Solved Lost Desktop Background, can't reload it

Hello,

To see if I could get control over the Windows 8.1 folder, I came to try the Windows 8 Forum Tutorial published by Brink on 03 March 2012 on "How to Disable Auto Arrange in File Explorer in Windows 8.1." When I did, the Windows 8.1 desktop background was replaced by a blank dark green background. Nothing I have been able to do has enabled me to recover the Windows desktop background. I now have no Task bar, no Charm bar, nothing.

I still have my browser open, and a folder open. If I closed them, I would not be able to access anything. I accessed the Control Panel through the folder, but it would not reload the background, and told me to change the background settings. The Control Panel has the option, "Change desktop background," but that's what wouldn't reload. I've done a System Restore, but it did not return the desktop background. Finally, I tried the other Brink program to "Enable Auto Arrange" to reverse the Disable and restore Windows back to what it was before I tried the Disable program. That effort didn't work either.

How can I recover the Windows 8.1 desktop background?

Thank you,
William Stockich

Hello William, and welcome to Eight Forums.

No worries. It sounds like something interfered with the .bat file and prevented explorer from restarting.

Restarting the computer will sort this for you.

If you don't want to restart the computer, then you could also open Task Manager (CTRL+SHIFT+ESC). In Task Manager, click on File (menu bar) -> Run new task, type explorer, and click/tap on OK.

Hello Brink,
Your suggestion worked just as you said. I used the Task Manager. Thanks for responding so quickly! And I add an all-around thanks for relieving me of my despair!

William Stockich

You're most welcome William.