» Surprise: You can’t change your wallpaper in Starter Edition Within Windows

Mar 2009

Surprise: You can’t change your wallpaper in Starter Edition

On Friday, another Windows 7 TAP-delivered build leaked, this time only about a week old numbered 7068. While Paul Thurrott was loading all the SKUs on his various machines peppered around his house, he tipped me off to the fact that in Windows 7 Starter Edition – the SKU slated for the netbook market – has been gutted of its desktop personalization controls.

Now, look. I’m all for gutting premium features to lighten Windows footprint and price but this is ridiculous. Why the regression? At this point, you may get more functionality out of an OLPC laptop.

As for the technical side, a new licensing bit was introduced – ChangeDesktopBackground-Enabled. On Starter Edition SKUs, this bit is set to 0, disabling background setting capabilities in Windows Photo Viewer and the Display/Theme Control Panel applets. The infection goes deeper into system files shell32.dll and themeui.dll too, hard-coding the wallpaper to %windir%webwallpaperwindowsimg0.jpg.

Workarounds:

As an Administrator, reset the permissions on img0.jpg, and overwrite file with picture of Mom.
Use third-party software (note: changes will likely not persist, untested)

Here’s a screenshot I shamelessly lifted from Paul’s Windows 7068 Starter Edition Screenshot Gallery:

NOTE: Betta fish will not survive prolonged exposure to gray water.

http://wacker.is-a-geek.net pizzaboy192

While I am still downloading this copy with my extremely slow connection (30Kbyte down if i am lucky) I was wondering if it checks on what the background image is, or if you could simply have a small program written that integrates itself into explorer, and allows you to change that Img0.jpg file using any file you want (like the logon screen background changer apps I have seen floating around)
Mitchel Tyrell

I have not played with 7068 yet, can you still right click on an image in Explorer or IE and choose ‘Set As Background’?
Rafael

@pizzaboy192: Sure, but keep in mind. 3 application limit ^_^
@Mitchel Tyrell: Nope.
loop

whoa…thats a really bad move on micro’s part…if indeed Microsoft forces starter edition on netbook manufactures then it will truly be a blow to the good run that netbooks are having…kinda like intel forcing their crappy gma chips to go along with the little Atom that could!
nyp

Lol, try hovering over the gray image. It says:
“NOTE: Betta fish will not survive prolonged exposure to gray water.”
oztaurus

If Microsoft INSISTS that I change my OS (even though XP-SP2 does everything I want it to and has minimal compatibility with the software I use) then I will change – to Linux or OS-10.
Arrogant B@$t@rd$ !!!
oztaurus

ooops that was minimal compatibility issues
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http://jaryth.net Jaryth000

So Im guessing Firefox’s “Set background Image” would not work ether? Thats pretty evil…
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http://www.windowssite.de.tl Vincent Bethmann

At least they should’ve kept the blue wallpaper instead of that ugly black one.
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http://www.sunstormlabs.net/ Ilia Jerebtsov

This is kinda interesting. The main reason I’d imagine them doing something like this is if they’re posing themselves to offer this version of Windows as a sort of a demo… Maybe even for free. In which case, that would be a pretty good move on MS’s side.
Dan

With Vista MS was thinking of disabling wallpaper altogether if your trial period ran out and you didn’t activate. You’d be stuck with a solid black background. Ironically more than a few people commented that that was the first setting they set when they installed Windows anyway.

I bet there will be third party tools for Starter to change the wallpaper using the img0.jpg trick. Then MS will embed it as a binary resource and allow Windows to load them from res:// urls. Then third party tools will switch to using resource embedding directly or using reshacker.

Fun fun fun.
http://www.pretentiousname.com Leo Davidson

Three app limit and basic functionality removed?

It should be called Windows Non-Starter Edition.

For all but the most simple user, this turns Windows into trialware where you have to pay for the trial.

We’re used to the bait-and-switch many hardware vendors do where they tell you you’re getting some extra program or anti-virus for free but it turns out you just get an X day trail of it which you could’ve downloaded yourself. This takes it one step further and does that with the actual operating system, and makes people pay for the privilege. Nice.

For people who don’t care about the limits it’ll save them money, I guess. For everyone else I imagine it will be a bit of a surprise and also quite a rip-off, if the Windows Anytime Upgrade fees are going to be as astronomical as they are now. (At least with the Vista Home -> Vista Ultimate upgrade, if you use Anytime Upgrade you end up paying considerably more than the difference between OEM Home and OEM Ultimate, despite the fact that you’re starting off with an OEM copy of Home from your PC vendor. That really sucks when you consider that some vendors — especially bricks & mortar stores — don’t even offer Ultimate.)
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http://www.scrapinold.com Dan Itlondon

Wow, that’s completely absurd.

Who, exactly, does Microsoft expect to buy starter edition? People in developing countries? It seems to me that given the choice between a full pirated version and this crippled bit of trialware nonsense, people will invariably choose the pirated version.

I guess some companies just never learn.
tino

This is good news! Because OEMs will most likely not use this SKU on netbooks but Home Basic instead.
http://www.w7forums.com Ian

Now that is just silly… I can understand the use of a starter edition, but forcing a fixed background doesn’t make much sense!
http://www.windows7center.com Albert Ng

tino’s got a point there
Pingback: Microsoft drops personalization from Windows 7 Starter, locks wallpaper
http://www.aeroxp.org Bryant

Albert, your post seems a bit like useless advertising, no?

