wallpaper default directory

How can you change the default directory for windows to display the
wallpapers. My computer recently started showing all photos in My Pictures
as the default directory. This causes a huge delay in the control panel
coming up when you want to change wallpaper.

This is very annoying. Any help would be appreciated.

Laureen

Wallpaper background files are...
All bmp, jpg, gif, jpe, dib, png and htm files located in these folders:

%Systemroot%
%windir%\Web\Wallpaper
%userprofile%\My Documents\My Pictures (& sub-folders)
%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
%ProgramFiles%\Plus!\Themes (& sub-folders)

If you want to clear a file from that list, move the file away from the
above locations. Type the above paths in Start, Run dialog.
from...
Where do the image files come from? [the background images listing]
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/background.htm

-----

This can happen if the desktop.ini file is missing from My Pictures folder.
And maybe if the desktop.ini file is messed up, don't know that for sure.

desktop.ini is a Hidden System file.

To display Hidden files and folders...

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab
Check:
Display the contents of system folders
and
Show hidden files and folders
UNCheck:
Hide extensions for known file types
and
Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)
Click Apply | Click OK

When you uncheck: Hide protected operating system files,
you will get this message...

Warning
----------
You have chosen to display protected operating system files (files labeled
System and Hidden) in Windows Explorer.These files are required to start and
run Windows. Deleting or editing them can make your computer inoperable.Are
you sure you want to display these files?
----------

Click YES.

[[Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not
typical items.]]
-----

Now look through My Pictures and see if there is a desktop.ini file. Can
you find the desktop.ini file?

Here's what it should have in it:

[DeleteOnCopy]
Owner=Name Here
Personalized=39
PersonalizedName=My Pictures
[.ShellClassInfo]
,-12688
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\System32\mydocs.dll
IconIndex=-101

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In ,
R & R Chaffin hunted and pecked:
How can you change the default directory for windows to display the
wallpapers. My computer recently started showing all photos in My
Pictures as the default directory. This causes a huge delay in the
control panel coming up when you want to change wallpaper.

This is very annoying. Any help would be appreciated.

Laureen