SystemParametersInfo set wallpaper issues

The third parameter of SystemParametersInfo is supposed to be a null terminated string containing the path to a file to set as the desktop background.

If I wanted to just set it as the null background then this works:

Code:

---

SystemParametersInfo
        (
        SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER,
        0,
        "",
        SPIF_SENDCHANGE
        );

---

But when I try to set the background to a file this doesn't work. GetLastError returns ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND even though that's the correct path to the file.

Code:

---

SystemParametersInfo
        (
        SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER,
        0,
        "H:\nn.bmp",
        SPIF_SENDCHANGE
        );

---

Even stranger when I try calling and outputting SystemParametersInfo with SPI_GETDESKWALLPAPER I get a jumbled string that looks something like 78BB5654 (so it's random looking but it's the same every time).

How can I set the desktop wallpaper? Am I formatting the path wrong?

Possibly?

Code:

---

SystemParametersInfo
        (
        SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER,
        0,
        "H:\\nn.bmp",
        SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE | SPIF_SENDCHANGE
        );

---

Notice the double back slashes in the file path. The SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE is used to update the stored setting.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BobS0327

Notice the double back slashes in the file path. The SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE is used to update the stored setting.

---

Nope still getting file not found. I even moved the file to drive C:\ to see if Windows had problems with taking the file from a flash drive. I even created a shortcut to the picture file and used the target of the shortcut to make sure I had the path right. Still file not found.

Here's a url on msdn about systemParametersInfo:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...metersinfo.asp

Try ignoring the path altogether, just list the bmp name itself and place both the program and the image inside the same directory.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Oldman47

Try ignoring the path altogether, just list the bmp name itself and place both the program and the image inside the same directory.

---

Still file not found. Now there's even more strangeness. Using "" as the path is now returning ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND (error code 2) and isn't going to a null background immediately. I have to update the background by dragging a window over the entire thing.

Here's the code currently:

Code:

---

        SystemParametersInfo
        (
        SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER,
        0,
        "C:\\nn.bmp",
        SPIF_SENDCHANGE | SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE
        );
        std::cout<<GetLastError();

---

No error is returned if I use SETWALLPAPER_DEFAULT as the path but since my current wallpaper is the default it does nothing.

Also how can I stop vc++ from adding the press any key to continue... line to console programs?

This code works under dev c++ with mingw but not under VC++:

Code:

---

        SystemParametersInfo
        (
        SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER,
        0, //not used
        (void*)"C:\\nn.bmp",
        SPIF_SENDCHANGE
        );

---

Well Looks Like I'll be using a different IDE for this project.

Thanks for all your help