Anyway, I can understand the mentality behind this (brand locking in exchange for a cheaper OS) but this will do a good job of pissing users off instead. Hell, it might even drive a switch to Linux on the netbook.
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Pingback: Windows 7 Starter no te permitirá cambiar ni el wallpaper
http://mahir.co.cc somebody with a 2 gb brain

it should be for 10 $ in stores
Pingback: Windows 7 Starter Edition limits
http://wacker.is-a-geek.net pizzaboy192

I think they upped it from 3 apps open to 6 (as this screenshot i took shows)
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/8114/windows7basic.jpg
Opening any 6, weather they be made by MS or not, results in an annoying “maximum number of programs open” window
They haven’t updated their Help and Support section though… probably the last thing on their minds at the moment
PortaLCake

Hey…
If that goes into the RTM, 7 Starter will not survive.
I got a good idea:
make a poster that says:
If you don’t change the water, we’ll kill the fish
I think that’ll make Micorosoft go bananas
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http://www.tomschaefer.org tom

That is crap. I love the idea that services and non essential functions may be stripped to support netbooks but this is just cutting out features so that the customer will want to upgrade. Give us a netbook version.
Pingback: En Windows 7 Starter no podremos cambiar el Wallpaper | Geekets
anonymuos

This makes Windows 95 more advanced than Windows 7. I hate the way Microsoft is removing and disabling features in NT 6.x.
http://theoldestof8.wordpress.com Matthew

Well, if they do offer it for free, like I have been advocating, as a download at microsoft.com, then I can understand this. And If they raise the program limit to 6, that would actually be OK for many basic users! Even 3 might cut it as most only use IE ;-)
Mark

I don’t understand why most netbook are 32-bit only. Intel decided to limit mobile version of atom but the future belong to 64-bit computing. After all, Windows 7 is the last version to have a 32-bit version. The only 64-bit netbook that I know off is the Samsung NC20 which has a 64-bit VIA Nano and is a lot faster that Intel Atom. Microsoft should ship Home Basic to netbook since it support 64 bit, has Windows Mobility Center, and can run applications without limit. Do Microsoft seriously think that the third world countries filled with pirates would buy Windows 7 Home Basic?
Brett

I don’t really understand why everyone’s so upset about this.

It’s a stripped-down version of Windows. Some users have turned red in the face demanding this over the years.

Look at it from a marketing standpoint: this is a functional OS. It has had features removed, so what? Is desktop personalization mission-critical? Sure, I like to have it, and that makes it a great “value-add” feature, and it might convince me to move up to another version. And, if I’ve already BOUGHT a higher-level version, knowing I got a feature that some versions don’t have helps give me a sense I got something for my money.

Are the critics here saying it shouldn’t be offered at all?
Pingback: Windows 7 Starter não permite alteração de wallpaper - BABOO « Eletronic World
Pingback: Wallpaper can't be changed in Windows 7 Starter Edition | Windows 7 Center
Jurgen

Wondering what has Microsoft thought about this :O_o:

Hey Raffa … still waiting that you come out of Ashburn and come to FallsChurch :)
Dan

tom: If MS tries putting this on netbooks we’ll probably see Vista capable lawsuits all over again. Linux will also likely gain market share, since it costs less and you can actually change the wallpaper. :P

But I don’t think it’s going on netbooks. Starter editions have always been for developing nations. After all free software (Linux) is mighty attractive to governments on a tight budget. Crippling long-time features allows for MS to sell Windows to developing nations without worrying about developed nations buying resold copies. Users in those developing nations aren’t used to features we take for granted (like custom wallpaper) and would tend to be more accepting than users in developed nations who would thus not want the cheap Starter edition.

That’s my personal theory anyway. Though the bit about Starter editions being marketed to developing nations only is fact.
Joe Blow

Rafael – Have you actually VERIFIED that your workaround really works? Or are you just guessing? I tried changing my img0.jpg image and it just shows a black background…
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http://wacker.is-a-geek.net Pizzaboy192

Xp had a starter edition, and it was never sold in the US, only in developing nations… I can see this being the same
Pingback: Acredite se quiser: não dá para mudar o wallpaper do Windows 7 Starter — WinAjuda — Diga adeus à sua tecla F1
Max42

Oh great… now Microsoft will push loads of BS on their next generation one-of-a-kind OS and everyone will be forced to move to Mac OSX or Ubuntu.

:-(
Max42

EDIT: all of those poor developing nations with this crap forced on them…
Max42

\\ Although this C++ code will not compile, it still describes the situation well:

#define goodFeatures 235
#defime BS = 0

#include
#include

using namespace std;

int MS = 1;

int main()
{
if(OS = OS -goodFeatures) MS = BS; \\ Microsoft is bullshiit.
if(MS == BS) \\ Where we spam the forms (like what I’m doing right now)
{
openPipeToForm(“http://www.withinwindows.com/2009/03/28/surprise-you-cant-change-your-wallpaper-in-windows-7-starter-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-3070″);
cout<<”MS IS BS!!!!”;
closePipeToForm(“http://www.withinwindows.com/2009/03/28/surprise-you-cant-change-your-wallpaper-in-windows-7-starter-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-3070″);
}
http://justatest.oos.cc Calvin

@tino: They also killed Home Basic. I’m glad I migrated to Linux. 98 was my fav version though.
http://www.populate.net articles

