Forcing jpg as wallpaper on all users...

G

Guest

In our company, the director has requested that all desktops have the same
look. They have created a jpg file they want distributed. I have several
ways at doing this but the easiest way is to use the registry.

I have created the following .reg file and execute it during log-in.

regedit.exe /s desktop.reg

Example Start ~~~~~~

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\LastTheme]
"Wallpaper"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
74,00,25,00,5c,00,52,00,65,00,73,00,6f,00,75,00,72,00,63,00,65,00,73,00,5c,\
00,6e,00,6f,00,6d,00,63,00,64,00,65,00,73,00,6b,00,74,00,6f,00,70,00,5c,00,\
4e,00,4f,00,4d,00,43,00,44,00,65,00,73,00,6b,00,74,00,6f,00,70,00,56,00,36,\
00,2e,00,4a,00,50,00,47,00,00,00
"ThemeFile"=hex(2):00,00
"DisplayName of Modified"="Modified Theme"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.Slideshow]
"ImageDirectory"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcscreensav"
"PaintInterval"=dword:00000000
"ChangeInterval"=dword:00004e20
"DisplayFilename"=dword:00000000
"MaxScreenPercent"=dword:00000064
"DisableTransitions"=dword:00000000
"AllowStretching"=dword:00000000
"AllowKeyboardControl"=dword:00000000
"MaxFailedFiles"=dword:000003e8
"MaxSuccessfulFiles"=dword:00010000
"MaxDirectories"=dword:000000c8

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"ActiveWndTrkTimeout"=dword:00000000
"AutoEndTasks"="0"
"CaretWidth"=dword:00000001
"CoolSwitch"="1"
"CoolSwitchColumns"="7"
"CoolSwitchRows"="3"
"CursorBlinkRate"="530"
"DragFullWindows"="0"
"DragHeight"="4"
"DragWidth"="4"
"FontSmoothing"="2"
"FontSmoothingOrientation"=dword:00000001
"FontSmoothingType"=dword:00000001
"ForegroundFlashCount"=dword:00000003
"ForegroundLockTimeout"=dword:00000000
"GridGranularity"="0"
"HungAppTimeout"="5000"
"LowPowerActive"="0"
"LowPowerTimeOut"="0"
"MenuShowDelay"="400"
"PaintDesktopVersion"=dword:00000000
"PowerOffActive"="0"
"PowerOffTimeOut"="0"
"ScreenSaverIsSecure"="1"
"ScreenSaveTimeOut"="600"
"ScreenSaveActive"="1"
"SCRNSAVE.EXE"="C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\ssmypics.scr"
"TileWallpaper"="0"
"UserPreferencesMask"=hex:90,12,07,80
"WaitToKillAppTimeout"="20000"
"Wallpaper"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcdesktop\\nomcDesktopV6.JPG"
"WallpaperStyle"="2"
"OriginalWallpaper"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcdesktop\\NOMCDesktopV6.JPG"
"WheelScrollLines"="3"
"Pattern Upgrade"="TRUE"
"ConvertedWallpaper"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcdesktop\\NOMCDesktopV6.JPG"
"ConvertedWallpaper Last WriteTime"=hex:00,99,4c,a6,cf,a9,c6,01
"Pattern"=""

