Windows XP Home, Desktop view keeps alternating

SAR1 · Joined: Feb 03, 2009 Posts: 9

Hi, I'm running XP Home SP3. Not long ago I started seeing a problem that I can't seem to stop. I normally keep my desktop appearance/window and buttons set to Classic mode. Now, for no apparent reason, it alternates from Classic to XP style when I reboot the system. It doesn't do this with every reboot and it will switch to the other view no matter which one it is set to. It never seems to stay the same for more than 1 or 2 times in a row. Does anyone have any idea what is causing this? Thanks for any info or ideas you might have on this problem. Also, it does this not matter how I shut the system down. I've tried start/turn off computer/turn off and start/turn off computer/restart, and even if I just hit the power button on the system but it happens doing any of these methods of shutdown.

goretsky · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:06 am Post subject:

Hello,

It sounds like the Themes service might not be starting, sometimes. When the computer starts up in "Classic" mode, try opening the Services Manager (filename: SERVICES.MSC) and seeing if the Themes services is running. If not, click on it, start it and see if that makes the Desktop look as it should.

If that fixes the problem, then we know what the issue is, and can further investigate what is causing it to not start when the computer boots up.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

SAR1 · Joined: Feb 03, 2009 Posts: 9

Hi Goretsky and thanks for any help you can provide with this problem. I'm not sure I'm looking at the right thing but this is what I did. I went to Start\Control Panel\Administrative tools\Services. I scroll down to Themes and the status shows to be started in both cases of Classic or Default view. However, I did notice that when the system booted into Default view, if i select Themes and click restart, it would automatically switch to Classic view.

micker377 · Joined: May 27, 2005 Posts: 988

I went to "Themes", and found only ONE instance started:

C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs

goretsky · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:25 am Post subject:

Hello,

I wonder if the problem might be with the driver driver software for the computer's video card, i.e., if there was something in them that under some circumstances prevented the Themes services from properly initializing. Have you tried updating them recently?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

SAR1 · Joined: Feb 03, 2009 Posts: 9

I haven't done that but I will. You might have nailed it down because I installed a new video card before xmas. I'm not sure exactly when the desktop view started having problems but it seems like it was around that time frame. I will try some different drivers and let you know what happens.

SAR1 · Joined: Feb 03, 2009 Posts: 9

OK, I downloaded and installed the latest driver from Nvidia but the problem is still ongoing. Any other ideas to try?

goretsky · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 11:44 pm Post subject:

Hello,

Perhaps there is another program running at startup which interferes with the ability of the service to properly initialize.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2629

I have two suggestions:
1.Once windows loads and you see the theme, open task manager and take a screenshot of the running processes and save it to your desktop; when you do a cold boot or a reboot and the theme changes, open task manager and take a screenshot of the other theme and save this. Then open the screenshots side by side and see if there are differences in what is running.
2. Open Control Panel, Admin Tools, Event Viewer and look at the application log and the system log to see if anything appears at the time the theme changed.

SAR1 · Joined: Feb 03, 2009 Posts: 9

I haven't been able to complete the last suggested steps but I have noticed another problem. When I connect my digital camera to the usb port, nothing happens. It doesn't recognize the camera as being there or something and I've yet to even figure out how to get my pictures off the camera now. Normally it would come up with a program that let me copy the pictures from the camera to my hard drive. Inserting a USB flash drive in that same port works normally so I know it's not a hardware issue with the USB port.

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2629

I used to connect my camera until a windows update broke something and it stopped working. I had support from HP and I even purchased a CD with an updated version of the camera software. Nothing worked. My solution: I removed all the camera software, got a card reader that connects by USB put the sd card in and copy my pictures from the card to the computer.

I now have 3 digital cameras and have not installed the camera software for any on any of my computers. All my cameras use sd cards and one can use hcsd (high capacity) so I got a different type reader that will work with sdhc cards.

It's about the size of a USB stick. The back is hinged, lifts up and the card is inserted then the device is plugged into the USB port.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1508 Location: Central FL, USA

Never, Never, but Never install the Kodak EaseShare camera software.

It's screwed up more PC's than any virus!!!!!

I'm constantly taking it off of my customer's PC's.

A word to the wise, is sufficient!

Doc Cool