tried changing this to other
> locations, but nothing seems to work.
>
> Can anybody tell me what's going on?
> 1. Why won't the default location change?
> 2. What event changed it in the first place?
> 3. Where is the default location really stored if not at the above
> registry value?
>
> TIA
>

I've just been through that myself. Its set in the registry to use
C:\windows\web\wallpaper as the folder but also uses "my pictures". And
drives me crazy too. I smashed my middle toe and destoyed the nail etc
about 6 months ago and got the idea after about 3 months of what seemed
it was not healing, to start taking digital camera shots. I can now
see the progress of the new nail growing back. Its reassured me that
something positive is happening and I'll get a good toe back one day.
But I now have TOE wallpaper if that isn't just the right thing to
have on your desktop. NOT!!!!

So it put me on a hunt too, and I even asked here and got the same
response. Thanks Microsoft.

But maybe your message might hit some different eyes and give more info.
But I just made a "my photos" folder and moved them all there.
Horrible workaround really.

Big_Al wrote:
> John Corliss wrote:
>> First off, I'm running XP Home SP3. I've installed no screen saver or
>> wallpaper manager programs.
>>
>> For some reason, my computer has started listing all of the hundreds
>> of images in the "My Pictures" folder whenever I try to select a new
>> wallpaper. It seems that this tendency started after I installed SP3.
>>
>> I *abhore* this new way of Windows doing things. Not only that, but
>> whenever I click on "Browse" to select another folder to select
>> wallpaper from, the default folder location is.... "My Pictures".
>> GAAACK!!
>>
>> I'm already aware of the registry hack for changing the default
>> wallpaper folder; supposedly you should be able to go to
>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion,
>> doubleclick on the "WallPaperDir" value and then change the path
>> listed in that value.
>>
>> However, when I look in the registry there, the value for
>> "WallPaperDir" is already %SystemRoot%\Web\Wallpaper. I've tried
>> changing this to other locations, but nothing seems to work.
>>
>> Can anybody tell me what's going on?
>> 1. Why won't the default location change?
>> 2. What event changed it in the first place?
>> 3. Where is the default location really stored if not at the above
>> registry value?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>
> I've just been through that myself. Its set in the registry to use
> C:\windows\web\wallpaper as the folder but also uses "my pictures". And
> drives me crazy too. I smashed my middle toe and destoyed the nail etc
> about 6 months ago and got the idea after about 3 months of what seemed
> it was not healing, to start taking digital camera shots. I can now
> see the progress of the new nail growing back. Its reassured me that
> something positive is happening and I'll get a good toe back one day.
> But I now have TOE wallpaper if that isn't just the right thing to have
> on your desktop. NOT!!!!
>
> So it put me on a hunt too, and I even asked here and got the same
> response. Thanks Microsoft.
>
> But maybe your message might hit some different eyes and give more info.
> But I just made a "my photos" folder and moved them all there.
> Horrible workaround really.

Yeah, I was thinking about doing the same thing. I was also going to
make the default download folder for my digital camera that new
location. But you're right, as a solution it's only half-a**ed.

Hope your toe is better. 80)>

--
John Corliss

John Corliss wrote:
> First off, I'm running XP Home SP3. I've installed no screen saver or
> wallpaper manager programs.
>
> For some reason, my computer has started listing all of the hundreds of
> images in the "My Pictures" folder whenever I try to select a new
> wallpaper. It seems that this tendency started after I installed SP3.
>
> I *abhore* this new way of Windows doing things. Not only that, but
> whenever I click on "Browse" to select another folder to select
> wallpaper from, the default folder location is.... "My Pictures". GAAACK!!
>
> I'm already aware of the registry hack for changing the default
> wallpaper folder; supposedly you should be able to go to
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion,
> doubleclick on the "WallPaperDir" value and then change the path listed
> in that value.
>
> However, when I look in the registry there, the value for "WallPaperDir"
> is already %SystemRoot%\Web\Wallpaper. I've tried changing this to other
> locations, but nothing seems to work.
>
> Can anybody tell me what's going on?
> 1. Why won't the default location change?
> 2. What event changed it in the first place?
> 3. Where is the default location really stored if not at the above
> registry value?
>
> TIA

Looks like I posted one that has everybody stumped, eh?

--
John Corliss

"John Corliss" <jcorliss@fake.invalid> wrote in message
news:S-SdndwgAomYWl7VnZ2dnUVZ_orinZ2d@posted.ccountrynet. ..
> First off, I'm running XP Home SP3. I've installed no screen saver or
> wallpaper manager programs.
>
> For some reason, my computer has started listing all of the hundreds of
> images in the "My Pictures" folder whenever I try to select a new
> wallpaper. It seems that this tendency started after I installed SP3.
>
> I *abhore* this new way of Windows doing things. Not only that, but
> whenever I click on "Browse" to select another folder to select wallpaper
> from, the default folder location is.... "My Pictures". GAAACK!!
>
> I'm already aware of the registry hack for changing the default wallpaper
> folder; supposedly you should be able to go to
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion, doubleclick
> on the "WallPaperDir" value and then change the path listed in that value.
>
> However, when I look in the registry there, the value for "WallPaperDir"
> is already %SystemRoot%\Web\Wallpaper. I've tried changing this to other
> locations, but nothing seems to work.
>
> Can anybody tell me what's going on?
> 1. Why won't the default location change?
> 2. What event changed it in the first place?
> 3. Where is the default location really stored if not at the above
> registry value?
>
> TIA
>
> --
> John Corliss

Web\Wallpaper isn't the only place the desktop will pick up
wallpaper. Any bmp files in the Windows directory will also
appear in the list. That's where I put pics for the desktop
background.

Also, any pictures in C:\Documents and Settings\User\
My Documents\My Pictures will appear in the list, even if they
are in subdirectories.

"Ian D" <taurus@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:eDGHjQVEJHA.4872@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>
> "John Corliss" <jcorliss@fake.invalid> wrote in message
> news:S-SdndwgAomYWl7VnZ2dnUVZ_orinZ2d@posted.ccountrynet. ..
>> First off, I'm running XP Home SP3. I've installed no screen saver or
>> wallpaper manager programs.
>>
>> For some reason, my computer has started listing all of the hundreds of
>> images in the "My Pictures" folder whenever I try to select a new
>> wallpaper. It seems that this tendency started after I installed SP3.
>>
>> I *abhore* this new way of Windows doing things. Not only that, but
>> whenever I click on "Browse" to select another folder to select wallpaper
>> from, the default folder location is.... "My Pictures". GAAACK!!
>>
>> I'm already aware of the registry hack for changing the default wallpaper
>> folder; supposedly you should be able to go to
>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion, doubleclick
>> on the "WallPaperDir" value and then change the path listed in that
>> value.
>>
>> However, when I look in the registry there, the value for "WallPaperDir"
>> is already %SystemRoot%\Web\Wallpaper. I've tried changing this to other
>> locations, but nothing seems to work.
>>
>> Can anybody tell me what's going on?
>> 1. Why won't the default location change?
>> 2. What event changed it in the first place?
>> 3. Where is the default location really stored if not at the above
>> registry value?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> --
>> John Corliss
>
> Web\Wallpaper isn't the only place the desktop will pick up
> wallpaper. Any bmp files in the Windows directory will also
> appear in the list. That's where I put pics for the desktop
> background.
>
> Also, any pictures in C:\Documents and Settings\User\
> My Documents\My Pictures will appear in the list, even if they
> are in subdirectories.
I forgot to add that on my system jpgs don't appear in the
desktop background list, only bmps.

"John Corliss" <jcorliss@fake.invalid> wrote in message
news:S-SdndwgAomYWl7VnZ2dnUVZ_orinZ2d@posted.ccountrynet. ..
> First off, I'm running XP Home SP3. I've installed no screen saver or
> wallpaper manager programs.
>
> For some reason, my computer has started listing all of the hundreds of
> images in the "My Pictures" folder whenever I try to select a new
> wallpaper. It seems that this tendency started after I installed SP3.
>
> I *abhore* this new way of Windows doing things. Not only that, but
> whenever I click on "Browse" to select another folder to select wallpaper
> from, the default folder location is.... "My Pictures". GAAACK!!
>
> I'm already aware of the registry hack for changing the default wallpaper
> folder; supposedly you should be able to go to
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion, doubleclick
> on the "WallPaperDir" value and then change the path listed in that value.
>
> However, when I look in the registry there, the value for "WallPaperDir"
> is already %SystemRoot%\Web\Wallpaper. I've tried changing this to other
> locations, but nothing seems to work.
>
> Can anybody tell me what's going on?
> 1. Why won't the default location change?
> 2. What event changed it in the first place?
> 3. Where is the default location really stored if not at the above
> registry value?
>
> TIA
>
> --
> John Corliss

In the Desktop tab, click browse and set the type of files to
background files. That will set it to bmp files only.

