Set desktop background

[Ste_Harve]

I'm lokoing for some help. I'm wanting to set a picture as the background of all people who log onto the computers. Is there an easy way to do this via GP? I've tried the Active Desktop and desktop picture bit but they didn't pick it up.

 

Any ideas? We're using roaming profiles so will I have to make a change to that?

 

TIA

[djm968]

The GPO setting should work.

 

USER CONFIG/Administrative Templates/Desktop/Active Desktop

 

I have used local and UNC paths to wallpapers and never had any issues.

 

I would investigate why the GPO is being ignored, have you tried GPUPDATE /force at the client?

[Geoff]

Also use the GP Results Wizard in the GPMC.

[Southwell]

Hi,

 

Iam having this problem too.

I have applied the setting in GP and enabled active desktop.

If i run gpresult on the client machine i get:

BHCC Backdrop Image

filtering not applied

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks

[Halfmad]

I'm shocked that Geoff hasn't mentioned BGinfo utility yet! I used it rather than group polices as I was having some very odd results with them. I never did get to the bottom of the issue.

[Southwell]

Yeh ive read about that, but i only want to apply a wallpaper, surely GP is the best way?

[zag]

Is there a utility that I can simply run from a network share on startup to remove a background? This would be the simplest option for our setup I think.

[plock]

Do ensure you're not running IE7 on the affected machines. This was my problem on our new image.

 

Resorted back to IE6 and all worked again!

[AnnDroyd]

We do it through GPO and everything works fine. You do have to enable Active Desktop though, but you can restrict what features of it students have access to.

[Southwell]

Just tried that, no luck. Could it be the roaming profiles overiding it?

[plock]

Shouldn't be, we're running Roaming profiles.

[Southwell]

Hmm, just changed another setting in the same gpo, didn't apply that either :s

I only asked it to remove screen saver tab from display properties.

[AnnDroyd]

Policies over-ride profiles, not the other way around - that's the point of them.

 

Are you sure it's a problem with the policy not applying, rather than the location of the image file not being accessible?

 

Can you set up a test user with access to registry editor, then check what values have been written to the wallpaper key?

[Southwell]

Ill try that, thanks!

[Southwell]

Getting written is c:\windows\web\wallpaper\bliss.bmp

[AnnDroyd]

Presumably this isn't what you are specifying?

 

What's the path of the wallpaper you are entering into the GPO setting?

[ICT_GUY]

If using active desktop you will need a util to refresh the background else sometimes it does not load correctly.

[Southwell]

\\admindc1\c$\BHCC Back Ground\BHCCbackgroundimage.JPG

[AnnDroyd]

That's not going to work then. Unless your users are domain admins, they probably won't have access to the C$ share.

[Southwell]

I was wondering that

 

I have shared the folder and changed the GPO to: \\admindc1\BHCCBackGround$\BHCCbackgroundimage.JPG

 

Still no luck.

[AnnDroyd]

If you log on with student access rights, can you successfully browse to this location? Edited May 2, 2008 by AnnDroyd

[DMcCoy]

I find it doesn't work with mandatory profiles. I had it working once, not worked for years though. No idea why so I just set it in the mandatory profile instead these days (fyi they have to be bmp with mandatory due to a bug)

[Southwell]

Yes it browses to the picture fine.

[SpuffMonkey]

Ours are working OK the settings we have enabled in GPO are...

 

Enable Active Desktop

Disable All Items

Prohibit Changes

Active Desktop Wallpaper

 

Cheers