Win XP desktop settings don't stick

[philrock]

I recently installed Win XP, ver 5.1, SP3 on a brand new hard disk. I set the Desktop Theme to "Windows Classic." Sometimes the computer boots with a different Desktop Theme; "Windows Classic (modified)," which looks like a mix of the standard XP theme and Windows Classic.

The last time I booted, this happened, and I changed the setting back to my preferred "Windows Classic." The screen appears right, but I just checked the Desktop properties, and it says the theme is "Modified Theme."

When I set the theme I want, I hit the "Apply" button, then "OK".

I did notice something that might be related; when I shut down, the "Saving your settings" message, which I expect to last for a few seconds, only lasts for a small fraction of a second. Seems like maybe Windows is not really saving all my settings.

How can I make my Desktop settings stick?

 

[lhuegele]

Are you logging into the machine as a local administrator, or do you have restricted-user rights? Are you logging on to the local machine or do a network domain?

 

[linney]

See

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm,

Line 30, left column for the saving settings issue.

Doug Knox has something similar.

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_save_settings.htm

Is there any Group Policy set preventing you from saving your settings?

A workaround that you could possibly employ to keep Classic View, and nothing else but Classic View, might be to disable the Theme Service in Services.

 

[philrock]

The last 2 times I booted, the theme came up as I had saved it, but I have no doubt that the other theme will come up in the near future. As I said, it's a "sometimes" thing.

It's a stand-alone machine. I do not require myself to log in. I believe I have administrator rights - I can install or delete software, set up email accounts, etc.

I am not aware of any Group Policy that would prevent me from saving my settings.

 

[lhuegele]

It's been my experience that if you don't reboot after changing your settings, it's possible they will be lost. As habit I reboot after changing my settings now.

Good luck,