Can't get to display properties

[NADIAZIPPER]

XP, SP2 machine. Right click on desktop-->propeties, nothing happens, thinks for a few seconds and then nothing. Go to Control Panel-->Display, does the same thing. Anyone know how to fix?

Thank You

 

[bcastner]

And if you Start, Run, control desk.cpl does still nothing happen?

Are you in a Domain where access to control.exe has been removed?

If you do a search for desk.cpl, does it appear in your Windows folder?



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Users Helping Users

 

[NADIAZIPPER]

Start, Run, control desk.cpl does the same thing, thinks, but then nothing. Not on a domain. Desk.cpl is in the i386 folder and in system32.

 

[bcastner]

Check to see if you have any of the following entries in your registry

Hide display appearance tab in display properties
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Disabled
NoDispAppearancePage=dword:00000000
Enabled
NoDispAppearancePage=dword:00000001

Hide background tab in display properties
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Disabled
NoDispBackgroundPage=dword:00000000
Enabled
NoDispBackgroundPage=dword:00000001

Hide screen-saver settings tab in display properties
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
Disabled
NoDispScrSavPage=dword:00000000
Enabled
NoDispScrSavPage=dword:00000001

Hide display settings tab in display properties
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
Disabled
NoDispSettingsPage=dword:00000000
Enabled
NoDispSettingsPage=dword:00000001

None of the entries should even exist in a normal registry but if the do set all to zero or even delete them.

Approach #2

Open a new notepad session.
Open it and paste the following:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?> <assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0"> <assemblyIdentity processorArchitecture="*" version="5.1.0.0" type="win32" name="Microsoft.Windows.Shell.shell32"/> <description>Windows Shell</description> <dependency> <dependentAssembly> <assemblyIdentity type="win32" name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls" version="6.0.0.0" publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df" language="*" processorArchitecture="*" /> </dependentAssembly> </dependency> </assembly>

Save the file
Rename the file to WindowsShell.Manifest
Move the file to your %SystemRoot% folder.
(almost always C:/Windows)

Reboot, test and report back.





____________________________
Users Helping Users

 

[NADIAZIPPER]

I have all those reg keys, however all are 0. Copied and pasted file, rebooted. No change

 

[bcastner]

You named the file WindowsShell.Manifest, and moved it to C:\Windows?

If so, submit to an Ewido online test:

http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan/

____________________________
Users Helping Users

 

[NADIAZIPPER]

Copied the text saves as 1.txt, renamed as WindowsShell.Manifest. Copied in C:Windows, did not ask to copy over anything else. Rebooted and tried to view display properties.
Went to that link, installed active X and page closed by itself. Now when I go back to the link it closes as soon as the page loads.
Have the beta version of windows defender and full version of webroots spysweeper, neither of them find any maleware

 

[bcastner]

See if Windows Update has replaced your display adapter driver. Use Device Manager, and the Driver rollback feature on the display adapter.




____________________________
Users Helping Users

 

[bcastner]

Also, check the registry hive HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/921049

____________________________
Users Helping Users

 

[linney]

Windows XP Display missing Tabs.
thread779-1124178

 

[NADIAZIPPER]

Found the reg key sin in Current_User, but not on Local_Machine. They were all 0, went and deleted anyway, rebooted same problem. Updated with newest ATi driver and software. I can at least access resolution controls from there. Just can't get to anything else.

 

[linney]

Do you have the same problem from Safe Mode? Do you have the same problem from Normal Mode but with a different user?

 

[NADIAZIPPER]

Created new user and problem persists. Booted to safe mode and no change. Do I have any other choice but to run a repair off of the CD?

 

[linney]

You could try a temporary/quick parallel install of XP into a folder on your hard drive (or to another partition) as a dual boot just to see if it is a driver/hardware problem.

See the paragraph in the next article, "To install Windows XP to a new folder (to perform a parallel installation):"

How to install or upgrade to Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316941&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Another thing to consider is removing all the ATI drivers and software and then try Safe Mode so that Windows does detect your hardware while you test the outcome.



Some general things to try.

See if System Restore will get you back to a restore point before your problem with Explorer.

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right-click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking. Select both boxes.

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/5/14.asp

If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

How to perform a repair installation of Windows XP if Internet Explorer 7 is installed

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;917964#appliesto

 

[linney]

/basevideo
The /basevideo switch forces the system into standard 640x480 16-color VGA mode by using a video driver that is compatible with any video adapter. This switch permits the system to load if you selected the wrong video resolution or refresh rate. Use this switch in conjunction with the /sos switch. If you install a new video driver, and it does not work correctly, you can use this parameter to start the operating system. You can then remove, update, or roll back the problem video driver.

833721 - Available switch options for the Windows XP and the Windows Server 2003 Boot.ini files

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;833721&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH