can't change desktop among other things

I got a laptop from my college as part of a scholarship and I have a couple problems with it. It uses Windows XP Professional and my user account has administrator status.

I can't change the desktop background. When I click the Desktop tab in Display Properties, the Background box is grayed out though I can still change the background color. I tried finding an image, right-clicking it, and selecting Set as Desktop Background, but it didn't show up. However, interestingly enough, it shows up as the background when I lock the computer.

Also, maybe or maybe not linked to my first problem is the fact that I cannot access any of the games that came with Windows (Solitaire, Minesweeper, Pinball, etc.). When I try to run them I get a message saying:
"This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator."
Now, I'm not to interested in actually playing the games. I just want to get rid of the source of the restriction on them, because it may be affecting other things.

If you could help me with this, I would be very grateful.

The Group Policy Editor in XP Pro is where these settings/restrictions are set.

start Run... > GPEDIT.MSC

One edit restricts Desktop changes. Games probably was also disabled by the previous Admin. Here are some general guides:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...s/gp/gpref.asp

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307882/

http://www.theeldergeek.com/group_policy_editor.htm

It took me a little bit of searching but I found the solutions to both problems. However, one thing confuses me. Everything was on "Not Configured" and I had to set the restrictions to "Enable" and then to "Disable" to solve the problem even though it says that "Not Configured" will default to the "Disable" setting.

Thanks so much. I had used regedit before but I had never heard of gpedit. Those problems had bugged me for a while. Thanks again.

GPEDIT is only on PRO as a means of an Admin setting various groups and policies/restrictions across a network.

Anyway glad it worked for you!

Thanks for the thanks. Let us know if we can help further in the future.