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]
"BorderWidth"="0"
"CaptionFont"=hex:f3,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,bc,02,00,00,\
00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,72,00,65,00,62,00,75,00,63,00,68,00,65,00,74,\
00,20,00,4d,00,53,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"CaptionHeight"="-375"
"CaptionWidth"="-270"
"IconFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,00,\
00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"IconSpacing"="-1125"
"IconTitleWrap"="1"
"IconVerticalspacing"="-1125"
"MenuFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,00,\
00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"MenuHeight"="-285"
"MenuWidth"="-270"
"MessageFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,\
00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"ScrollHeight"="-255"
"ScrollWidth"="-255"
"Shell Icon BPP"="16"
"SmCaptionFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,bc,02,00,\
00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"SmCaptionHeight"="-255"
"SmCaptionWidth"="-255"
"StatusFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,\
00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"AppliedDPI"=dword:00000060
"Shell Icon Size"="32"
"MinAnimate"="0"

~~~~~~end

The issue I have is, the settings all apply, but the screen is blank when
the user logs in. I can go to the display page and select the desktop tab,
the proper image is selected, and it shows in the little preview window, but
it is not displaying on the monitor. I have to select either center or tile,
then press apply, then change it back to streach. The image is then shown on
screen. After I log off again and back on, the same thing happens all over
again.

I am running XP Professional in local mode not in a domain. Group policies
are local only.

What am I missing here?

Thanks in advance...
 
C

Claymore

In our company, the director has requested that all desktops have the same
look. They have created a jpg file they want distributed. I have several
ways at doing this but the easiest way is to use the registry.

I have created the following .reg file and execute it during log-in.

regedit.exe /s desktop.reg

Example Start ~~~~~~

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\LastThe­me]
"Wallpaper"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f­,00,\
74,00,25,00,5c,00,52,00,65,00,73,00,6f,00,75,00,72,00,63,00,65,00,73,00,5c,­\
00,6e,00,6f,00,6d,00,63,00,64,00,65,00,73,00,6b,00,74,00,6f,00,70,00,5c,00,­\
4e,00,4f,00,4d,00,43,00,44,00,65,00,73,00,6b,00,74,00,6f,00,70,00,56,00,36,­\
00,2e,00,4a,00,50,00,47,00,00,00
"ThemeFile"=hex(2):00,00
"DisplayName of Modified"="Modified Theme"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.Slideshow]
"ImageDirectory"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcscreensav"
"PaintInterval"=dword:00000000
"ChangeInterval"=dword:00004e20
"DisplayFilename"=dword:00000000
"MaxScreenPercent"=dword:00000064
"DisableTransitions"=dword:00000000
"AllowStretching"=dword:00000000
"AllowKeyboardControl"=dword:00000000
"MaxFailedFiles"=dword:000003e8
"MaxSuccessfulFiles"=dword:00010000
"MaxDirectories"=dword:000000c8

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"ActiveWndTrkTimeout"=dword:00000000
"AutoEndTasks"="0"
"CaretWidth"=dword:00000001
"CoolSwitch"="1"
"CoolSwitchColumns"="7"
"CoolSwitchRows"="3"
"CursorBlinkRate"="530"
"DragFullWindows"="0"
"DragHeight"="4"
"DragWidth"="4"
"FontSmoothing"="2"
"FontSmoothingOrientation"=dword:00000001
"FontSmoothingType"=dword:00000001
"ForegroundFlashCount"=dword:00000003
"ForegroundLockTimeout"=dword:00000000
"GridGranularity"="0"
"HungAppTimeout"="5000"
"LowPowerActive"="0"
"LowPowerTimeOut"="0"
"MenuShowDelay"="400"
"PaintDesktopVersion"=dword:00000000
"PowerOffActive"="0"
"PowerOffTimeOut"="0"
"ScreenSaverIsSecure"="1"
"ScreenSaveTimeOut"="600"
"ScreenSaveActive"="1"
"SCRNSAVE.EXE"="C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\ssmypics.scr"
"TileWallpaper"="0"
"UserPreferencesMask"=hex:90,12,07,80
"WaitToKillAppTimeout"="20000"
"Wallpaper"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcdesktop\\nomcDesktopV6.JPG"
"WallpaperStyle"="2"
"OriginalWallpaper"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcdesktop\\NOMCDesktopV6..JPG­"
"WheelScrollLines"="3"
"Pattern Upgrade"="TRUE"
"ConvertedWallpaper"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcdesktop\\NOMCDesktopV6.JP­G"
"ConvertedWallpaper Last WriteTime"=hex:00,99,4c,a6,cf,a9,c6,01
"Pattern"=""

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]
"BorderWidth"="0"
"CaptionFont"=hex:f3,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,bc,02,00,­00,\
00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,72,00,65,00,62,00,75,00,63,00,68,00,65,00,74,­\
00,20,00,4d,00,53,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"CaptionHeight"="-375"
"CaptionWidth"="-270"
"IconFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,­00,\
00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"IconSpacing"="-1125"
"IconTitleWrap"="1"
"IconVerticalspacing"="-1125"
"MenuFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,­00,\
00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"MenuHeight"="-285"
"MenuWidth"="-270"
"MessageFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,­00,\
00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"ScrollHeight"="-255"
"ScrollWidth"="-255"
"Shell Icon BPP"="16"
"SmCaptionFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,bc,02,0­0,\
00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,­\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"SmCaptionHeight"="-255"
"SmCaptionWidth"="-255"
"StatusFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,0­0,\
00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"AppliedDPI"=dword:00000060
"Shell Icon Size"="32"
"MinAnimate"="0"

~~~~~~end

The issue I have is, the settings all apply, but the screen is blank when
the user logs in. I can go to the display page and select the desktop tab,
the proper image is selected, and it shows in the little preview window, but
it is not displaying on the monitor. I have to select either center or tile,
then press apply, then change it back to streach. The image is then shown on
screen. After I log off again and back on, the same thing happens all over
again.

I am running XP Professional in local mode not in a domain. Group policies
are local only.

What am I missing here?

Thanks in advance...
Click to expand...

Is the wallpaper file located on a network drive? If it is, on startup
it may not be immediately available. If you put the wallpaper file in
the normal location (C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper) on the local machine,
does it work?
 
T

Tim_S

No the wallpaper is located in this location
C:\WINDOWS\Resources\nomcdesktop\nomcDesktopV6.JPG

as shown in the registry keys above...
"Wallpaper"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcdesktop\\nomcDesktopV6.JPG"
Click to expand...

All the registry entries point to this location and the file is located
there.





In our company, the director has requested that all desktops have the same
look. They have created a jpg file they want distributed. I have
several
ways at doing this but the easiest way is to use the registry.

I have created the following .reg file and execute it during log-in.

regedit.exe /s desktop.reg

Example Start ~~~~~~

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\LastThe­me]
"Wallpaper"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f­,00,\

74,00,25,00,5c,00,52,00,65,00,73,00,6f,00,75,00,72,00,63,00,65,00,73,00,5c,­\

00,6e,00,6f,00,6d,00,63,00,64,00,65,00,73,00,6b,00,74,00,6f,00,70,00,5c,00,­\

4e,00,4f,00,4d,00,43,00,44,00,65,00,73,00,6b,00,74,00,6f,00,70,00,56,00,36,­\
00,2e,00,4a,00,50,00,47,00,00,00
"ThemeFile"=hex(2):00,00
"DisplayName of Modified"="Modified Theme"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.Slideshow]
"ImageDirectory"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcscreensav"
"PaintInterval"=dword:00000000
"ChangeInterval"=dword:00004e20
"DisplayFilename"=dword:00000000
"MaxScreenPercent"=dword:00000064
"DisableTransitions"=dword:00000000
"AllowStretching"=dword:00000000
"AllowKeyboardControl"=dword:00000000
"MaxFailedFiles"=dword:000003e8
"MaxSuccessfulFiles"=dword:00010000
"MaxDirectories"=dword:000000c8

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"ActiveWndTrkTimeout"=dword:00000000
"AutoEndTasks"="0"
"CaretWidth"=dword:00000001
"CoolSwitch"="1"
"CoolSwitchColumns"="7"
"CoolSwitchRows"="3"
"CursorBlinkRate"="530"
"DragFullWindows"="0"
"DragHeight"="4"
"DragWidth"="4"
"FontSmoothing"="2"
"FontSmoothingOrientation"=dword:00000001
"FontSmoothingType"=dword:00000001
"ForegroundFlashCount"=dword:00000003
"ForegroundLockTimeout"=dword:00000000
"GridGranularity"="0"
"HungAppTimeout"="5000"
"LowPowerActive"="0"
"LowPowerTimeOut"="0"
"MenuShowDelay"="400"
"PaintDesktopVersion"=dword:00000000
"PowerOffActive"="0"
"PowerOffTimeOut"="0"
"ScreenSaverIsSecure"="1"
"ScreenSaveTimeOut"="600"
"ScreenSaveActive"="1"
"SCRNSAVE.EXE"="C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\ssmypics.scr"
"TileWallpaper"="0"
"UserPreferencesMask"=hex:90,12,07,80
"WaitToKillAppTimeout"="20000"
"Wallpaper"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcdesktop\\nomcDesktopV6.JPG"
"WallpaperStyle"="2"
"OriginalWallpaper"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcdesktop\\NOMCDesktopV6.JPG­"
"WheelScrollLines"="3"
"Pattern Upgrade"="TRUE"
"ConvertedWallpaper"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcdesktop\\NOMCDesktopV6.JP­G"
"ConvertedWallpaper Last WriteTime"=hex:00,99,4c,a6,cf,a9,c6,01
"Pattern"=""

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]
"BorderWidth"="0"
"CaptionFont"=hex:f3,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,bc,02,00,­00,\

00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,72,00,65,00,62,00,75,00,63,00,68,00,65,00,74,­\

00,20,00,4d,00,53,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"CaptionHeight"="-375"
"CaptionWidth"="-270"
"IconFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,­00,\

00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\

00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"IconSpacing"="-1125"
"IconTitleWrap"="1"
"IconVerticalspacing"="-1125"
"MenuFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,­00,\

00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\

00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"MenuHeight"="-285"
"MenuWidth"="-270"
"MessageFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,­00,\

00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\

00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"ScrollHeight"="-255"
"ScrollWidth"="-255"
"Shell Icon BPP"="16"
"SmCaptionFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,bc,02,0­0,\

00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,­\

00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"SmCaptionHeight"="-255"
"SmCaptionWidth"="-255"
"StatusFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,0­0,\

00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\

00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,­\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"AppliedDPI"=dword:00000060
"Shell Icon Size"="32"
"MinAnimate"="0"

~~~~~~end

The issue I have is, the settings all apply, but the screen is blank when
the user logs in. I can go to the display page and select the desktop
tab,
the proper image is selected, and it shows in the little preview window,
but
it is not displaying on the monitor. I have to select either center or
tile,
then press apply, then change it back to streach. The image is then shown
on
screen. After I log off again and back on, the same thing happens all
over
again.

I am running XP Professional in local mode not in a domain. Group
policies
are local only.

What am I missing here?

Thanks in advance...
Click to expand...

Is the wallpaper file located on a network drive? If it is, on startup
it may not be immediately available. If you put the wallpaper file in
the normal location (C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper) on the local machine,
does it work?
 
B

Bernardo Gui

Tim_S said:
In our company, the director has requested that all desktops have the same
look. They have created a jpg file they want distributed. I have
several
ways at doing this but the easiest way is to use the registry.

I have created the following .reg file and execute it during log-in.

regedit.exe /s desktop.reg
Click to expand...
Your director needs to get a life and to stop acting like a total twat.
He wants to dictate how peoples' desktops look, he should be told to ****
off.
 
N

Nightowl

Tim_S said:
In our company, the director has requested that all desktops have the same
look. They have created a jpg file they want distributed. I have several
ways at doing this but the easiest way is to use the registry.
Click to expand...
[.reg entries snipped]
The issue I have is, the settings all apply, but the screen is blank when
the user logs in. I can go to the display page and select the desktop tab,
the proper image is selected, and it shows in the little preview window, but
it is not displaying on the monitor. I have to select either center or tile,
then press apply, then change it back to streach. The image is then shown on
screen. After I log off again and back on, the same thing happens all over
again.

I am running XP Professional in local mode not in a domain. Group policies
are local only.

What am I missing here?
Click to expand...

Hi Tim

I have a few thoughts/suggestions. . .

1. You're referencing the wrong name and type of wallpaper file.
2. The correct file may not yet exist.
2. You may need to have the Current_User hive reload before the changes
will take effect.

Bit of background on #1:

You have these settings:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"Wallpaper"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcdesktop\\nomcDesktopV6.JPG"
"OriginalWallpaper"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcdesktop\\NOMCDesktopV6.JPG"
"ConvertedWallpaper"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcdesktop\\NOMCDesktopV6.JPG"
Click to expand...

But, when you use a .jpg file for wallpaper, XP makes a copy, converts
it to .bmp and stores it deep in the user profile, always under the name
"Wallpaper1.bmp". It's this file you must point to in the "Wallpaper"
and "OriginalWallpaper" registry entries -- you can use the
%USERPROFILE% environment variable. "ConvertedWallpaper" will still
point to the original .jpg, as you had it. I'd guess this is why, even
after you've manually set the wallpaper correctly, you get a blank
screen when you log in again -- your startup script is overwriting the
correct registry entries.

You could experiment with using values like this in your .reg file:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"ConvertedWallpaper"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcdesktop\\nomcDesktopV6.JPG"
"OriginalWallpaper"="%USERPROFILE%\\Local Settings\\Application Data\\Microsoft\\Wallpaper1.bmp"
"Wallpaper"="%USERPROFILE%\\Local Settings\\Application Data\\Microsoft\\Wallpaper1.bmp"

2. *However* -- for this to work Wallpaper1.bmp has to exist. At this
point it might not, or (if your users have previously been using
different backgrounds) may be a different picture altogether :) So
you'd need to convert your corporate .jpg to .bmp, rename it
Wallpaper1.bmp and copy it to each user's profile at each logon.

Interestingly, if you use a native .bmp file, only the "Wallpaper" value
matters and the file can be left in its original folder and have any
name you like (as long as it's something.bmp, LOL). Since Windows
converts the .jpg anyway, it'd be simpler for you to make a .bmp version
yourself and you'd only have to distribute it once, since it wouldn't be
overwritten if/when defiant users changed their desktop :) Your reg
entry would then only need to be something like:

"Wallpaper"="C:\\Windows\\Resources\\nomcdesktop\\nomcdesktop6.bmp"

3. Having said all that, when I tried this out (both with a
..jpg/Wallpaper1.bmp and with a native .bmp) like you I could see the
correct wallpaper in Display Properties | Desktop but the monitor
stubbornly continued to show my old wallpaper. I found I had to reload
the registry by logging out and in again before the new picture was
displayed. This could be because I was already logged in when I made the
registry changes, though, and as you're using a script or batch file it
may work just fine for you.

Hope this helps to at least point you in the right direction to get it
working :) I enjoyed experimenting; please do let me know how it goes.
 
J

John John

The reason it is doing that is because the registry changes are made to
the HKCU key after it is loaded (obviously it can't make changes to the
key unless the user is logged on or in the process of logging on because
the HKCU key is only created when the user logs on). In order for these
changes in the HKCU key to be applied the key needs to be reloaded or
the desktop needs to be refreshed. When you use the Desktop Properties
tool and apply or reapply desktop settings the parts of the HKCU key
that control the wallpaper is refreshed.

I know that running this after directly editing the wallpaper in the
registry will refresh some of the settings, including the one for
wallpaper but it will not refresh the settings for themes:

RunDll32.exe USER32.DLL,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters ,1 ,True

That command may fix the wallpaper part but if the problem is that the
themes need to be reapplied it will not work. So basically what you
have going on is that you must use a command like above or use one that
can do themes (I don't know how to do it for themes).

Another way of applying the changes is of course to log off and then log
back on, the key will be reloaded when the user logs back on. In that
case what you have to do is have the logon script create a marker and to
skip the registry changes if the marker is detected, otherwise you are
just going around in circles at every log on.

John

Tim_S said:
In our company, the director has requested that all desktops have the same
look. They have created a jpg file they want distributed. I have several
ways at doing this but the easiest way is to use the registry.

I have created the following .reg file and execute it during log-in.

regedit.exe /s desktop.reg

Example Start ~~~~~~

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\LastTheme]
"Wallpaper"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
74,00,25,00,5c,00,52,00,65,00,73,00,6f,00,75,00,72,00,63,00,65,00,73,00,5c,\
00,6e,00,6f,00,6d,00,63,00,64,00,65,00,73,00,6b,00,74,00,6f,00,70,00,5c,00,\
4e,00,4f,00,4d,00,43,00,44,00,65,00,73,00,6b,00,74,00,6f,00,70,00,56,00,36,\
00,2e,00,4a,00,50,00,47,00,00,00
"ThemeFile"=hex(2):00,00
"DisplayName of Modified"="Modified Theme"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.Slideshow]
"ImageDirectory"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcscreensav"
"PaintInterval"=dword:00000000
"ChangeInterval"=dword:00004e20
"DisplayFilename"=dword:00000000
"MaxScreenPercent"=dword:00000064
"DisableTransitions"=dword:00000000
"AllowStretching"=dword:00000000
"AllowKeyboardControl"=dword:00000000
"MaxFailedFiles"=dword:000003e8
"MaxSuccessfulFiles"=dword:00010000
"MaxDirectories"=dword:000000c8

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"ActiveWndTrkTimeout"=dword:00000000
"AutoEndTasks"="0"
"CaretWidth"=dword:00000001
"CoolSwitch"="1"
"CoolSwitchColumns"="7"
"CoolSwitchRows"="3"
"CursorBlinkRate"="530"
"DragFullWindows"="0"
"DragHeight"="4"
"DragWidth"="4"
"FontSmoothing"="2"
"FontSmoothingOrientation"=dword:00000001
"FontSmoothingType"=dword:00000001
"ForegroundFlashCount"=dword:00000003
"ForegroundLockTimeout"=dword:00000000
"GridGranularity"="0"
"HungAppTimeout"="5000"
"LowPowerActive"="0"
"LowPowerTimeOut"="0"
"MenuShowDelay"="400"
"PaintDesktopVersion"=dword:00000000
"PowerOffActive"="0"
"PowerOffTimeOut"="0"
"ScreenSaverIsSecure"="1"
"ScreenSaveTimeOut"="600"
"ScreenSaveActive"="1"
"SCRNSAVE.EXE"="C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\ssmypics.scr"
"TileWallpaper"="0"
"UserPreferencesMask"=hex:90,12,07,80
"WaitToKillAppTimeout"="20000"
"Wallpaper"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcdesktop\\nomcDesktopV6.JPG"
"WallpaperStyle"="2"
"OriginalWallpaper"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcdesktop\\NOMCDesktopV6.JPG"
"WheelScrollLines"="3"
"Pattern Upgrade"="TRUE"
"ConvertedWallpaper"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Resources\\nomcdesktop\\NOMCDesktopV6.JPG"
"ConvertedWallpaper Last WriteTime"=hex:00,99,4c,a6,cf,a9,c6,01
"Pattern"=""

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]
"BorderWidth"="0"
"CaptionFont"=hex:f3,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,bc,02,00,00,\
00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,72,00,65,00,62,00,75,00,63,00,68,00,65,00,74,\
00,20,00,4d,00,53,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"CaptionHeight"="-375"
"CaptionWidth"="-270"
"IconFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,00,\
00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"IconSpacing"="-1125"
"IconTitleWrap"="1"
"IconVerticalspacing"="-1125"
"MenuFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,00,\
00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"MenuHeight"="-285"
"MenuWidth"="-270"
"MessageFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,\
00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"ScrollHeight"="-255"
"ScrollWidth"="-255"
"Shell Icon BPP"="16"
"SmCaptionFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,bc,02,00,\
00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"SmCaptionHeight"="-255"
"SmCaptionWidth"="-255"
"StatusFont"=hex:f5,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,\
00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,54,00,61,00,68,00,6f,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"AppliedDPI"=dword:00000060
"Shell Icon Size"="32"
"MinAnimate"="0"

~~~~~~end

The issue I have is, the settings all apply, but the screen is blank when
the user logs in. I can go to the display page and select the desktop tab,
the proper image is selected, and it shows in the little preview window, but
it is not displaying on the monitor. I have to select either center or tile,
then press apply, then change it back to streach. The image is then shown on
screen. After I log off again and back on, the same thing happens all over
again.

I am running XP Professional in local mode not in a domain. Group policies
are local only.

What am I missing here?

Thanks in advance...
Click to expand...
 
T

Tim_S

I found this but it states that but it says it dosen't apply to xp pro..
when i choose a .jpg image and apply it, if i do a scan for wallpaper1.bmp
there isn't one on the hard disk.... so I don't know where it is sticking
it... I'll do some more experimenting with this....

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/329677
 
N

Nightowl

Tim_S said:
I found this but it states that but it says it dosen't apply to xp pro..
when i choose a .jpg image and apply it, if i do a scan for wallpaper1.bmp
there isn't one on the hard disk.... so I don't know where it is sticking
it... I'll do some more experimenting with this....

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/329677
Click to expand...
Hi Tim

The actual problem with the custom wallpaper referenced in that article
doesn't apply to Pro (think it's because Home deletes the original Owner
profile etc.) but the jpg being converted to Wallpaper1.bmp certainly
happens here on my Pro installation :)

On my machine it's stored in:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft.

Possibly if you're on a domain it's different? Quick way to find out: on
your machine, apply a new wallpaper you know to be a .jpg file the usual
way, through Display Properties | Desktop. Then look in the registry for
the value of "Wallpaper" in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop.
(While you're there have a look at ConvertedWallpaper and
OriginalWallpaper too :)
 
G

Guest

Acutally, I selected No wall paper, applied settings, then i did a search for
all Wallpaper1.bmp files and deleted them all. (none i found were my image
converted) Then I selected a new .jpg file and appiled it. I then did
another scan for wallpaper1.bmp but no file was found. (searched hidden and
system files too). Even did a search for *.bmp... strange....stuff...

I finally just broke down and converted it to a .bmp file and did the
refresh trick that was posted earlier and everything worked fine and in the
directories i want them in.

now i have a log-in script that works every time... I also hid the desktop,
screen saver, and theme tabs so the end user can't change back...

I'll have to experiment with active desktop features later but for right now
this gets my director off my back..:)...

Thanks for the help night-owl and others...
 
C

Claymore

Acutally, I selected No wall paper, applied settings, then i did a search for
all Wallpaper1.bmp files and deleted them all. (none i found were my image
converted) Then I selected a new .jpg file and appiled it. I then did
another scan for wallpaper1.bmp but no file was found. (searched hidden and
system files too). Even did a search for *.bmp... strange....stuff...

I finally just broke down and converted it to a .bmp file and did the
refresh trick that was posted earlier and everything worked fine and in the
directories i want them in.

now i have a log-in script that works every time... I also hid the desktop,
screen saver, and theme tabs so the end user can't change back...

I'll have to experiment with active desktop features later but for right now
this gets my director off my back..:)...

Thanks for the help night-owl and others...








- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

Hello,

I'm looking at your registry entries. It's what made me think the
wallpaper file is on a network drive.
Here's mine - only in two places:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
ConvertedWallpaper C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper\Red Planet.jpg

and

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes
\LastTheme
ConcertedWallpaper C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper\Red Planet.jpg

Note the single backslashes in the path to the file.

P.s. Sorry for the delay in posting back. This newsgroup isn't letting
me know of new posts.
 
C

Claymore

Hello,

I'm looking at your registry entries. It's what made me think the
wallpaper file is on a network drive.
Here's mine - only in two places:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
ConvertedWallpaper C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper\Red Planet.jpg

and

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes
\LastTheme
ConcertedWallpaper C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper\Red Planet.jpg

Note the single backslashes in the path to the file.

P.s. Sorry for the delay in posting back. This newsgroup isn't letting
me know of new posts.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

Sorry - typo in the second key. Should read:
ConvertedWallpaper C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper\Red Planet.jpg
 
T

Tim_S

The double backslashes is how the file looks when the registry key is
exported to a .reg file.

Select (highlight) your Key in regedit. Pick File>export and give it a file
name like desktop.reg.
Open the desktop.reg file you just exported in notepad. Notice the double
backslashes...

Any line in the registry that has a backslash \ when exported gets a literal
\ plus the actual.

After you export the key, you can make changes to it in notepad, you always
have to make sure it has double backslashes.

Then to import the key you simply double click the .reg file you exported
and it gets added to the registry with single backslashes.

The double backslashes in this case has nothing to do with network
redirection...

Why would you use the exported.reg file? So you can apply the changes to
multiple PC's easily...

tim
 

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