*Bonjour John Corliss * !
<news:S-SdndwgAomYWl7VnZ2dnUVZ_orinZ2d@posted.ccountrynet>

> First off, I'm running XP Home SP3. I've installed no screen saver or
> wallpaper manager programs.

> For some reason, my computer has started listing all of the hundreds of
> images in the "My Pictures" folder whenever I try to select a new wallpaper.
> It seems that this tendency started after I installed SP3.

> I *abhore* this new way of Windows doing things. Not only that, but whenever
> I click on "Browse" to select another folder to select wallpaper from, the
> default folder location is.... "My Pictures". GAAACK!!

> I'm already aware of the registry hack for changing the default wallpaper
> folder; supposedly you should be able to go to
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion, doubleclick on
> the "WallPaperDir" value and then change the path listed in that value.

> However, when I look in the registry there, the value for "WallPaperDir" is
> already %SystemRoot%\Web\Wallpaper. I've tried changing this to other
> locations, but nothing seems to work.

> Can anybody tell me what's going on?
> 1. Why won't the default location change?
> 2. What event changed it in the first place?
> 3. Where is the default location really stored if not at the above registry
> value?

> TIA

144. Clear Wallpaper Most Frequently Used List
www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

was the correct answer in same situations..

--
Regards, Jean-François

Ian D wrote:
> John Corliss wrote:
>> First off, I'm running XP Home SP3. I've installed no screen saver or
>> wallpaper manager programs.
>>
>> For some reason, my computer has started listing all of the hundreds of
>> images in the "My Pictures" folder whenever I try to select a new
>> wallpaper. It seems that this tendency started after I installed SP3.
>>
>> I *abhore* this new way of Windows doing things. Not only that, but
>> whenever I click on "Browse" to select another folder to select wallpaper
>> from, the default folder location is.... "My Pictures". GAAACK!!
>>
>> I'm already aware of the registry hack for changing the default wallpaper
>> folder; supposedly you should be able to go to
>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion, doubleclick
>> on the "WallPaperDir" value and then change the path listed in that value.
>>
>> However, when I look in the registry there, the value for "WallPaperDir"
>> is already %SystemRoot%\Web\Wallpaper. I've tried changing this to other
>> locations, but nothing seems to work.
>>
>> Can anybody tell me what's going on?
>> 1. Why won't the default location change?
>> 2. What event changed it in the first place?
>> 3. Where is the default location really stored if not at the above
>> registry value?
>>
>> TIA
>
> In the Desktop tab, click browse and set the type of files to
> background files. That will set it to bmp files only.

If you mean that this is a permanent change (what I'm really looking
for) I'm afraid that didn't work for me. It still lists the hundreds of
..jpg files along with everything in the Windows folder and the
C:\windows\web\wallpaper folder. Thanks for trying though.

--
John Corliss

JF wrote:
> John Corliss wrote:
>
>> First off, I'm running XP Home SP3. I've installed no screen saver or
>> wallpaper manager programs.
>
>> For some reason, my computer has started listing all of the hundreds
>> of images in the "My Pictures" folder whenever I try to select a new
>> wallpaper. It seems that this tendency started after I installed SP3.
>
>> I *abhore* this new way of Windows doing things. Not only that, but
>> whenever I click on "Browse" to select another folder to select
>> wallpaper from, the default folder location is.... "My Pictures".
>> GAAACK!!
>
>> I'm already aware of the registry hack for changing the default
>> wallpaper folder; supposedly you should be able to go to
>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion,
>> doubleclick on the "WallPaperDir" value and then change the path
>> listed in that value.
>
>> However, when I look in the registry there, the value for
>> "WallPaperDir" is already %SystemRoot%\Web\Wallpaper. I've tried
>> changing this to other locations, but nothing seems to work.
>
>> Can anybody tell me what's going on?
>> 1. Why won't the default location change?
>> 2. What event changed it in the first place?
>> 3. Where is the default location really stored if not at the above
>> registry value?
>
>> TIA
>
> 144. Clear Wallpaper Most Frequently Used List
> www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
>
> was the correct answer in same situations..

Thanks. I'll give it a try.

(Later, after trying) It didn't work. Even tried it with and without
rebooting. No joy. Even worse, when I checked that Registry key after
rebooting, all of the MRUs were back. When I listed the wallpapers, same
as before.

Thanks for trying though.

--
John Corliss