BG Info on startup.

[boomam]

Hi.

Im trying to implement BGInfo as a startup item for certain user groups, not so those users can access it, but just so it shows some information on their desktops, then when they log off, it goes back to normal.

 

Now, ive written a bat file for the program that has the variables in it that i need:

P:\BGInfo\Bginfo.exe P:\BGInfo\config.bgi /timer:0 /NOLICPROMPT

 

With P: being a hidden drive thats available to all users.

 

Ive added it to the login scripts for the user group i want it to apply to, but it doesnt want to apply. It just displays the normal background for that user group instead?

 

Ideas?

 

Thanks in advance all. .

[Gatt]

This is how we have it (inside a Kix script..)

 

\\server\netlogon\Bginfo.exe \\server\netlogon\staff.bgi /nolicprompt /i /silent /timer:0

 

How are you applying it in GPO? a logon script?

[boomam]

Through a login script.

[Gatt]

should run ok.. have you ran GPResults to ensure its coming down?

[cheesypete]

The key issue here (i think) is that if the user doesnt have local admin permissions on the machine then the information wont get written to the desktop

 

Do you get an error message?

 

I'm pretty sure there is a workaround, but here at my school, the info only gets written to the desktop when a member of the ICT Staff logs on (who also have local admin rights)

[Gatt]

Works fine for us - our desktop background is stored in the NETLOGON share and BGInfo points to that location

 

Although we apply it via a Kixscript which is under the login script setting on the users AD account..

[DMcCoy]

Have you changed the option for where the bmp is stored? Bitmap -> Location when you create the bgi file.

[Jon]

Is the script running before the drives get mapped?

 

Try using a UNC path rather than the mapped drive

[boomam]

Try using a UNC path rather than the mapped drive

Tryed.

Same error.

Im gonna try bunging it on its own share and pointing to that.

 

Have you changed the option for where the bmp is stored? Bitmap -> Location when you create the bgi file.

Yes.

The bginfo.exe, the config.bgi and the wallpaper.bmp are all in the same directory.

Do you get an error message?

Nope.

 

.

[JamesC]

I packaged BGInfo into an msi and deployed it. Then I have my kixtart script run it at logon for kids:

 

IF INGROUP("Kids") AND EXIST("C:\Program Files\BackInfo\BackInfo.exe")

RUN "C:\Program Files\BackInfo\BackInfo.exe"

ENDIF

[boomam]

Is your config file inside the msi as well?

[DMcCoy]

The bginfo.exe, the config.bgi and the wallpaper.bmp are all in the same directory.

 

The setting affects where it tries to write the created bmp, by default, unless you change it when creating the bgi, is to put it in the windows folder which will not work for non admins.

[Michael]

At all schools where I use BGInfo, I create a folder called BGInfo within the root of the NETLOGON share, where your logon scripts should be.

 

Here's a sample of BGInfo in my script:

 

@ECHO OFF
net time \\SERVERNAME /set /yes
REM * Sets Background desktop *
if exist %systemroot%\bginfo.exe goto tools
copy \\SERVERNAME\netlogon\tools\BGINFO\BGINFO.EXE %SYSTEMROOT% /Y
:tools
%SYSTEMROOT%\bginfo.exe /i"\\SERVERNAME\netlogon\tools\bginfo\CURRIClogon.bgi" /timer:0

REM * Sets Background desktop *
%SYSTEMROOT%\bginfo.exe /i"\\SERVERNAME\netlogon\tools\bginfo\logoff.bgi" /timer:0

 

Hope this helps

[boomam]

At all schools where I use BGInfo, I create a folder called BGInfo within the root of the NETLOGON share, where your logon scripts should be.

 

Here's a sample of BGInfo in my script:

 

@ECHO OFF
net time \\SERVERNAME /set /yes
REM * Sets Background desktop *
if exist %systemroot%\bginfo.exe goto tools
copy \\SERVERNAME\netlogon\tools\BGINFO\BGINFO.EXE %SYSTEMROOT% /Y
:tools
%SYSTEMROOT%\bginfo.exe /i"\\SERVERNAME\netlogon\tools\bginfo\CURRIClogon.bgi" /timer:0

REM * Sets Background desktop *
%SYSTEMROOT%\bginfo.exe /i"\\SERVERNAME\netlogon\tools\bginfo\logoff.bgi" /timer:0

 

Hope this helps

Is that a bat or vb script?

 

Its annoying me now, because while its a useful app in some regards, its very annoying in others.

[JamesC]

Is your config file inside the msi as well?

 

Sure is. I use a standard config and it never changes.

[Michael]

It's a bat script boomam.

[itwalkthrough]

I was able to get this working on 2008 R8 with a .vbs script. Here are setup instructions with a video: Configure BGInfo in Windows Server 2008

[Davit2005]

I have it working under Windows 7 via Login GPO, seemed to be easily done on our workstations. A Biginfo.bat file in \\servername\NETLOGON which is called by the GPO which points to the config files in \\servername\NETLOGON\BGinfo\ where the wallpaper file is also kept.

 

Would try this method if you are still having difficulty.

 

I do seem to remember falling into the trap of setting a background also thru a GPO which hid the BGInfo background to start with.

 

We have setup user OU's with different policies who I do not want to get the BGinfo screen so cannot see why it would not be possible to have different info/wallpapers on a per user group policy, surely just need to modify GPO script so it points to different script file which calls a different BGinfo config file.

 

Once I get back to work I can post the scripts up for you if you want.

[Michael]

Just for the record Microsoft officially do not support BGInfo on Windows 7 and this is well documented on the t'internet. There have been calls to update the product, but I feel it'll be one of those that Microsoft won't bother with.

 

Although some people have managed it, it requires some serious coding. I just worry that large/complex logon scripts can slow logon times. I decided in the end to do without it and it hasn't created any problems. I just use one of the many Windows 7 wallpapers stored locally on each machine via GPO for different user groups. It's certainly nicer than a plain background.

 

User Config > Policies > Admin Templates > Desktop > Desktop - Desktop Wallpaper - Enabled

 

Specify the path:

C:\Windows\Globalization\MCT\MCT-GB\Wallpaper\GB-wp1.jpg

 

or (for example):

C:\Windows\Globalization\MCT\MCT-GB\Wallpaper\GB-wp2.jpg

 

And select 'Fill' from the drop down menu. That's it