Print Page - Missing Display Properties Tabs

Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows XP => Topic started by: gorgon on January 16, 2006, 10:00:15 PM

Title: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: gorgon on January 16, 2006, 10:00:15 PM

I am running Windows XP Home SP2. When I right-click on my desktop, then click on Properties, the Display Properties dialog box opens up, but it is missing several tabs. All I can now do from this window is change Themes. I haven't added any theme packs or anything else so I'm at a loss to explain what I might have done. Any suggestions on what I can do to get the rest of the Display Properties Tabs back? :-?

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: dl65 on January 16, 2006, 10:07:53 PM

gorgon..... First , I wonder how you found out you were missing those tabs? I only ask because it might shed some light on whats going on .......

If you are certain your pc is virus and trojan free , I would do this ...use your system restore and restore back to a date when the desktop properties was all there.

One other thing you could check is your event log .....and see if theres any indication there as to whats wrong...... Check this before you try the system restore .

dl65 ::)

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: gorgon on January 16, 2006, 10:57:08 PM

I periodically use the right-click menu from my desktop to change wallpapers and other setings, so I have known about those tabs for years.

I'm pretty sure my computer is virus and trojan free, and I tried using system restore as far back as I could (which was to the beginning of this year...I had reset the restore points), and it didn't solve the problem.

I checked the event log, and the only things of note were some errors attributed to the Windows Security Center (it said it was unable to establish event queries with WMI to monitor service start/stop and to monitor third party antivirus/firewall).

If it helps or if it's at all related, about ten days ago I noticed that I had lost the right-click Send To menu when viewing files in My Documents. I used the "REGSVR32 SENDMAIL" trick from the Run command line on the Start menu to get everything back.

I should also point out that I can use Control Panel>Appearance & Themes>Change The Desktop Background to change wallpapers and access all the other missing tab functions. It's just odd that they're now missing from the desktop right-click menu.

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: dl65 on January 16, 2006, 11:02:08 PM

gorgon... ok ...so if you go into control panel and click on display all the tabs are there and ok ......
Have you been using any XP tweeking programs by any chance or have you changed the themes recently ?

dl65 ::)

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: gorgon on January 16, 2006, 11:05:12 PM

Hmmm...does Windows Cleanup! count as a tweaking program? That's the last thing I installed on my computer, and I've only used it once (and yes, it was within the last two months I did it). ;D

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: dl65 on January 16, 2006, 11:09:15 PM

gorgon ...I am not familiar with Windows cleanup ........ Is that the correct name and I'll do a bit of looking and see ...it is possible that may be the culpurit.

dl65 ::)

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: gorgon on January 16, 2006, 11:19:06 PM

Quote

gorgon ...I am not familiar with Windows cleanup ........ Is that the correct name and I'll do a bit of looking and see ...it is possible that may be the culpurit.

dl65 ::)

That's the correct name...just don't forget the exclamation point ...they added it, not me ;)
Windows CleanUp!

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: dl65 on January 16, 2006, 11:27:44 PM

Well ..that app doesnt look like it should have caused the issue ......

Quote

If it helps or if it's at all related, about ten days ago I noticed that I had lost the right-click Send To menu when viewing files in My Documents.

When you right click on one of these files do you have the compress and Email option ?

dl65 ::)

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: Fed on January 16, 2006, 11:42:25 PM

Sorry to jump in...
Go to 285 on the right hand panel.
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: gorgon on January 16, 2006, 11:50:22 PM

Quote

Sorry to jump in...
Go to 285 on the right hand panel.
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

I already tried the Kellys-Korner routine, and it didn't work for me.

And yes, I have full right-click menu functionality restored in My Documents.

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: Fed on January 17, 2006, 12:04:06 AM

Read response #6 and the results that followed.
http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/132440.html
Perhaps this will help.
(Backup your registry if you are unsure of what you are doing)

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: gorgon on January 17, 2006, 12:15:51 AM

Quote

Read response #6 and the results that followed.
http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/132440.html
Perhaps this will help.
(Backup your registry if you are unsure of what you are doing)

I navigated to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System with regedit and found the following values:

(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
NoColorChoice REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoDispAppearancePage REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoDispBackgroundPage REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoDispCPL REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoDispScrSavPage REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoDispSettingsPage REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoSizeChoice REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoVisualStyleChoice REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)

Are these values already set to zero, or do they all need to be deleted?

BTW, thanks everyone for the help so far!

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: Fed on January 17, 2006, 01:26:55 AM

I'm not sure, I checked my computer (W2K) and that registry entry 'Policies\System' is not even there.
Perhaps someone can check in XP for you.