Article on arid.net (http://digg.com/d1pTAK) that talked about windows 7 starter edition and had suggestions on a better way to implement the starter edition for netbooks.
Pingback: Wallpaper can’t be changed in Windows 7 Starter Edition | Window7s
KCC

As a longtime user of Webshots I just set that up first thing after installing 7; works without a hitch, changes desktop pix every 15 minutes, and I get to look at my beautiful beaches around the world. I was so impressed I upgraded to the pro version, got wide shots. Way cool, and no, I have no affiliation with Webshots. Something that works in this world deserves to get a plug.
KCC
http://www.mattatobin.com Matt A. Tobin of Binary Outcast

Ok everyone… just as a matter of record… With Windows Seven… The fundamental rolls have switched from Starter=Developing Contrys/Home Basic=well Home Basic to Starter=NetBook OS Offered only by OEMs/Home Basic=Developing Contrys…

So the SKUs Rolls have been reversed for Windows Seven…
http://www.mattatobin.com Matt A. Tobin of Binary Outcast

Well if u hate the Aero Basic theme and the stupid wallpaper atleast there is one other choice for starter…. Windows Classic with Blue Color and no Wallpaper…

Check it out…
http://personal.mattatobin.com/screenshots/WindowsSeven/win7starterinclassicthemenobg.png
http://www.mattatobin.com Matt A. Tobin of Binary Outcast

I have just completed a blog post on my own website with instructions on how to get the same results as the above screenshot…

Check it out:
http://blog.mattatobin.com/2009/06/09/windows-seven-starter-kill-wallpaper-and-have-classic-theme.binoc
use foss

to hell with them next theyll want you to register and validate every time you turn it on, i cant see wh anyone would want this, when there are perfect and better free linux alternatives such as ubuntu,debian ,fedora, ect . in which you can customize everything!! , and no need for bloated av software either :p, anyway happy virus detecting on windows
Pingback: Windows 7 has a new default wallpaper and logo | iGeneration | ZDNet.com
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Erwin

Replace the following files with the same files from Windows7 Ultimate (tested and works):

system32\themecpl.dll
system32\themeservice.dll
system32\themeui.dll

Before you can replace these files, make sure that you’re the technical owner and set all permissions to “Full Control”.

Works like a charm here :-)
Alex

@Erwin: Tried your instructions by replacing the 3 .dll files but it does not work. And of course set all permissions to “Full Control” but did not work. Anyone who has a solution?

This is a hard one to solve people.
Rafael

@Alex: I’m not sure what made Erwin think that would work, but the files are the same across all SKUs. The issue here is that licensing policies are in place restricting the changing of the wallpaper. These policies are enforced via product key.
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Alex

@Rafael: Thanx for your comment. But wouldnt it be nice to work around the policies and try to change the background anyway?
Just for the fun of it or because you rather like a picture of mom to decorate your background instead of the default wallpaper.

I tried to look at the local policies inside windows 7 starter but couldnt find anything that might relate to the restrictions. Then tried Bginfo from sysinternals (and another tool) to work my way around the policy but nope…nothing worked so far. When i found a “workaround” i will post it here ok.
Pingback: Background change in Windows7 - V-Tuts!
kenif

just got a new netbook with win 7 starter. better off running dos if i cant even change my wall paper wat the hell
Pingback: HP Gets Custom Backgrounds On Windows 7 Starter Edition ~ Revelations From An Unwashed Brain
Mark

For those of you with Windows 7 Starter, you can use Stardock MyColors to bypass the restriction and change the wallpaper.
srg84

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Regedit go to key

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper put the path of the image first, then righ click permissions->Put yourself as owner, then unchek the inherit button delete all users, then add the user ‘everyone’ and give read only permissions SOLVED :D
http://www.youtube.com/user/lonetraceur LoneTraceur

Guys, here is my solution to the wallpaper issue. Check out my screencast on YouTube here:
lbarrychevy

Just got a Netbook and the first thing i wanted to do is change the background. But no such luck. This blows have a computer that you can’t personalize. I hope someone will find an easy way around this.
Julie Burgess

SRG84, I followed all your steps precisely. Didn’t work. :(
Julie Burgess

SRG84, PARDON ME!!!!!!! IT DID WORK. I JUST HAD TO RESTART, AND MY WALLPAPER IS NOW THE PHOTO I USED AS THE PATH. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Julie Burgess

Note: I am just an everyday user, not a techie, and srg84′s instructions worked!
make212

Can somebody write down srg84′s instructions step by step, because I don’t quite understand all of them?
Faisal

Guyz I’ve one more problem that I’m not able to change the personalization of windows 7!!

It says “This page is not available in this edition of windows”??

Please help!!
Ian

ei. guys. Badtrip. I got my new laptop yesterday with the windows 7 starter edition. I was very disapointed to know that i cant change my desktop background. I thought all the while that Windows 7 is the most advance and latest OS. How can this be? Can i have a refund or something? HElP ME!
Julie Burgess

Ian, you either need to pay to upgrade from the starter edition, or follow some of the instructions on this page to bypass window’s rotten trick.
Julie Burgess

srg84, if you’re still around: As I said, thankfully your steps worked for me, and I now have a great wallpaper of my own choosing, a family photo, on my desktop. However, when I tried to change the picture, for a change of pace, by typing in a different picture path, it said “Error writing the value’s new content.”

