[Display Properties: Effects button is disabled]

Your suggestion of the Kellys-Korner tweak was excellent (which is a good thing, because I had already verified most of the other checkpoints).

 

I read through the tweaks and tried one a bit closer to the described condition - #256 on the right side: "Effects Options are Greyed Out - Appearance"

 

It employs the same strategy as you so clearly explained for #214.

 

Thanks!

[Display Properties: Effects button is disabled]

Indeed, I have rebooted and troble-shot many times.

 

Could a registry link, dll, or ActiveX Control associated with the Effects menu have gotten deleted or damaged?

[Display Properties: Effects button is disabled]

Display Properties menu, Appearance tab: the Effects button not working after running ccleaner.

 

I am able to invoke the Advanced button on this tab.

 

I am running winXP Pro-SP2 and ccleaner v1.27, with the defaults checked for cleaner and issues.