White desktop background

Hi everyone. I'm having a problem with my Macbook's desktop wallpaper. It's stuck on white and won't let me change no matter what I do! Everything else works perfectly fine and it's not a pressing matter, but I must admit it's quite annoying. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Hello nilabs,
Thanks for the question. I understand you are experiencing issues with your desktop wallpaper. To isolate this issue further, you may want to attempt these troubleshooting steps:
First, try booting your computer into Safe Mode:
Mac OS X: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1564
Additionally, you can further isolate the issue by creating a new user account and testing:
Isolating an issue by using another user account
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4053
Thanks,
Matt M.

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Insert your MacOSX DVD
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Hi, this just started today. During startup, the selected desktop background picture flashes. When all applications that are set to open at startup have loaded and all disks have loaded, the desktop background turns all white, except the menu bar which still displays the selected desktop background. I have tried restarting several times, I have tried using different background pictures, all the same result, my desktop is all white which makes it hard to discern various open windows since most window backgrounds are white too. Please help.
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Sometimes it happens that my desktop background completely dissappears, and Mission Control stops working as well.
It seems to happen when I open a new window in a fullscreen app (like Safari), and while it's opening I switch to another space.
Whenever this happens, my desktop changes to the Dashboard background, and Mission Control doesn't show the other spaces anymore (but you can see active windows in your main space). I've added pictures below.
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This is my desktop at the moment:
And this is Mission Control:
I am using: Macbook Pro 5,4
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2,53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
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I am experiencing the same thing as most of us, exactly as explained by - Acid_Raccoon.
UK-Max - This is not just a specific problem involving external screens. The dissappearing wallpaper, and loss of function of mission control (do not show spaces, but you can click in empty area where it should be located and it actually works as normal) occurs also when there is no
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I really hope Apple take these notes people have mentioned in this forum (and others) seriously, and fix them. I really hope Apple show more custumer service-spirits, than Apple´s lack of hardware-quality. (I have owned 4 apple computers(1 powerbook G4, 1 macbook & 2 macbook pro), brand new, and 3 of them have experienced hardware-failure on more than one occasion in less than a year. The one that didnt required service was my powerbook G4 titanium, released in 2001, and kept going for 4 years straight without any problems.) (Actually, the last one experienced 3 times in-a-row mother-card failure). I only go for Apple´s products due to its smart and clean features (and seriously PC is not an alternative if you want to stay mentally healthy), but what I´ve been reading on multiple forums over the web, more than a few, experience occuring hardware problems with their Apple computer.
I guess this is the result of Apple trying to push for higher revenues. If Apple keep go in the same directions as it has been doing in the last 4-5 years it will be its doom, and loose the customers that once caught the Apple-wave due to it´s innovative and personal aspect, but most important - it´s superiour quality it once had! Apple´s products is quite expensive, and thus should be combined with its smart and innovative system, along with lasting quality. But if $ revenue is the only thing that keep Apple going nowdays, and produce smart product that is meant to last for only 2-3 years maximum, it is deeply disturbing and the company will loose track of what stevie was initially producing - clean, smooth system (just works, no migraine), with everlasting quality far seen in PC-world. Apple - please consider !

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Doesn't work
^ ^
Obviously, I can't, in this particular screenshot show everything.
This is what the fellow is talking about. Naturally if his keyline item is in Black it ain't going to show up In Acrobat previous to 9 all this back Ground was grey.

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Take these steps if the cursor changes from an arrow to a white "prohibited" symbol when you try to move an icon on the Desktop.
Sometimes the problem may be solved just by logging out or rebooting. Try that first, if you haven't already done it. Otherwise, continue.
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If the Kind is Folder, uncheck the box marked Locked. Close the Info window and test.
If the Kind is not Folder, make sure the Locked box is not checked and that you have Read & Write privileges in the Sharing & Permissions section. Then close the Info window and do as follows.
Back up all data.
Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:
xattr -d com.apple.FinderInfo Desktop
Copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C.
Launch the built-in Terminal application in any of the following ways:
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☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the icon grid.
Paste into the Terminal window (command-V). You should get a new line ending in a dollar sign ($). Quit Terminal.
Relaunch the Finder.
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Quit iPhoto if it's running. Launch it while holding down the option key. It will prompt you to select a library. Choose the one you want to use (not the Desktop folder.)

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".
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Time for the OnyX "nuke em from orbit" approach then.
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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.

SWF playing corrupts desktop background

Using FF 3.6.13 on Fedora 13, KDE
When playing a SWF file in FF, the last viewed image corrupts the desktop background. Wherever another application has a white color, the latent image from the last SWF shows through.
As a test, I set the desktop background to solid white. The screen image can be seen at http://www.wrlee.com/Pictures/CorruptedBackground.jpeg This image was taken with a digital camera since the KSnapshot tool does not pick up the corrupted desktop background that is "showing through" the application. The picture shows the FireFox screen when I was typing this message.
Looking at the picture you can see the ghost image of the last SWF I viewed when I visited a website. (That site was http://www.sunbrella.com/ )
This is a very annoying bug since YouTube images are SWF, and SWF is used more and more in websites that I visit.
Logging off and back in (i.e., restarting the KDE window system) cures the problem until I stumble across the next SWF file and it corrupts the background again.
Need help! Badly!
Regards,
Bill Lee

I have the same issue with the latest Shockwave Flash 10.2 r152 player on Linux.<br />
I can see the ghosted and crashed Flash player in Firefox if I change the background color to black (Edit > Preferences > Content > Colors).
I have reverted to Flash 10.1 r102 (10.1.102.65) because of this.<br />

Cannot change desktop background picture to my own photos

Hi, in desktop & screen saver I cannot change the desktop background image to any of my own (iphoto) pictures, it shows the list of the images and thumbnails but will only change the pic to the 'Apple' ones (nature,plants,black & white, abstract), if I select any of my photos under 'iphoto albums' the desktop image simply turns light blue.

