Cannot Change Desktop Wallpaper Background

[Barry Rueger]

Release: Linux Mint 15 "olivia"
Edition: Cinnamon 64-bit

I rebooted my system yesterday, and when it started my wallpaper was gone. Just a black background.
I've tried the usual ways of changing the background, via right click on the desktop, and via the settings tools.

Each time the Backgrounds widget opens, I select an image, and then close it.

Nothing happens. I'm still stuck with a black background.

This a very new install - about two or three weeks, with no oddball things added - it's almost pure Mint out of the box.

I vaguely recall reading somewhere that this is tied to Nemo? When this problem started I was running 1.8.3, which came installed. I'm now running the latest Nemo nightly 1.8.5, but no change.

[Dotdot (5511cc)]

I'm running nemo nightly and have the same problem.

(note - when the machine locks - .. the background is as i set it, otherwise it's BLACK..)

[Barry Rueger (barry-rueger)]

Yes, forgot to mention that - when locked the background can be seen. Once I've entered my password it goes back to black.

[Michael Tunnell (michaeltunnell)]

I am also experiencing this same issue...exactly as describe above. I suppose the only solution is to replace Mint.

[Barry Rueger (barry-rueger)]

The problem seems to have disappeared - recently did a full fresh install with Release: Linux Mint 16 "petra"
Edition: Cinnamon 64-bit and have had no problems.

[Mats Rosen (mats-rosen)]

Upgraded from 17.2 and now to 17.3. The problem is the same.
Why should you need to do a fresh install to be able to change background?
Somewhere there is a lock file which blocks any changes. Which file is it? How can I remove it?