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: Fed on January 17, 2006, 12:04:30 PM

Just a thought, did you re-boot after trying the kelly's fix?
Neither DL65 or I have those entries but you have them all (set to zero).
What put them there, a re-boot is in order.

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: gorgon on January 17, 2006, 03:45:59 PM

Quote

Just a thought, did you re-boot after trying the kelly's fix?
Neither DL65 or I have those entries but you have them all (set to zero).
What put them there, a re-boot is in order.

Just to be on the safe side, I once again tried the Kelly's fix and rebooted. The tabs are still missing from the Display Properties window.

I opened the Kelly's fix with Notepad to see the contents, and here it is (if this helps at all):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoActiveDesktopChanges"=hex:00,00,00,00
"NoActiveDesktop"=dword:00000000
"NoSaveSettings"=dword:00000000
"ClassicShell"=dword:00000000
"NoThemesTab"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"NoDispAppearancePage"=dword:00000000
"NoColorChoice"=dword:00000000
"NoSizeChoice"=dword:00000000
"NoDispBackgroundPage"=dword:00000000
"NoDispScrSavPage"=dword:00000000
"NoDispCPL"=dword:00000000
"NoVisualStyleChoice"=dword:00000000
"NoDispSettingsPage"=dword:00000000
"NoDispScrSavPage"=dword:00000000
"NoVisualStyleChoice"=dword:00000000
"NoSizeChoice"=dword:00000000
"SetVisualStyle"=-

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop]
"NoChangingWallPaper"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager]
"ThemeActive"="1"
"DllName"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
  74,00,25,00,5c,00,72,00,65,00,73,00,6f,00,75,00,72,00,63,00,65,00,73,00,5c,\
  00,54,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00,65,00,73,00,5c,00,6c,00,75,00,6e,00,61,00,5c,00,\
  6c,00,75,00,6e,00,61,00,2e,00,6d,00,73,00,73,00,74,00,79,00,6c,00,65,00,73,\
  00,00,00[/center]

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: GX1_Man on January 17, 2006, 04:12:21 PM

Does this help?

http://www.ss64.com/ntsyntax/xp_reghacks.txt

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: gorgon on January 17, 2006, 04:52:37 PM

Quote

Does this help?

http://www.ss64.com/ntsyntax/xp_reghacks.txt

I looked this list of registry hacks over and the only ones that seem to apply to me are the following:
; - - - Section 3 - - - - Policy settings - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
;

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]

; Don't hide any of the following options (normally under Control Panel, Desktop)
"NoDispAppearancePage"=dword:00000000
"NoColorChoice"=dword:00000000
"NoSizeChoice"=dword:00000000
"NoDispBackgroundPage"=dword:00000000
"NoDispScrSavPage"=dword:00000000
"NoDispCPL"=dword:00000000
"NoVisualStyleChoice"=dword:00000000
"NoDispSettingsPage"=dword:00000000
"NoDispScrSavPage"=dword:00000000
"NoVisualStyleChoice"=dword:00000000
"NoSizeChoice"=dword:00000000
"SetVisualStyle"=-
There are a couple duplicates in there (NoSizeChoice, NoVisualStyleChoice, ect...) and they all seem to be set to zero anyway. They're the same as what's currently in my own registry, so I don't know how else to apply them.

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: Fed on January 17, 2006, 11:37:16 PM

I think I'd delete the entries other than the highlighted default.

[highlight](Default) REG_SZ (value not set) [/highlight]
NoColorChoice REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoDispAppearancePage REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoDispBackgroundPage REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoDispCPL REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoDispScrSavPage REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoDispSettingsPage REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoSizeChoice REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoVisualStyleChoice REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)

See what happens after a re-boot then.
Backup first. ;)

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: gorgon on January 18, 2006, 12:20:38 AM

Quote

I think I'd delete the entries other than the highlighted default.

[highlight](Default) REG_SZ (value not set) [/highlight]
NoColorChoice REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoDispAppearancePage REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoDispBackgroundPage REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoDispCPL REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoDispScrSavPage REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoDispSettingsPage REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoSizeChoice REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)
NoVisualStyleChoice REG_DWORD 0x00000000 (0)

See what happens after a re-boot then.
Backup first. ;)

Ok, I backed up first, then deleted everything except:
(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)

Then I rebooted. Still no luck. No tabs.

I have since restored what I deleted.

