I'm running Gnome 2.4. How do you set the background to load up a certain image every time? I'm going into Applications--Desktop Preferences--Background and select the image i want, and it loads up like it should. When i log out i choose save current settings, but when i log back in again it goes back to the default screen. Is there a file i have to edit in X?

that's very odd. you shouldn't have to edit any configuration file. but there is a configuration file you can try to edit manually.

/home/user_name/.gnome/Background

where Background is the file you need to edit. my guess would be to find the "wallpaper=somewallpaper.jpg". so find a line that starts with "wallpaper=" and change the filepath and picture filename you want for your background.

ex.

wallpaper=/usr/share/wallpapers/some_wallpaper.jpg

i'm looking at my file and it seems you won't need to add double-quotes around the filepath if you're using long filenames.

I am trying what you suggested, but i don't have a Background file

matrix@Linux-Powered:~/.gnome$ cat /home/matrix/.gnome/Background
cat: /home/matrix/.gnome/Background: No such file or directory
matrix@Linux-Powered:~/.gnome$