Controlling Windows 10 wallpaper

[disk]

We have always stuck with the default windows wallpaper...until now. We are now receiving requests across campus to allow each department to have control over their labs desktop wallpaper (we don't show lockscreens). We use Deep Freeze to lockdown all our computer labs. In the past, we had tried this once before and had a terrible time using group policy. We set the wallpaper, and then when we went to change the wallpaper (same filename in same network share), it copied the new image down to the PCs, but did not actually change the wallpaper. It appeared as though keeping the same name was a no go. Anyway, we are seeing requests where a department wants to set a wallpaper, and then on specific dates throughout the semester, switch wallpapers. Is there anything better than group policy for this?

 

I'm also imaging some departments wanting to have a rotation of pictures. We also have an issue with various screen sizes, resolutions, and aspect ratios to be concerned about.

 

Any input would be most welcome!

[Liam]

Seen this before using schedules tasks and scripting. So you have a bank of images and the script changes the name of the files on a schedule of your choice. I don’t use it personally but I remember gojng to an ict managers meeting once and this is how it was achieved. Group policy was the deployment method though. I have never had any issues with it. We just reference a server share of wallpapers

[ShellfishClive]

Group Policy should be fine for this, and @Liam had a great idea of just changing the file name when you want to switch it. What policy were you using when you were having problems?

[timbo343]

We have always stuck with the default windows wallpaper...until now. We are now receiving requests across campus to allow each department to have control over their labs desktop wallpaper (we don't show lockscreens). We use Deep Freeze to lockdown all our computer labs. In the past, we had tried this once before and had a terrible time using group policy. We set the wallpaper, and then when we went to change the wallpaper (same filename in same network share), it copied the new image down to the PCs, but did not actually change the wallpaper. It appeared as though keeping the same name was a no go. Anyway, we are seeing requests where a department wants to set a wallpaper, and then on specific dates throughout the semester, switch wallpapers. Is there anything better than group policy for this?

 

I'm also imaging some departments wanting to have a rotation of pictures. We also have an issue with various screen sizes, resolutions, and aspect ratios to be concerned about.

 

Any input would be most welcome!

Funny you should post this, i've spent the day getting themes to work and my god, it's been a struggle. I will update my thread this weekend but i've been trying to get rolling desktop backgrouds to work. Things are now kinda working, just need to do some final tests.

 

As for departments choosing their wallpapers, i'd stick with a share that department heads have access to, so they can change the imahe when the feel like it, then.get GP to look at the share / image and apply with comp config and / or reg hack.

 

You *should* be able to set the background per computer policy, if not, by HKLM rather than user or HKCU. We used to use both user gp and HKCU settings to apply the wallpaoer and it never failed us. Only when i came to test themes, did i miss a setting so the background theme wouldnt apply.

[timbo343]

Here's the thread that outlines themes in windows 10 http://www.edugeek.net/forums/windows-10/189909-themes-personalisation.html