I think the fact that I can't figure out how to restore the tabs is now more important to me than actually having them back. ::)

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: Fed on January 18, 2006, 01:26:48 AM

Ir sure is becoming a mystery :-?
Something to do while everyone thinks about it :)

Online Virus Scan and Spyware Scan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan.htm

Highly recommended second Online Malware Scan
http://www.ewido.net/en/

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: gorgon on January 18, 2006, 09:00:21 AM

Quote

Ir sure is becoming a mystery :-?
Something to do while everyone thinks about it :)

Online Virus Scan and Spyware Scan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan.htm

Highly recommended second Online Malware Scan
http://www.ewido.net/en/

I tried them, after I used my copies of Ad Aware SE Personal and eTrust Pest Patrol. Want to guess what the result was? ;D

I did notice something by a fluke. I restarted the computer in Safe Mode and discovered that the tabs were available on the Display Properties box. When I rebooted into normal mode, they were gone again.

Maddening, isn't it? ::)

Aaaand... I noticed just now that my NVIDIA system tray icon is now missing. :-? I love you Windows XP ;D

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: gorgon on January 18, 2006, 09:03:34 AM

Quote

Aaaand... I noticed just now that my NVIDIA system tray icon is now missing. :-? I love you Windows XP ;D

Ok...ignore that last bit...I fixed the system tray icon issue. ::)

But the tabs are still missing :D

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: Fed on January 18, 2006, 01:06:04 PM

If you can see the tabs in safe mode then perhaps you have a legit program or setting that is stopping you from accessing those tabs?
How about a Hijackthis log?
Are you logged in with Admin rights?

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: gorgon on January 18, 2006, 01:58:46 PM

Quote

If you can see the tabs in safe mode then perhaps you have a legit program or setting that is stopping you from accessing those tabs?
How about a Hijackthis log?
Are you logged in with Admin rights?

I am logged in with Admin rights. Here is a Hijackthis log:
Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 3:55:55 PM, on 1/18/2006
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\windows\system\hpsysdrv.exe
C:\HP\KBD\KBD.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb04.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee.com\VSO\mcvsshld.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee.com\VSO\oasclnt.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee.com\PERSON~1\MpfTray.exe
c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsescn.exe
c:\program files\mcafee.com\agent\mcdetect.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcshield.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mctskshd.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee.com\PERSON~1\MpfService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee.com\PERSON~1\MpfAgent.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsftsn.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\HJT\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.comcast.net/home.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://us3.hpwis.com/
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://us3.hpwis.com/
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: McAfee VirusScan - {BA52B914-B692-46c4-B683-905236F6F655} - c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsshl.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [hpsysdrv] c:\windows\system\hpsysdrv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KBD] C:\HP\KBD\KBD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Recguard] C:\WINDOWS\SMINST\RECGUARD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\System32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\System32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PS2] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ps2.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPDJ Taskbar Utility] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb04.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VSOCheckTask] "C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee.com\VSO\mcmnhdlr.exe" /checktask
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VirusScan Online] C:\Program Files\McAfee.com\VSO\mcvsshld.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MCAgentExe] c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MCUpdateExe] c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcupdate.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [OASClnt] C:\Program Files\McAfee.com\VSO\oasclnt.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MPFExe] C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee.com\PERSON~1\MpfTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RunDLL32.exe NvMCTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {4528BBE0-4E08-11D5-AD55-00010333D0AD} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\yhexbmes0521.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Yahoo! Messenger - {4528BBE0-4E08-11D5-AD55-00010333D0AD} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\yhexbmes0521.dll
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O16 - DPF: Yahoo! Chat - http://us.chat1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/chat/applet/c381/chat.cab
O16 - DPF: {205FF73B-CA67-11D5-99DD-444553540006} (CInstall Class) -
O16 - DPF: {31E68DE2-5548-4B23-88F0-C51E6A0F695E} (Microsoft PID Sniffer) - https://support.microsoft.com/OAS/ActiveX/odc.cab
O16 - DPF: {4ED9DDF0-7479-4BBE-9335-5A1EDB1D8A21} (McAfee.com Operating System Class) - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/shared/mcinsctl/4,0,0,101/mcinsctl.cab
O16 - DPF: {9A9307A0-7DA4-4DAF-B042-5009F29E09E1} (ActiveScan Installer Class) - http://acs.pandasoftware.com/activescan/as5free/asinst.cab
O16 - DPF: {BCC0FF27-31D9-4614-A68E-C18E1ADA4389} (DwnldGroupMgr Class) - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/shared/mcgdmgr/1,0,0,26/mcgdmgr.cab
O16 - DPF: {DF780F87-FF2B-4DF8-92D0-73DB16A1543A} (PopCapLoader Object) - http://download.games.yahoo.com/games/web_games/popcap/bejeweled2/popcaploader_v6.cab
O23 - Service: McAfee WSC Integration (McDetect.exe) - McAfee, Inc - c:\program files\mcafee.com\agent\mcdetect.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee.com McShield (McShield) - McAfee Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Task Scheduler (McTskshd.exe) - McAfee, Inc - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mctskshd.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Secu

