The two registry keys below both store the original path of the current wallpaper image:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\TranscodedImageCache
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\TranscodedImageCache_000
They're in Unicode format, upon decoding that, one will have the full path to the current wallpaper image.
I believe this may be a problem in the registry. In particular, I think this lies under HKCR.
I would like you to check some registry data manually first.
WARNING: Editing the registry can be dangerous. You are warned!
First, fire up Registry Editor (run regedit.exe from the start menu search box).
Then navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe. On the right you should see (Default) of type REG_SZ having the data exefile. Comment below and stop here if this is not on your machine.
Then also navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk. On the right you should see (Default) of type REG_SZ having the data lnkfile. Comment below and stop here if this is not on your machine.
If you passed the above check, then you can follow the following steps to attempt to fix the problem.
WARNING: Editing the registry can be dangerous. You are warned twice!
The following fixes .exe files:
Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\DropHandler. On the
right you should see (Default) of type REG_SZ, but may not be
having the data {86C86720-42A0-1069-A2E8-08002B30309D}.
Now, select "File" -> "Export" on the menu to backup the data.
When you've done exporting the data, you should try editing the data
of the item (Default). Double-click on (Default), then paste the
following value {86C86720-42A0-1069-A2E8-08002B30309D} and click
"OK" (or press Enter).
The following fixes .lnk (Windows shortcuts) files:
Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\DropHandler. On the
right you should see (Default) of type REG_SZ, but may not be
having the data {00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}.
Now, select "File" -> "Export" on the menu to backup the data.
When you've done exporting the data, you should try editing the data
of the item (Default). Double-click on (Default), then paste the
following value {00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046} and click
"OK" (or press Enter).
After that, close Registry Editor and restart explorer.exe. The easy way is to log off then log in.
By default, you can also drop to .bat, .cmd and some more file types. If you find that you can't also, find a working Windows 7 machine and copy the corresponding registry values.
Best Answer
Yes, it is possible, but there's only one way that I know of since they removed the colours advanced settings dialog (possibly third party utils to do it too).
Press
+R and type
regedit(or look for it in Apps).Navigate to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics:There you need to edit
IconSpacingandIconVerticalSpacing, the former is for the horizontal spacing and the latter for the vertical one (they range -480 to -2730).For the horizontal space, the closer to -2730, the more space between icons and vice versa (but here you're changing the size of the box surrounding the icon:
-2730:
-480:
The same for vertical space, but you're changing the separation between the boxes that surround icons; for example at -480 they overlap:
-2730:
-480:
To apply the changes the only way I know is logging off and back on again and then moving one icon, restarting Explorer doesn't cut it this time.
If you have access to a Windows 7 machine I'd say it's easier to change there the spacing using the regular options in the advanced settings dialog for colours, and then looking at the registry for the values you'd like to translate to your Windows 8 machine.
In any case these would be some of the values to help you edit those values:
By the way, another useful value to change there is
BorderWidththat controls the width of the borders of windows.