Wallpaper cannot be displayed if desktop is inactive?

[reityrant]

the wallpaper you selected can be shown on the desktop only iff active desktop is enabled. i got curious about this message coz before i reformatted my computer into the same OS (WIN2000) i was able to display backgrounds even if desktop is inactive.. why is this so.. anyone can explain? only the background color appears when desktop is inactive.. no wallpaper.

i noticed recently, my inactive desktop only supports bitmap images. if not bitmap, active desktop must be enabled to apply the wallpaper. i dont know why is this so because last time, my inactive desktop supports all file type images and applys them all..