The Desktop tab does not appear in the Display Properties dialog box in Windows XP (922370)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

SYMPTOMS

The Desktop tab does not appear in the Display Properties dialog box in Microsoft Windows XP.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if the following two conditions are true:
  • The Turn on Classic shell Group Policy setting is configured.
  • The value of the ClassicShell entry in the following registry subkey is not 0:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

RESOLUTION

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

To resolve this problem, modify the value of the ClassicShell entry to 0. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type Regedit, and then click OK.
  2. Locate and then click the following subkey:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

  3. In the right pane, double-click ClassicShell, type 0 in the Value data box, and then click OK.
  4. Exit Registry Editor.

MORE INFORMATION

When the Turn on Classic shell policy setting is configured, the ClassicShell registry entry is enabled. When this entry is enabled, the following conditions are true:
  • The Active Desktop feature and the Web view feature are turned off.
  • The option to open items with a single click is not available.
  • The user interface resembles the Windows NT 4.0 user interface.
When the ClassicShell registry entry is enabled, users cannot reverse these changes without modifying the registry.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:7/26/2006
Keywords:kbshell kbRegistry kbtshoot kbprb KB922370 kbAudEndUser
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