Can't get desktop background to display

I don't know if this is HW or SW, but I'll start here.
I have a brand-new MBP (early 2011). I can't get it to display a desktop background for love nor money, i.e. going into System Preferences, Desktop/Screen Save, and choosing a background, I get nothing but a light blue screen. It doesn't matter if I choose one of the pictures that comes with OS X or one of the pictures from my iPhoto library, it won't display them. It displays them in System Pref with no problem, and it doesn't give an error when choosing, it just doesn't change the desktop background.
For the iPhoto library (although, remember, it doesn't work with the OS X pictures, either, i.e. Desktop Pictures, Plants, etc.), it works fine in both iPhoto and in Screen Saver, i.e. the Screen Saver displays photos without a problem.
The problem survives a reboot, fixing permissions, and the 10.6.7 upgrade, i.e. it was happening on 10.6.6, and it's still happening after the 10.6.7 upgrade.
Any ideas?

I just tried the top from Linc Davis and it didn't work for me. I have a MBP bought in may 2010 i Sweden which is where I live. 
After upgrading today to 10.6.7 I notice the desktop background is replaced by a completely white background. Quoting vr8ce since this is the same for me: "It displays them in System Pref with no problem, and it doesn't give an error when choosing, it just doesn't change the desktop background." Unlike vr8ce, it was not happening in 10.6.6 for me. And unlike vr8ce my background is not blue but white.
I haven't tried using anything from iPhoto etc - I'm just using the images in System Pref.
I have upgraded to 10.6.7 (today), rebooted, run Repair Disk on the Install DVD (from another tip). I don't actually remember "fixing permissions".
As I said, the tip from Linc Davis  didn't work for me. I'm not using a Screen Saver and never have, instead I prefer to close the lid, but not sure if this is the best thing to do.

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  • After 10.6.7 can't get desktop background to display

    This problem is similar to Linc Davis problem solved in this thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2795229
    In that thread I write: "I tried the [] from Linc Davis and it didn't work for me. I have a MBP bought in may 2010 i Sweden which is where I live. "  When I never got replies I figured it was because Lincs thread was marked as solved (green text). So I created my own discussion (this thread).
    After upgrading today to 10.6.7 I notice the desktop background is replaced by a completely white background. Quoting vr8ce since this is the same for me: "It displays them in System Pref with no problem, and it doesn't give an error when choosing, it just doesn't change the desktop background." Unlike vr8ce, it was not happening in 10.6.6 for me. And unlike vr8ce my background is not blue but white.
    I haven't tried using anything from iPhoto etc - I'm just using the images in System Pref.
    I have upgraded to 10.6.7 (today), rebooted, run Repair Disk on the Install DVD (from another tip). I don't actually remember "fixing permissions".
    As I said, the tip from Linc Davis - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2795229 - didn't work for me. I'm not using a Screen Saver and never have, instead I prefer to close the lid, but not sure if this is the best thing to do.

    Time for the OnyX "nuke em from orbit" approach then.
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    Also run the Verify>Preferences and write down
    any corrupted ones, move these files to your
    desktop (out of yourLibrary/Preferences folder)
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