Desktop wallpaper doesn't fit.

[chrisrob]

My web book has a 1024 x 600 resolution screen. I prepared my own wallpaper to those dimensions and used it on the desktop. Fine.
(I am using Windows XP by the way.)
To keep desktop clear, I selected hide desktop icons. Actually I only have one desktop icon - the recycling bin which I cannot remove and it always positions itself two-thirds of the way across the bottom of the screen.

Then I installed IE8. (I use Firefox but find it easier to let windows update have its own way and select IE instead.)

Since then, however, when I try to hide the desktop icons, the wallpaper squashes into a 800x600 space to the left of the desktop - tried changing properties: to 800x600 and back. Tried loading other wallpapers. It won't let me choose blank screen or tiles unless I opt to show desktop icons.

Any ideas I haven't already tried? It's just annoying.

[ChuckFickens]

have you considered the idea of uninstalling IE8

as you don't use it and you say your problems started when you installed it removing it would seem to be the logical first step.

[chrisrob]

Thanks Chuck.
Thought I might do that but wondered if anyone could think of a reason this was happening or if it's possible to remove the recycling bin from the desktop.