Change Desktop Colour

[DaveP]

I am using an imported ADM to change the desktop background colour for users logging onto the network [See below]

CLASS USER
CATEGORY !!categoryname
KEYNAME "Control Panel\Colors"
POLICY !!policyname
EXPLAIN !!explaintext
PART !!labeltext DROPDOWNLIST REQUIRED
VALUENAME "Background"
ITEMLIST
NAME "Normal" VALUE "0 128 128"
NAME "Black" VALUE "0 0 0"
NAME "White" VALUE "255 255 255"
NAME "Red" VALUE "255 0 0"
NAME "Brown" VALUE "128 0 0"
NAME "Yellow" VALUE "255 255 0"
NAME "Green" VALUE "0 128 0"
NAME "Sky" VALUE "0 255 255"
NAME "Brown" VALUE "0 0 255"
NAME "Blue" VALUE "0 0 255"
NAME "Dark Blue" VALUE "0 0 128"
NAME "Pink" VALUE "255 0 255"
NAME "Grey" VALUE "160 160 164"
END ITEMLIST
END PART
END POLICY
END CATEGORY
[strings]
categoryname="Desktop BG Colour Changer"
policyname="Change the background color of the client computer via Group Policy"
explaintext="This policy sets the background color of the client computer. Custom Group Policy - Techno Chat|Tech Blog!!! By Saugata Datta."
labeltext="Select Colour"

When it works it does so very well but to get it to work the user has to logoff and log on again. I want to use this as a quick visual check for Staff so that they can see by scanning the screens that the users have logged on on using users from the correct [expected] year group.

We have problems with students logging on as other users and I am trying to prevent this. I will be deploying BGInfo later to assist this further but this will do as a starting point if I can get it to work.

Can anyone help with this?

Server OS: Windows 2008.

Workstation OS: Windows XP Pro SP3.

[stu]

not really helpful but did notice u have brown twice with different values

soz

[DaveP]

not really helpful but did notice u have brown twice with different values

Hadn't spotted that but the ADM is as I downloaded it: I Made no changes.

[SpuffMonkey]

We do something similar - but just allocate a desktop background based on OU - so there is Staff or Student written across it as well.

[altecsole]

We use BGInfo for this. If you're going to start using it you may want to spend time doing it that way, rather than the way you mention.

[DaveP]

We are now trying to use BGInfo but we are seeing the same problem: It does not display until someone has first logged on and off again: The first person to use the computer after boot up has to 'prime the pumps' to get it to work.

Anyone else seen this/cured it?

[altecsole]

We run BGInfo as part of the logon script. Pupils have a mandatory profile with no wallpaper. The background is displayed by the bginfo command when they logon. It's then lost when they logoff.

[DaveP]

Progress! It will now display this information I have nominated without the user logging off IF:

After logging on and accepting the AUP the user clicks the desktop and the presses F5 [refresh] Is this normal behaviour for BGInfo? If not how do I fix this?

[altecsole]

No. Load BGInfo, setup how you want and then save settings as a bginfo config file (.bgi). We save bginfo.exe and the config file in our netlogon share. We then run a vbscript at logon to run bginfo with the config file to set the wallpaper. Assuming you put the files in a folder called 'bginfo' in netlogon the cmd line to load would be:

\\server_name\netlogon\bginfo\bginfo.exe /i:\\server_name\netlogon\bginfo\config.bgi /timer:0 /silent

Try running this from a command prompt and see what happens.

By the way, we have three domain controllers so use the %logonserver% variable to spread the load a bit.

Hope this helps.

[DaveP]

...\\server_name\netlogon\bginfo\bginfo.exe /i:\\server_name\netlogon\bginfo\config.bgi /timer:0 /silent....

We are doing exactly the same [except for sharing the load across domain controllers]

I have shown the Head of ICT [who originally requested this] and he seems happy with the answer we have supplied. Job closed?

[altecsole]

Thanks?

[DaveP]

Can't post any thanks or add to reputation: Still having problems with the site on and off from early this morning [Can only use 'Quick Reply' to reply to post].

Edit: Posted thanks while the site was willing.

[altecsole]

No problem. Glad you got it working