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: gorgon on January 18, 2006, 04:17:15 PM

OK, and if this problem isn't aggravating enough, I was looking at the Display Properties dialog box today and just for fun I decided to click on the top of the window, where the tabs should be...
...and the box responded as if I had hit a tab. :-? :-?

Then I tried clicking across the entire dialog box, but I wasn't getting any results. However if I tried clicking over and over in that small area I first hit, I was able to change the dialog box to correspond to the tabs for Themes, Background, Screen saver, Display, and Effects.

If I remember correctly, that's everything you could do from the Display Properties window. Since they were all accessible, this suggests that functionality is there but maybe it's the screen layout or the user interface that has the problem? Is this a clue?

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: Fed on January 18, 2006, 10:55:37 PM

Strange happenings here.
Re-run Hijackthis & mark for removal
O16 - DPF: {205FF73B-CA67-11D5-99DD-444553540006} (CInstall Class) -
Re-boot & check.
Are your video drivers and directX up to date?

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: gorgon on January 19, 2006, 02:08:56 PM

Quote

Strange happenings here.
Re-run Hijackthis & mark for removal
O16 - DPF: {205FF73B-CA67-11D5-99DD-444553540006} (CInstall Class) -
Re-boot & check.
Are your video drivers and directX up to date?

Ok, I reran Hijackthis and removed the above, rebooted and checked. Still no tabs. DirectX is up to date, and I'm using the latest NVIDIA drivers.

BTW, what did I have Hijackthis remove?

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: Fed on January 19, 2006, 09:07:19 PM

The entry you removed was uneeded & potentially nasty.
Try completely disabling McAfee (probably from msconfig) and re-booting while not on the net and see if the tabs turn up.

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: gorgon on January 22, 2006, 12:41:26 AM

Quote

The entry you removed was uneeded & potentially nasty.
Try completely disabling McAfee (probably from msconfig) and re-booting while not on the net and see if the tabs turn up.

Ok, I disabled McAfee with MSConfig and unplugged the network cable and rebooted. And I hate to say it, but the tabs were still missing. No real surprise there [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif]

What might account for missing tabs, but functionality (provided you click on the right pixel at the top of the window)?

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: Fed on January 22, 2006, 02:59:58 AM

Some sort of video display glitch?
The tabs are there, just invisible tabs. :-?

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: Fed on January 22, 2006, 03:05:01 AM

Did you download your video drivers from the manufacturer's website?
What is your video adaptor?

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: gorgon on January 22, 2006, 12:33:03 PM

Quote

Did you download your video drivers from the manufacturer's website?
What is your video adaptor?

I'm using an NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500, and once this business of missing tabs started, I downloaded the newest video drivers from their website (version 8.1.9.8.)

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: Fed on January 22, 2006, 12:42:52 PM

Perhaps a windows repair is in order?
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxppro/installxpcdrepair/part1.htm

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: gorgon on January 23, 2006, 04:25:54 PM

I considered a drastic step like that, but it's too much of a hassle right now. Everything else on the machine is running fine, I have no viruses or anything else malicious and all my software is up to date. If not running a Windows Repair means living without tabs, then I'll manage :P

I do appreciate all the attention and help however.

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: gorgon on January 28, 2006, 12:47:03 PM

I wanted to post that I have discovered the solution to this problem. ;D Somehow, a single file was deleted from my Windows directory. I don't know how, since it was a hidden file, but nevertheless it must have been deleted.

The file is WindowsShell.Manifest, and it was located in the C:\Windows directory. I got a copy of this file from my friend's computer and put it back in my Windows directory and now I have all functioning tabs in the Display Properties dialog box. So in the future, if anyone ever has this problem, the first thing you should do is search your Windows directory for the file WindowsShell.Manifest to see if it is missing. And remember when you look for it...this is supposed to be a hidden file!

Thanks to everyone who offered their patience and assistance. It was greatly appreciated!

Title: Re: Missing Display Properties Tabs
Post by: GX1_Man on January 28, 2006, 02:26:46 PM

Glad to hear you are up and running again. ;)

Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows XP => Topic started by: gorgon on January 16, 2006, 10:00:15 PM