Any ideas? Thanks!

P,S. I tried the website listed above, suggested by LoneTracuer, but after I got it downloaded, it wouldn’t let me open it because it has a .dll extension and wanted to know what program to open it with, and I have no clue.
Julie Burgess

P.S. My email is julieburgess5@hotmail. com
Dewey

ooohh! the first time I’ve use dis stater edition at my new netbook, i tried many times to search where the desktop wallpaper is. i was shock that this edition wasn’t have any wallpaper???? but this is one of the latest edition.. OMG! But why?? Windows 7 stater edition heads.. make a move please! kindly inform me at my e mail address for any update and good news about this windows 7 starter edition.. thank you!
Gabe

If you want to change the wallpaper again (after following srg84′s steps) just do the following:

1. Open regedit
2. Go to “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\” folder and RIGHT-CLICK on it, and go to “Permissions”
3. Check the box to Allow “Full Control” and click OK
4. Now you can go to “Wallpaper” on the right hand side and change the path to the wallpaper you really wanted
5. Right-Click “Desktop” folder again and go to “Permissions”
6. UN-CHECK the box that says Allow “Full Control” and click OK
7. Go to Start Menu, Log Off —-> Log On again… and you should have a new wallpaper again
Gabe

For those of you that haven’t been able to follow srg84′s steps, I wrote his workaround in more detail here:

http://www.withinwindows.com/2009/03/31/correction-starter-wallpaper-more-secure-than-i-thought/comment-page-2/#comment-5295
Deirdre

Shame on windows, I bought a new netbook with windows 7 starter and Im SHOCKED you cant cant the walpaper. Its a disgrace!!!
Julie Burgess

GABE, Thank you so much! srg84′s instructions had worked for me, but I wasn’t able to change the wallpaper a second time… but your steps worked perfectly. THANK YOU, AND SRG, VERY MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE.
Paige

ugh i just bought a netbook and it has windows 7 starter on it. and from what i just read i cant change the background?! wow that sucks!!!!!!!!
Gena

OH MY GOSH I just bought a netbook too… AND I CANT FRIKKING CHANGE THE WALL PAPER!! Guttedd :(
ej

Just bought one too – after about 30 minutes with windows7 I want to poke my eyes out!
Now..where is that ubuntu netbook remix usb stick….byebye window7 and no choice OS.
Kent

Gabe and Srg84,

Thank you for sharing the regedit steps. I truly appreciate the knowledge sharing. I’m sure you’ve made many people satisfied with their netbook purchases after initial disappointment.
John

I second Kent, thank you Gabe and Srg84. Your methods worked for me, especially the link that Gabe posted
Montricia

Got my new netbook on Black Friday (a Gateway). I didn’t think that using Windows 7 Starter would be an issue, until I attempted to change my desktop wallpaper. It’s completely inane that this is a missing feature. It’s even crazier that it’s missing, thanks to MS, by DESIGN. I installed MyColors (thanks so much, Stardock, it’s fantastic) and that works like a charm as far as having custom wallpaper (which I desire to change almost daily), although I don’t like the skins that are offered for the rest of the GUI. But, oh well. I’m actually one of the few who is considering upgrading my Windows 7 version, even now that I can customize my desktop wallpaper. I hate to say it, but my last two computers both ran XP, and I’m curious. :-/
Christina

Just got my new netbook too. I am so pissed! It’s positively ridiculous that you can’t change something simple like the wallpaper. It took me awhile to figure this out because I had trouble accepting it. It never occurred to me that the option to change would be taken away from me. I feel so cheated. Why isn’t this more widely known??? And also, I hate to sound ungrateful but I don’t want a workaround. I want the ability to change free and clear. I paid more to have Windows 7 instead of XP. What a joke.
Hevï Guy

What absolute nerve of the b@st@rds!! This d@mn netbook (Gateway) is going back to the vendor (BestBuy). It’ll be replaced with one running Win XP (Toshiba) from a different store (MicoCenter). I’m truly pissed and despise the MS kamikaze marketing idiots. These brilliant morons have slit their own figurative throats.

I can’t wait for the Apple commercial that takes advantage of this one. I could use the laugh; right now I’m seething
Hevï Guy

By the way, I didn’t see that anybody pointed out that 2 GB RAM is required for the upgrade. Stuck with 1 GB or less. Too bad, fellow sucker.
Christina

I ran some Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor and the good news is my system is cleared to buy an upgrade to the home edition. The only option for this Dell Mini was 1 gb of ram but I found a site that has pretty clear instructions on how to change it to 2 gb, however the upgrade advisor made no mention of the 2 gb requirement. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I’m so angry about this. This netbook was delivered a mere 4 hours ago and already I have to pay for something that should already be included! I really, really, really want to send this back. I fear that my stupid choice to get some customized colored lid will prevent me from returning it. I guess I’m at the mercy of Dell customer service. We’ll see…
Hevï Guy

Oops. I was too furious to read properly, Here’s the actual spec:

“1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)” at
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/system-requirements

Nevertheless, it doesn’t matter. Win 7 is outa here. Too bad the shackles that bind me to the rest of MS are too solid :-(

