In the last couple of days my desktop/wallpaper is only showing a black screen. When I look @ the control panel to change the wallpaper it shows that the picture I was using is still active. I change it to a Vista image and click apply, nothing. I still have the black screen behind my icons. Also, now when I go into a folder the images in the folder do not display correctly and the folders in the folder(zips, etc.) will not show @ all. The names for the folders appear. I click on the veiw tab and it goes to a smaller view and all my icons appear. Please help.

I have Vista Home Premium. It is a laptop.

Hi drgellar, Welcome to Bleeping Computer

Try this. Go to the Control Panel / Ease of Access Center and click on Make the Computer Easier to See.
Make sure Remove background Images is not selected.