Forcing Desktop Picture

[jackvine]

Hi does anyone know of a way off changing all the users desktops to the same picture in osx10.4 server ?

[theeldergeek]

Yes, it can be done, I asked the self same question a few months ago. Once I dig out the answer, I'll post a link.
You need to have ARD and WGM.

EDIT : Have a look here

[theeldergeek]

Did you have any luck with this?

[jackvine]

Thanks found original post and managed to sort it

[jubbi]

7 Workgroup Manager Tricks to Keep your Managed Macs in Line - Interrupt19
This did it for us.

[theeldergeek]

7 Workgroup Manager Tricks to Keep your Managed Macs in Line - Interrupt19
This did it for us.

According to that article, users can still change their desktop pictures, albeit a log out/login will reset it back to what it should be. The method I linked to means that despite what a user does, they cannot change the picture no matter what.

We found that if the users could change their background, they would, and kids were wasting lesson time searching out suitable pictures to do so, in turn storing nonsensensical pictures in their userspace, taking up space.

Preventing them from changing the picture initially saw as much time wasted trying to figure out how to do it, but once it was realised they couldn't, they gave up.