I heard about “Hackintosh”. Has anybody else? Seems like it’s away for these Netbooks to emulate Apple’s OS – or so I infer.
yellowlizard

srg84 and Gabe: i followed your instructions to the letter; however, after restarting and logging on all i got was a black screen although i can still see the arrow key. my netbook is a samsung N130. does anybody hav any ideas how to fix this?
http://asdg.co,m Guy

omg! cant change the wallpaper?! might as well get xp…
http://www.ArmandAudrey.com Armand Audrey

I just tried both of the fixes at the top, and neither worked. Didn’t work to overwrite the file, even after I took ownership of it, and didn’t work to try a third party program. Probably gonna write Microsoft some hate mail…
Sami

This is the simple way to change the wallpaper on windows 7 starter . Works perfectly

http://superuser.com/questions/69601/how-to-change-the-wallpaper-in-windows-7-starter-edition
Julie

and in case that doesn’t work, someone shared this easy download

http://rapidshare.com/files/320492667/Starter_Wallpaper_Changer.zip.html
Pingback: Mudar o wallpaper do Windows 7 Starter « Um pouco de tudo é muito…
rtx

could get it to work my bckgrnd is all black now
Mick

Oceanis Background Changer. Works perfectly with Win 7 Starter and it is FREE. No registry or other hacks that probably don’t work. Just install the program, open it from the desktop icon, browse to your wallpaper folders, select your wallpaper and off you go. You can also select multiple wallpapers and have them change automatically at time intervals. I just bought a Gateway mini from Best Buy and was I ticked to find out that MS had locked the desktop. I tried everything, changing the registry, renaming the wallpaper I wanted to the same name as the default wallpaper. Nothing worked right until I found this software. Believe me this is the way to go. Here is the link.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/47294-desktop-background-change-windows-7-starter.html
Scott

Oceanis background changer worked perfectly! Very easy! Acer Aspire One with Windows 7 starter.
http://oruchuban.ru sid350

Use Linux. Have no limits.
http://www.japcs.com Alex

Well, the truth is Microsoft is a lost cause. There continuous need to F!!K up the OS should be reason enough to switch to anything else. Like a foul I decided to give them one more shot, but I was a little smart in buying a notebook, since the cost was extremely cheap (walmart $218). I’ve been a XP Pro for years, but since there dropping that, and determined to mess up a good thing, I think my new laptop, will be an apple… I’ve been playing with the Tiger and as long as I have to conform to something, I’d prefer it to be someone else’s idea this time around…. Look out apple here I come… =) Goodbye Microsoft!
alesch

developing countries doesnt buy official software we copy them fro you assholes who actually buy software
http://www.msn.com emily

hi i boght a notebook and it won’t let me change the backround !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://hakukinkuroinc.blogspot.com/ Haku Kinkuro

You can change your background [ Window 7 Stater] by using the ‘ Stardock My Color ‘
Watch this tutorial that I make : -
Henry Ankers

Haku beat me to it. I to was stuck with this, but Startdock My Colour works, and for the week i have been using it, works well

Download stardock
Change theme
Put your background image into the windows sample pics
Go into stardock – backgrounds
Your background image should be there as you scroll down, simple.

any questions gimme a shout at ssn998@googlemail.com
It’ss A Secrettt

why, why, why? why would they not let you have a background on your netbook?
i mean, a background makes it YOUR netbook, or YOUR laptop!
grrrrrrr
Indazz

it’s annoying how you can’t change your background yet you can change your screen saver… and the help topic was not very helpful, i dunno why it’s even there
anyway, i downloaded the oceanis background changer and i have no more problem :)
Mick

No need to spend money for a good software to change the background on Win7 Starter. Here is a repeat of an earlier post that fixes the problem quickly and easily.

Oceanis Background Changer. Works perfectly with Win 7 Starter and it is FREE. No registry or other hacks that probably don’t work. Just install the program, open it from the desktop icon, browse to your wallpaper folders, select your wallpaper and off you go. You can also select multiple wallpapers and have them change automatically at time intervals. I just bought a Gateway mini from Best Buy and was I ticked to find out that MS had locked the desktop. I tried everything, changing the registry, renaming the wallpaper I wanted to the same name as the default wallpaper. Nothing worked right until I found this software. Believe me this is the way to go. Here is the link.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/47294-desktop-background-change-windows-7-starter.html
Katie R

I was trying to figure out how to change the background for weeks. I then read the FAQ for microsoft windows 7 starter and it said ‘there is one set theme for your desktop background that cannot be modified or changed’. They should make it clear on the staarter pack that it is much worse than vista. Now i have got rid of vista off my laptop and upgraded to windows 7 and i feel like i have downgraded because well, I have. I would also like to add that I must have been scammed because a friend of mine had the exact same vista as me and we bought it together on the same date and when she upgraded, she got windows 7 home premium and i only got starter! fot this I officially HATE micft and the next time i but a computer i am either going with linux or splashong out on an apple computer :)
Michael L

Wait a minute – the box this new HP netbook came in says “HP – The computer is personal again.”
Personal my foot….they just shipped a product that won’t even let me change the background.
Evee

Wow. I bought my new netbook today and I was so excited about it and Windows 7. I wish the sale people had bothered to tell me about this issue – they managed to cover everything else. I was so disappointed when I found out about this and I thought I was going mad when I couldn’t figure out how to change my wallpaper. And I’m in the same boat as you Michael L, I got a HP too with the box saying “HP – The computer is personal again.”

Hah.

