Windows – Change Windows Desktop Background command line

In the same dialog box that you mentioned about the "fix desktop icons" button, ensure that active desktop isn't enabled by unchecking everything in the list.

Next, go into the Registry Editor and check that there is not a key called 'NoChangingWallpaper' in either of the following locations. If there is, delete it and restart.

1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. Type regedit
4. Click OK

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop and HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop

Try resetting the Windows theme:

1. Right-click your desktop
2. Click Properties
3. Click the Themes tab
4. Select Windows XP from the list of themes
5. Click Apply
6. Restart your computer

Failing that, try an sfc /scannow to check for any corrupt system files they may be preventing the desktop wallpaper from automatically refreshing.

1. Pop in your XP installation media and cancel out of the installation wizard
2. Click Start
3. Click Run
4. Type sfc /scannow
5. Click OK
6. When the box disappears, restart your computer

If this does not work, try a system restore.

Your school's IT administrators are using either group policy or a third party program to restrict what you can do with your background.

I'd say that's a smart policy for them to implement, considering what many high school students might choose to use as their background when they have access to the web or USB flash drives. (I'm assuming high school based on the age in your profile).

Trying to find a way around this is equivalent to defying the administration's decisions, so you're probably safest not trying to get around their rules. I've gotten into enough trouble doing things I obviously wasn't supposed to be doing, and now that I do some light IT work I see how some restrictions like these make everybody's lives easier.