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
- Drew

called APP....ended up doing a archive install. Everything is fine now

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After OS X 10.8.5, i cannot change my wallpaper background, it always jams and become irresponsive, can anybody help me out?

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OSX Mountain Lion - Cannot change desktop image

I used an image I'd downloaded as desktop wallpaper. I have tried to change it to the default image, other images, sold colours, but the same image always returns after I reboot (warm and cold boots). Note that I can change the desktop image, but it always reverts back to the old image. The changes do not stick. I cannot locate the image in Finder. Any ideas?

I have the same situation as Marc; however, I do not have access to images. The multicolor circle keeps turning.
This application (Desktop & Screen Saver) is not working anymore.
Thank you.
Guillermo

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.

Cannot Change Desktop Background in Windows 8 Installed Via Bootcamp

I've been running parelells, but decided today to just go the boot camp route and everything went through fine EXCEPT I cannot change the wall paper on the windows 8 desktop?
I select the new image in desktop background in personalization click save changes and the background stays the same...?
I don't get it.
And by the way, I am NOT new to windows or mac, been using both for a long time and was a systems administrator and bench for years, this is NOT a novice "how to" question...It's just not working?
Anyone else seen this before?

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Hi.
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Thank you

Hi all,
I have had this same issue with OS X Lion and it continued on to OS X Mountain Lion as well. I have had the wallpaper switching on me to the default solid blue color whenever I restarted (every month or so) and when switching between users (every other day or so). So this issue was very frustrating having to go back in and reset the wallpaper to my preference whenever I switched to either user. I found a solution that has been working for me for several restarts and several switching of users now:
First, I took some of your advice by locating all of my wallpapers into a 'Wallpaper' folder located in each user's 'Documents' directory. I copied to same wallpapers to each user so both user's have the same wallpapers to choose from.
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After running OnyX, I re-set my wallpapers for each user and went ahead and tested the restarting of the computer and switching back and forth between users. It was very easy to duplicate the bug previously, but now I could not get the wallpaper to switch back to the default blue as before. Everything seems stable with my wallpaper selection now.
Hope this helps someone. Thanks everyone for your input too.
As a side note, my Mac is running much smoother and quicker now too. =)

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Hi folks,
I'm new to this forum so please bear with me.
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When I look at the control panel the thumbnail shows the picture I've chosen, but the actual desktop (not the smart screen bit) is still plain black. All of my icons work just fine but the background will not change.
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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
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Cannot change desktop image/wallpaper

Forgive me if this is solved elsewhere. The desktop image cannot be changed from the one that came with the unit. I could select another image briefly(my own and stock mac) for a while but recently, when I try to change it,it just flashes the new one briefly and stays the same. Might this have something to do with my kvm? All other display functions work fine. Although,another issue I have is that,occasionaly the mac will forget resolution when switching back and will have to detect what it is supposed to be. That I'm sure is a KVM issue. The first,I'm not so sure. By the way,the PC has no issue at all. With the KVM anyway.

I have the same situation as Marc; however, I do not have access to images. The multicolor circle keeps turning.
This application (Desktop & Screen Saver) is not working anymore.
Thank you.
Guillermo

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.
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• 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 photo

Tried , via System Preferences, to change my desktop photo. Oddly, some images in my library appeared, but many wouldn't - instead,a question mark appeared in the thumbnail box.
Ran Cocktail, but it didn't help.
Using Mountain Lion and the latest version of iPhoto.

Unlikley. Given that the Library appears correctly in the other apps it suggests that the problem is in Desktop Pictures.
It may be a bunged up cache file.
Try this:
Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Create Library'
Import a few pics.
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If you can
Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and select your original library.
Regards
TD

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.
Here is the odd thing, however. If I click on any of the other types of images (Apple Images, nature, Plants, Black & White, Abstract, and Solid Colors), nothing appears. I jumped over to another user on the same computer, and those images populated properly. Any ideas on what is going wrong? Why can't I change my background image? I've had this problem with both Mac OS 10.5.0 and 10.5.1.

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 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.

Cannot change desktop image

Yeah. I changed it before by going under the apple (top, left), clicking system prefs, and then going clicking 'desktop images and screen saver.' But now I can't change my desktop image because when I attempt that process of clicking the apple and clicking system prefs and then clicking-what should be there but isn't-the desktop and screen savor icon, which is plaining missing. Its on my girlfriend's mac. I don't know what went wrong.
Anyone know what happened to that sweet, sweet icon? I'll really appreciate anyone, who could help fix the problem for me. Thanks!

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

My new 15" MacBook Pro running 10.6.8 will not allow me to choose my own Photo as Desktop. Any ideas, anyone? Thanks!

Is it not choosing the sole picture or not changing the desktop image at all?
If it's not choosing that one picture, I would say the picture has the problem.
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See #12-13 here for OnyX> Verify preferences
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