Thanks so much for the Stardock Mycolours app though, it works perfectly :)
lulu

why can i not change it that is so messed up. i got this amazing new picture of justin bieber and i cant change it. im going to go mad if i cant ever change it, it makes me soooooooooooooooo mad…
http://mattsampson.wordpress.com MattSamp

I took the route of finding the file and giving myself ownership permissions etc. I saved a picture i wanted into that folder, resized it to match the other picture and renamed it. I restarted and now I just have a black background. Any suggestions?
Mick

Matt,

Save yourself the trouble of trying to hack the background picture. It is hit and miss at best.

No need to spend money for a good software to change the background on Win7 Starter. Here is a repeat of an earlier post that fixes the problem quickly and easily.

Oceanis Background Changer. Works perfectly with Win 7 Starter and it is FREE. No registry or other hacks that probably don’t work. Just install the program, open it from the desktop icon, browse to your wallpaper folders, select your wallpaper and off you go. You can also select multiple wallpapers and have them change automatically at time intervals. I just bought a Gateway mini from Best Buy and was I ticked to find out that MS had locked the desktop. I tried everything, changing the registry, renaming the wallpaper I wanted to the same name as the default wallpaper. Nothing worked right until I found this software. Believe me this is the way to go. Here is the link.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/47294-desktop-background-change-windows-7-starter.html
Liam

To be honest I have found the easiest and hassle free way to change the windows starter wallpaper is to download ‘starter wallpaper changer’ seriously its awsm :D hopefully u agree!
AJ

if you alter img0.jpg and loose the wallpaper (screen goes Black)its because this registry key gets blanked out:

To fix:
regedit and find…
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper

enter key: %windir%\web\wallpaper\windows\img0.jpg
http://www.ubuntu.com Ubuntu

this is were we quit and shifted to linux.
just installed the latest version of the ubuntu – 9.10

Win7 vs Ubuntu9.10 – Effects
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6uFxxlKa4g

Win7 vs Ubuntu9.04 – Boot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3K9pSbvGkY

Ubuntu9.10 NetbookRemix
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2btNhy4Kr7c

More
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpG4NjnKT7A
jake halstrum

i changed my background on windows 7 starter edition
Pingback: Twitter Tweets about Windows 7 as of January 10, 2010 | Bay Area REO
Pat M

Installed Oceanis’s background updater a couple days ago, worked fine. Got a load of Windows automatic updates yesterday and today (Jan 11), background was reset, and now Oceanis doesn’t do anything… WHAT is the point of this madness?
Rajesh

haii, ihave overwritten img0 in my windows 7 7068…but ican’t still set my wallpaper.
pls help me
http://www.fedoraprogect.org Hallux

EASY FIX FOR THIS!

1. Get Fedora Linux (http://www.fedoraproject.org). Download Fedora 12 650+MB ISO file.

2A. Get Fedora’s USB Live-Image Creator (or whatever they call it) also available from same site.
3A. Use the two to create a USB drive Live-Install of Linux.
(Alternatively)
2B. Burn image with ISO burning software (don’t just cut/paste it to a disc, it won’t work) to a CD-ROM
3B. Go to step 4

4. Boot into Linux. Open the “My Computer” icon, select “media”, then navigate as follows down into the Misro$oft Win/DOS directory structure as follows:
Go to (Whatever your hard drive is called, select the hard-disc icon), go to Windows, go to Web, go to Wallpaper, go to Windows (again), and rename the file called “img0.jpg” to something else, like “screwM$.jpg”
(Alternatively)
4A. If you have another windows jpeg of the same size and shape, copy it to the same place and give it the original filename. You can simply delete the original image, but I’ve found it’s sometimes handy to keep originals like that around for archival purposes.

5. Reboot into Win/DOS. :) Ugly M$ Win/DOS logo is gone, screen is plain blue. A definite improvement.
(Alternatively)
5A. While looking at the Linux Live-CD/Live-USB install, note how nice it is to be able to do whatever you want with your own computer, without @$$40135 in Redmond, WA dictating to you what you can and can’t do with their wretched CrippleWare, and realize you’d be better off just wiping all M$ garbage off your harddrive, and living free, with Linux!

If you must continue to use Misro$oft Win/DOS 7 Starter/Crippleware Edition, at least you don’t need the constant reminder that Misro$oft thinks you are a worthless pile of d0g$h1t, for not paying to use their oh-so-much-better (and of course,) more expensive Win/DOS version.

Misro$oft will slowly drive all their own customers away with their arrogance and stupidity, and when they fail, (which they will,) GOOD RIDDANCE I say!

/rant.

Kai

when they do fail say god bye to freeware distros will compete for market…

Gina

Hi guys,

I too have this background problem, and when I saw Gabe’s solution I was more then thrilled! But in my enthusiasm I forgot the jpg extension! So when I restarted it, the screen went black. I tried to undo the process entering the old key (%windir%\web\wallpaper\windows\img0.jpg), but an error came across, as you can see here: http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/5423/backgroundfs.jpg

What should I do now? :D Cause I do wanna change my background!
Bengt

Thanks srg84 and Gabe for posting the noob version. Fuck starter so hard.
soosoo

I like the wallpaper (how its B&W plus the colored fish), is there a way to get it in widescreen, maybe 1680×1050 or 1920×1200?
Iron Angel

you know, i actually just found a far more simple solution

you open de image file in mspaint, goto file (the icon thingy) and select “set as desktop background” in de dropdown

there is a slight possibility this worked because i have an altered version of 7 starter (for eee701)
Pingback: Change the Wallpaper in Windows 7 Starter
Gina

It doesn’t work, Iron. :|
http://www.elnaeth.com Elnaeth

Iron’s method is fake and gay.