Hi.
I'm seeing what seems to be the exact same problem you described. Were you able to figure it out and fix it? I don't see a solution posted.
Thanks.

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!

Add Company Logo onto Desktop Background - RD Session Host 2012 R2

Hi, i'm hoping someone can help
I'm wondering if it's possible to put a company logo onto the desktop background on an RD Session Host, is there a way to do that? I remember seeing a 2008 R2 host on a Citrix farm with one. At the moment it's just a black screen so would be good to put
a white logo on there
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Thanks!

Check these articles,
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee791905(v=ws.10).aspx
http://www.webapper.com/blog/index.php/2007/10/18/enabling-desktop-wallpaper-on-remote-desktop-terminal-services/

Can't change Desktop background in System Preferences

Hi. When I try to change my desktop background, either by right-clicking on the desktop or by opening System Preferences, the screen for Desktop options is blank. None of the options show up, grayed out or otherwise. While in System Preferences, if I click on Screen Saver, everything there works fine. But the button for Desktop becomes grey and I can't click on it.
I've tried Repair Permissions and this didn't work. I've seen similar posts here, but they don't seem to have the same problem I do, nothing freezes up, the Desktop screen is just blank. Do you have any ideas?
Thanks!
Mac OS X (10.4.6)

1. OK, let's try some more trashing: 1. Quit System Preferences if it is open.
2. Open your Home > Library > Caches folder, then trash the following two files therein:
- com.apple.preferencepanes.cache
- com.apple.preferencepanes.searchindexcache
3. Trash the file
com.apple.systempreferences.plist
in your Home > Library > Preferences folder.
4. Trash the file
com.apple.systempreferences.xxx.plist
in your Home > Library > Preferences > ByHost folder, where xxx is an alphanumeric string.
5. Empty Trash.
6. Launch System Preferences and see if the problem is resolved.2. You wrote"I still have my Desktop Pictures folder."I presume you mean the Macintosh HD > Library > Desktop Pictures folder I cited previously. How about the contents of that folder? It should contain five folders:• Abstract
• Black & White
• Nature
• Plants
• Solid Colorsand a collection of .jpg images for a total of 28 objects.
3. I know you earlier said you ran Repair Permissions. I presume the permissions on Macintosh HD > Library > Desktop Pictures are:You can: Read & Write
Owner: system
Access: Read & Write
Group: admin
Access: Read & Write
Others: Read OnlyYes?
4. If none of the above sorts it out, let's see if it's isolated to your account. Do you have a second user account defined on your system? If so, log in to it and see if the problem happens there. If it does, it is probably a system-wide problem. If not, it is something with your user account. If you don't have a second account on your system, you can create a new one using System Preferences > Accounts. See "Mac OS X 10.4 Help: Adding a new user account to your computer."
5. Immediately after the problem occurs — i.e. you open Desktop & Screen Saver preferences and either cannot select Desktop or Desktop is blank — check the ends of these Console logs for clues. Let's see if console can tell us if the Desktop preference pane is corrupted.
6. Do you have any personal Web space? If so, can you take a screen shot of the problem and upload it to your personal Web space? If so, post a link back here to the image. It may help if I can see what you're seeing, though I think I understand it from your description, "a picture is worth..." etc.
7. As a general check, run the procedure specified in my "Resolving Disk, Permission, and Cache Corruption" FAQ. Perform the steps therein in the order specified.
8. To what was / is your Desktop image presently set? One of the Apple collections or images? Something from your iPhoto Library?
FYI: I number my points so you can respond by number.
Good luck!
Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X
Note: The information provided in the link(s) above is freely available. However, because I own The X Lab™, a commercial Web site to which some of these links point, the Apple Discussions Terms of Use require I include the following disclosure statement with this post:
I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

Black desktop background

Hi everybody: I have a very strange issue here.
In my wife's iBook G4 the ability to change the desktop background colour while the picture is centered is out. Anything she does, the colour remains black (maybe very dark blue). We tried everything, repairing permissions, trashing finder and desktop .plist, playing with calibration, re-installing basic system, with no results. With Panther, and for the first week of Tiger use, it was possible to change the colour, now is stuck to black, out from the blue. I know it is not a serious problem, but is annoying that one cannot control such a simple thing, don't even knowing why. Anybody can help?
Thanks.

i am having the same problem. how did you solve it? it seems to be, the black background issue is only occurring with pdf files (pictures in pdf format, not changeable text) that i am trying to use as desktop photos. however, the problem only started when i just recently tried to change the background, and then decided to change it back. before, i had it set to the white background i wanted, so that the image would blend in without having to stretch. now, the photo (pdf) that was working fine before will only appear with that black background when set to "center" the image. can't get it to change colors to white or anything else.
the image won't appear at all when i change the format from .pdf to .jpg or anything else, and when i did a save-as to a new file (.jpg), it's all stretchy... not what i wanted.
any suggestions? how did you fix yours?

White desktop background

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