Wallpaper is being covered by a white screen?

[Magikarp]

Model Name: MacBook
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
L2 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz

So while organizing my MacBook today, I randomly changed my desktop picture to a wallpaper I made on Photoshop. Shortly after, I deleted the wallpaper file (I disliked what I saw) and continued organizing. When I finished, I closed all my windows and saw... a white desktop.

Okay, this is happening because the computer can't locate the deleted file, I figured. So I went to another image and set it as my desktop picture. When I came back to look, it was still white!

Here is what it looks now (Dock not shown because hiding is turned on):

Every time I try to change the wallpaper, nothing happens except for the menu bar reflecting the chosen wallpaper:

A few other points:

• So far I've only tried logging off/in and restarting.
• The last thing I remember doing is emptying my trash bin. Before that I was making changes to my login items.
• For some reason, it looks like a white screen is covering the wallpaper, because whenever I restarted, the wallpaper WOULD SHOW, then it would go blank...

I'm not very tech savvy, and this is my first Mac, so I didn't want to make things worse by randomly clicking around. Please help? Any and all will be sincerely appreciated.

 

[bmcgonag]

Try resetting your PRAM.

Restart system Just before chime, press and hold Command+Option+P+R, hold them until the system reboots again twice, then release. System may reboot again one more time after that.

See if that clears up the issue.

 

[Magikarp]

Thank you for your suggestion, bmcgonag. I followed your instructions precisely, and for a moment it seemed like resetting the PRAM did the trick, but too soon the white screen covered the wallpaper again.

I did a swift search on Google, and came across a disturbing possibility: the White Screen of Death. Can it be?

I then read a suggestion to reset the System Management Controller (SMC). I have no idea what that is, or if should even try it.

 

[drngoat]

Wallpaper is being covered by a white screen?

dont know if you have figured this out yet.

i have been racking by brain trying to figure this out, but i have found a fix. the only fix i have found so far is to create a new user and transfer your information.

resetting pram and smc didnt help

surprised not to find more info on this problem