Nah just kidding. Would have been fun if that worked though :P
aia

hi all. i just bought a dell mini 10 with windows 7 starter. im able to change my wallpaper by using stardock mycolors, it really works. You can download it for free. I downloaded the diamond theme, then from there the wallpaper can be changed. i hope this helps.
xv

I was about to purchase a netbook until I found out about the limitation of Windows 7 Starter. I’m holding this purchase until these notebook offer the home version. At the same time, I’m exploring netbook with Linux. I think this is a huge mistake by netbook manufacture and perhaps Microsoft.
Rafael

NOTE: Do not post crap hosted on Mediafire (or any file hosting service) in my comment areas.
http://www.mediafire.com/?h2g5hdmz0nn Mike

If you want to change your windows 7 background and it doesn’t let you you should try out http://www.mediafire.com/?h2g5hdmz0nn it really work try it. when i first used it it actually worked. just go to the link and press download and save it or run it, which ever you want it. next it will pop up a box saying do want want this to make a few changes to your computer click yes and a small box will pop up. then click browse pick any picture click apply then it will say you must log back on to your computer so it can make the changes and when you try it will be changed thanks for reading this post comments if it didn’t work.
brian

There is a fix for this posted at http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download-netbook

In addition to freeing the restrictions on desktop wallpaper this fix also incorporates numerous security and performance improvements.
Sheetal

Wow.. just when i thought windows couldnt get more irritating.
Bubbles the Monkey

Hi all,

A lot of posts here all saying the same thing, but it really is a simple solution (if you have some basic windows knowledge).

I haven’t tried any of the programs mentioned here (Oceanis, Stardock or other programs), simply because I don’t want to run a 3rd party tool or some guys random executable I don’t trust. You don’t actually need any of these programs, you simply need to follow the following registry instructions described below (and in previous posts).

In a nutshell, “\\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper” is the registry location where Windows stores the file name to use as the wallpaper image (for those of you who don’t know, the Registry is simply a place where Windows stores all of the configuration details for every single aspect of Windows, and can be viewed with the program RegEdit.exe). The default value for the wallpaper is “%windir%\web\wallpaper\windows\img0.jpg” (where %windir% is shorthand for your Windows directory, usually c:\windows\). Also by default, this image file is protected and this registry entry is protected. However, you can override these protections by changing the owner of the file and the owner of the “Desktop” branch of the registry.

The reason why people get a black screen after they change either the image, or the image file name in the registry, is because the windows DLL responsible for displaying the wallpaper checks if its the original image file or not. If its not, it clears the wallpaper entry in the registry (resulting in no image being displayed on the desktop, leaving it black). The solution then, is to make the registry entry read only, so that windows cant change the registry entry to an empty value again if the image file is different from the original.

Make sense so far?

So, the easiest solution is this:

Go to the “c:\windows\web\wallpaper\windows\” folder, and rename the img0.jpg file to something else (a backup), and then copy your desired wallpaper image file to this folder, and rename it to img0.jpg. Then open regedit.exe and go to the “\\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\” branch. Right click on “Desktop” in this branch and select Permissions from the pop-up menu. Click on the Advanced button, go to the Owner tab, and select your login user name from the list of possible owners. Click OK, and then OK again to close the Permissions dialog. Now go back into the Permissions dialog (with yourself now as the owner of this registry branch). Click on the Advanced button again, and now click on the Add… button. Enter “Everyone” and press OK, you’ll get a list of permissions to choose from next, select the last one Read Control, and press OK. Finally select your user name from the same list of “Permission Entries” / “user names”, and press the Edit button. This is the most important step … from the list of permissions, make sure that Full Control, Set Value, Delete, Write DAC, and Write Owner are NOT selected. Clear them if they are, and press OK. Before you close the Advanced dialog, make sure the “Include inheritable permissions from this objects parent” is NOT checked, and press OK to close the Advanced dialog, and then OK again to close the Permissions dialog.

You are done. Now close regedit, and restart Windows, you should now have your own desktop wallpaper :)

If one day you want to change your wallpaper, simply replace the img0.jpg file with the wallpaper image you want. To make this easier in the future, you can add the “c:\windows\web\wallpaper\windows\” folder to your Pictures Library, so its more easily accessible when you go to My Picutres. You could alternatively change the wallpaper path in the registry again, but you would have to first set Full Control permissions against your user name, and then make it Read Only again afterwards. Just replacing the existing image is probably a simpler solution for most.

So there you have it. Its perhaps not the most convenient/elegant solution for those without a bit of technical know-how, but it does work, without extra programs or spending money to upgrade.

