Cannot change desktop image in 10.84?

System Preferences freeze up and I get the twirling ball. I can only force quit to stop the process.

First follow the instructions in this support article:
System Preferences stops responding after viewing Desktop & Screen Saver pane
If there's no change, continue as below.
In the Finder, hold down the option key and select
Go ▹ Library
from the menu bar. From the Library folder, delete the following item, if it exists:
Caches/com.apple.systempreferences
and move the following item to the Desktop:
Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist
Launch System Preferences and test. If you still have the issue, put the item on the Desktop back where it came from and post again. Otherwise, delete the item.

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Use Pacifist to extract a new copy of the DesktopScreenEffectsPref.prefPane from your Mac OS X 10.3 installation disks, and then run the combo updater for your version of Mac OS X.
(24041)

Cannot Change Desktop Picture Anymore

Hi -
Problem is described in the Header. And goes for ALL accounts incl. ROOT Account.
Scenario: I open Sys Pref. Go to Desktop/ScreenSaver - it opens fine and I can click the images. They will even show in the little preview window in the top. The only thing NOT changing is the Actual Desktop. It remains Solid Blue.
Tried deleting Finder, desktop, .globalpref( in both pref folders) - Preferences
Any Ideas ?

SASLR wrote:
I just started to have the same problem... Can no longer change desktop images... I've tried to do it from within iPhoto, right clicking on desktop, and going in through system preferences... My "padlock" is "open", I am the system administrator, but still cannot change the image...
HELP!
Have you done your homework?
Run DU, check/repair HD and permissions.
If that does not work, move following .plists to desktop; let system create new plists
try this one first:
com.apple.desktop.plist
reboot and see if this fixes it.
if not then move this one to desktop and repeat
com.apple.desktopscreensaver.rsspictures.plist
report back here with results.

System Preferences quits suddenly. I have lost the dock, including the trash and ability to change desktop image. How can I replace this part of System Preferences? Where can I find Trash?

System Preferences quits suddenly. I have lost the dock, including the trash and ability to change desktop image. How can I replace this part of System Preferences? Where can I find Trash? All other aspects of System Preferences work.

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Hi.
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Is it not choosing the sole picture or not changing the desktop image at all?
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Step by Step to fix your Mac

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(Oops, time expired on editing my previous post while I had breakfast with the kids.)
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Satellite C50-B-13T - Win 8.1 cannot change desktop background

Hi folks,
I'm new to this forum so please bear with me.
I bought a new Toshiba Satellite C50-B-13T laptop yesterday with Windows 8.1 installed and I cannot change the desktop screen from a blank black one to a picture of my choice... I've tried everything, and even looked for videos on Youtube to see if there's a remedy for it.
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You ask how to change the Windows background?
This is not very tricky.
Microsoft released a useful article regarding Windows system personalization.
Please check this aricle:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/personalize-pc-tutorial
Note: there is a difference between the desktop background and the lock screen.
The lock screen is the screen you see when you lock your PC (or when it locks automatically after you haven't been using it for a while).

Cannot change desktop wallpaper

All of a sudden I am unable to change my wallpaper without re-starting OSX. I am running two monitors using a mini DVI to DVI cable. I have tried to change the wallpaper without the other monitor turned on, and even plugged in. I cannot change the wallpaper on either monitor with restarting.
I have in the past been able to do this with just my iMac and with both my iMac and secondary monitor hooked up.
I am new to macs and I have no idea on what to do except restart every time I wish to change my wallpaper
Thanks in advance
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called APP....ended up doing a archive install. Everything is fine now

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I used to be able to choose whether or not a desktop image would be kept the same size, stretch to fit the screen, or tile to fill the screen...but now I don't have that option.
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By dragging the file "user/Library/Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist" to the trash, I was able to resize my desktop images.

Cannot change Desktop Background image

When I go to change my Desktop Background, it will try and load up the pictures in my Pictures folder (but no subfolders). I can switch my background to one of these images, even though the "Loading" progress bar is still visible.
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I managed to fix this problem.
I did verify and repair permissions just for kicks. Not sure if that helped or not, but I did it anyway.
Then I went back into the System Pref pane, and clicked on Apple Images, then clicked on the Change Picture checkbox. While none of the images appear in the white box, my background did change to one of the Apple Images (such as the black and purple Leopard-only background). I then closed System Preferences, opened it back up, and the images loaded up properly this time!

Cannot change desktop background...

This is a problem that has been annoying me for about a month now... i set my desktop background as an iphoto image, and went to change it a few weeks later but it wouldn't let me! the small image of the desktop appears in system preferences, but the background will not change.
if anyone knows how to fix this, your help will be appreciated...

Confounding!
Log back into your problem account:
Here's the whole litany for thoroughly checking your home folder. It's not as daunting as it looks.
1. Navigate to ~(YourHome/Library/Fonts - drag this folder to the desktop.
• Restart and test your applications.
• If they work start adding the fonts back few at a time.
( Likely suspects are Times RO, Helvetica Fractions and Times Phonetic, also if you do not use Classic you can trash the classic fonts.) If not, put your Fonts folder back.
2. Check Preferences Thoroughly;
• Navigate to ~(YourHome/Library/Preferences drag this folder to the desktop.
• Restart and test your applications.
• If this works, save the old preferences folder somewhere else or on disk, name it "old prefs" .
** Note: A very important file is the "com.apple.Mail.plist" preference file located in the Preferences folder which contains all email account settings and general mail preferences (hold this one and replace if your problem is not with Mail).
You'll have to go through some of your System Preferences and apps to set the preferences back to how you like them. (Or if you have the time and inclination, "cherry pick" through until you find the problem one or two.)
3. Check Permissions Inside Home Folder
• Navigate to YourHome/Library.
• Get Info (Command - i) on folders for apps you are having problems with.
• Open the "Ownership & permissions" disclosure triangle.
• Make sure you are the owner, with "read and write" access.
• Click on "apply to all"
• If this is correct, open the "Applications Support" folder and do the same procedure (Command+I) for the folders with the names of the applications you are having trouble with.
(Note:The reason to check this is because repairing permissions with Disk Utility doesn't touch permissions inside your home folder.)
4. Navigate to YourHome/Library/Caches and drag this folder to the trash, then log out and back or restart. There is no need to replace this folder.
-mj

Cannot change desktop image in 10.84?

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