I accidently clicked on a picture on the internet as 'set as wallpaper.' I have since changed it and it is not under the display properties. But when I restart my computer it pops up as the computer is shutting down and starting up again. If I go under my active desktop and uncheck 'Show web content' it appears. I have a Dell using Windows ME. Can anyone tell me how I can get it off my computer?

Try This...
rightclick desktop/properties/appearance/set scheme to windows standard.

if you did this with ie
click start-search-for files or folders-type in Internet Explorer Wallpaper.bmp
look in local disk c:
click search now
when found right click it and choose delete.

Been there with this one - you might try going into the Registry Editor and doing a search (F3 key) for the filename that shows in Active Desktop as you described. Then when you locate the filename in the registry delete that value string and it should not load next time you reboot.

this file is likely under your Windows folder on your hard drive. go to (assuming your hard drive letter is "C")C:\WINDOWS, then right-click in an empty field within that folder and choose 'sort by type'. look through the .bmp files. it may be named something like Microsoft Internet Explorer. you can also do a regular search for this file or file type through the search utility that comes with Windows. if you don't have the name put in *.bmp. this should list all your .bmp files.
if you don't find it there check C:\WINDOWS\WEB\Wallpaper. if you find it you can click and drag it out of that folder, rename it, or delete it. after doing this you should no longer see it at startup and shutdown. i've had this problem several times and this always worked.

hi
the last one I was trying to get rid of was in C:/Windows/Application Data/Microsoft/Internet Explorer. it was there as a .bmp
snap

I had this problem. I am not going to be much help here but... I fixed it with right clicking on the desk top and looking at properties for one picture and active desk top file for the other
(I think ??).One picture shows when I am not connected to a web page and the other only showed for a fraction of a second during start up or shutdown or both, I can't remember, long enough for someone to see it and say you dirdy perv! I must have accidentally gone to a porn site and during my alcoholic intoxication the site tricked me into loading this picture. More worryingly there was a premium rate dial-up number also on the desk top which I noticed only when I woke up the next day after the hangover had worn off.
For obvious reasons this post will be anonymous.

This only happens if the prior wallpaper was a *.bmp file. You can find it and delete it or rename it or move it. Or pick another *.bmp file you like for wallpaper, then change back to the one you prefer for the desktop.

Ok, you are all entirely on the wrong track. You are fixing the symptoms and not the problem.

Problem:
In Microsoft's infinite wisdom, Windows stores FOUR background images in the registry. Why? Because when they rolled out Internet Explorer 4 with Active Desktop, they didn't want to force you t use it, so they left the old key for the standard background image in:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

So they needed a new key for the Active Desktop wallpaper. In case Active Desktop doesn't load, or gets messed up (happens far too often) they defined a BackupWallpaper, (They could've used the already existing wallpaper I first mentioned, but they must make things big and complicated) both can be found here:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\General

Wow, but the HK_Current_User section of the registry only applies AFTER you've logged in, or after windows has logged you in for you. Up until that time, it uses the background defined in:
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop

If you're on Win9x, when prompted to login you can cancel it and go set the wallpaper, and that'll change the 'default' user's wallpaper. However, in Win2k, the simplest thing to do is probably to edit the registry yourself and fix the key appropriately.

Note: All keys are shown for Win2k, and not for Win9x. They should be close enough to figure it out.

So next time you go to change your wallpaper, thank Microsoft for making it so fun.