Setting a default wallpaper for all users

[Maritime]

Hi All,

My company has just taken the decision to have the corporate logo, become the default wallpaper on all pcs' in the organization. I run Windows 2000 Server with a number of 2000 and XP clients. I also have some 95/98 clients too. Is there anyway to create a group policy to do what’s required?

Thanks in advance

 

[Stevehewitt]

The default (e.g for new users until they change it) or the only wallpaper? (set for everone and they can't change it)

Either way, you can do this using GPO's. Can't recall where it is, but under the user - admin templates section, I think it's the active desktop bit. Create a read only file share with the wallpaper and point the GPO to use that as the wallpaper path.
If you want to lock it down then there's some option in the GPO to prevent users from changing it.

Cheers,




Steve.

"They have the internet on computers now!" - Homer Simpson

 

[Maritime]

Hi Steve,

The wallpaper needs to be set so that it cannot be changed. I was actually looking for the procedure to create the GPO. If you remember please let me know.

 

[markdmac]

Setting the wallpaper via GPO is the first step. You also need to lock the users out of the Control Panel applet so they can't change it.

Note that your 9x clients will not receive the GPO. Those systems should be removed from your network, they represent a security risk to your network. 12 years of service for a 95 machine is more than amortized.

Look at my login script FAQ for some general GPO guidance (at the end of the FAQ) faq329-5798. If you are totally unfamiliar with GPO creation, I would suggest enlisting the help of a consultant versed in this to help ensure you don't accidentally lock your admin account out from managing the environment.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[pancake]

Maritime

Don't know if you have a solution to this one as it is a while since you posted, but we use a login script to change the background on our computers at school. We use a central bitmap (jpg don't work) so teachers can change them from a share. If the kiddies change their background the login script changes it again the next time they log in.

You will need a copy of reg.exe - think this comes with windows.

if %computername%==ROOM1-01 \\SERVERNAME\netlogon\REG ADD "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /V Wallpaper /T REG_SZ /F /D "\\servername\sharename\desktop.bmp"

 

[Maritime]

Hi All,

Pancake, thanks for the info. The thing about the login script is that it will have to be left associated to the user profile, if I need to use another script (thus removing the wallpaper script) for some other purpose, what happens then? The user desktop will go back to what they had before. Am I not understanding how your suggestion works?

 

[markdmac]

The background setting is stored in the registry. If you remove that setting then no background is set. The user will just have a colored background with no image.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[Maritime]

Hi Mark,
I want to have the same background set for all users.

 

[pancake]

We have a global login script that then calls a background script that we keep and maintain separately.

The first part "if %computername%==ROOM1-01" checks the computer name and if it equals the ROOM-01 then goes ahead and changes the background changing the registry key. If you want to change them all then leave this bit out and just have

\\SERVERNAME\netlogon\REG ADD "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /V Wallpaper /T REG_SZ /F /D "\\servername\sharename\desktop.bmp

This single command would change backgrounds for all that run it. You would only need this single command if you want all backgrounds to change.

Add this to the script that you already use, don't replace it and hey presto!

Hope this helps.