PS: Microsoft, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Mitchell_o7

Bubbles (or anyone else who has tried his method), your method seems plausible by my reasonable understanding of windows and your explanation, and I am willing to try it, however I am unable to complete the first step :/In trying to renane the original img0.jpg file (in the location c:windowswebwallpaperwindowsimg0.jpg), windows states I need the permission of “trustedinstaller” or something. I also tried changing the name by right-clicking and changing it through “properties” however this doesn’t work either. Any ideas anyone how to get around this?
I am interested in this method as it doesn’t involve unnecessary software installation and resultant excess cpu usage, so advice is greatly appreciated :)

Meh

got a solution for this:
Right click img0 and click properties, go to the security tab and click advanced. Change the file owner from Trusted Installer to your username. Go back into properties and click Edit, then change your permissions to Full control. You should now be able to edit the file :)
Cynthiiaaa_rocks

Mr. Bubbles, I really want to try this method, but it will only let me view the permissions so I cant change the owner :(

January Man

At least it still blows away MAC!! HA HA HA!!!
Amanda

well i tried this and it actually worked.. Here’s How:
1. Download the Oceanis Change Background Windows 7 ZIP file below provided by Oceanis.

2. Open the ZIP file and extract the Oceanis_Change_Background_W7.exe file, then run it to install it.
NOTE: Restarting the computer will be required to finish installing this program.

3. When your computer restarts, you will see this as your desktop background. Click on the Oceanis Change Background Windows 7 shortcut to change your desktop background. (see screenshot below)… its great, at least they can be used to our advantage, with the frustration of not being able to customize your damn computer, now you can..
igeoogle

Yeah this one disappointed me as well but there are several programs that let you change the wallpaper of Windows 7 Starter. One of them is Oceanis as one of the people who commented here pointed out. There is also Stardock which lets you change not only the wallpaper but the overall theme as well. There is also another program which I like which is featured here – http://www.techiechips.com/change-the-wallpaper-of-windows-7-starter/

It gives you the personalize option just like in home basic or home premium where you can change the wallpaper.
//

just download Oceanis Windows 7 starter background changer

barb

I have installed oceanis about 3 times…tweaked it and still it will NOT kick in and change the windows desktop background

chris ghee

I tried Stardock but unfortunately my netbook (Asus EeePC 1201N) didn’t take it nicely. Yeah, the theme & background changed but my speed went low after i did it.
chris ghee

I tried installing Stardock again. It worked fine. then I discovered recently that I can change my desktop background using my ASUS netbook’s Eee Docking feature. what an idiot. Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Thank you Eee Docking!
Alex

It worked!!!! I tried re-writing img0.jpg with my own image and editing regedit just like Bubbles the Monkey and sgr84 suggested and I now have a beautiful picture on my desktop. F#@% microsoft!!!

Bubbles the Monkey and sgr84, you are geniuses, thanks a lot for your advice!

Vinns Sh

How to change the change the permission of img0 using regedit? can u pls brief me out?

Greg

i have a copy of windows home premium on my laptop can I put in on my daughters note book instead of the starter edition and save a couple of bucks
Pingback: Windows 7 Starter Edition commits suicide | GeekSmack
http://www.aboveinfinity.com CoonUnlimited

ha this is why I use ubuntu :P
Anonymous

My problem is that this laptop will not let me change my desktop background… gr! I’ve tried everything!! I went to control panel and typed in desktop background, but it found no results.I went to a pic in my saved files and right clicked saying Set as Desktop Background, still nothing.
http://www.hpd530.com/
http://www.facebook.com/andreabormanlb Andrea Borman

Yes,you can change both the desktop color on Windows 7 Starter. Go to appearance and personalization and select Windows classic. From there you can change your desktop,taskbar and anything else to what color you want using the color wheel.

There is also software that you can install from the Internet that will add or change the wallpaper. One is Oceanis,the other is Personalization Panel. I use Personalization Panel which can also change the wallpaper in Windows Classic theme setting. Both of these 2 software’s are for Windows 7 starter. And I like Personalization Panel best it works for me.

Here I have made a video about changing the wallpaper on Windows 7 starter with Personalization Pane. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZx1jNncgaw

Andrea Borman.
Amanyavrum

Lan virüs mü var bunda
wdwqasd

fuck you all
Lloyd1977

well i tried everything you all said to do ie downloads,my Eee docking …. NUN OF THEM WORK. WHY DO PEOPLE LIE OR PUT VIRUSES out there! don’t we all use pc’s,notebooks,laptops,internet, it only effects us little people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Phmnj248

i think its the stuoidest thing that we cant even personalize our laptops!!! all i want to do is change my background! really is it that bad. microsft fails!

Twilight_sagafreak

ikr i have a netbook an acer windows starter one and it sucks that i cantchange the wallpaper

None

http://renaudgerson.fr/StarterBackgroundChanger/?utm_source=StarterBackgroundChanger&utm_medium=tracking&utm_content=StarterBackgroundChanger&utm_campaign=Software
Vivek12rana

dear i think u have not administrator power. u r login as a user. so u sre not change the wallpaper.
Sacha hertz

i can’t put in a new background and i’m getting frusturated. My control panel doesn’t have the option to put an image in. Pls.. HELP!!!!!!!!
Pingback: » HP and Stardock team up to ship netbooks with custom walls, themes Within Windows
http://www.facebook.com/andreabormanlb Andrea Borman

Oh yes you can change the wallpaper in Windows 7 Starter. There is a software called Personalization Panel which lets you change the wallpaper on Windows 7 Starter. I use it on my Windows 7 Starter and it works. Personalization Panel will change the wallpaper in both Windows 7 Basic and Windows Classic theme setting. And is a handy tool to have, as it gives you access to other features,such as changing your desktop icons and mouse pointers. You can get Personalization Panel from here-http://winaero.com/news.php?default.0.0
Andrea Borman.