This can also happen if a policy is created to restrict access to Display Properties control panel applet. You can try out the methods given here:
*www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/regentry/93827.mspx
*www.onlinecomputertips.com/troubleshooting/display_error.html
However, these tricks are by various malware as well. You can scan your PC with a good free anti-malware such as MalwareBytes Anti-Malware.
*www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php