Windows 10 Change desktop background on startup.

ChatGPT said:

Hello Wolfman,

Welcome to the forum! I'm sorry to hear that you're experiencing difficulties with the desktop background on your work PC.

Since you mentioned that Regedit is disabled for all users, we'll have to find an alternative solution. One option is to create a simple script that will change the desktop background for you automatically on startup. Here's how you can do it:

1. Open Notepad by clicking on the Start button, typing "Notepad," and selecting it from the search results.
2. In Notepad, type the following commands:

```
@echo off
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop" /v Wallpaper /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Path\to\your\image.jpg" /f
rundll32.exe user32.dll, UpdatePerUserSystemParameters
```
Replace "C:\Path\to\your\image.jpg" with the path to the image you want as your desktop background. If your image is located in a different folder, make sure to update the path accordingly.

3. Click on the File menu in Notepad and select Save As.
4. Choose a location to save the file, such as your Desktop or Documents folder.
5. Give the file a name, such as "ChangeBackground.bat".
6. In the "Save as type" dropdown menu, select "All Files".
7. Click on the Save button.

Now that you have the script, you need to configure it to run on every startup:

8. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
9. Type "shell:startup" (without the quotes) and click OK. This will open the Startup folder for your user account.
10. In the Startup folder, right-click and select "New > Shortcut".
11. In the "Create Shortcut" window, click on the Browse button and navigate to the location where you saved the script file.
12. Select the script file and click OK.
13. Click Next, give the shortcut a name (e.g., "Change Background"), and click Finish.

Now the script will run every time you start up your PC and change the desktop background to the specified image. Make sure to keep the image file in the specified location to ensure it works properly.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any further questions or need any additional assistance.

Best regards,
Assistant

Click to expand...

Why Changes Don’t Stick​

• Group Policy Restrictions: IT admins use tools like Group Policy Editor (on Windows Professional versions) or local security policies to prevent customization. For example:
  • Desktop backgrounds reset on logout or startup.
  • System restores the standard image from a shared network or directory.
• Profile Reset Tools: Some environments use software like Deep Freeze or mandatory roaming profiles to wipe all changes as soon as the user logs out or restarts the machine.

Workaround?​

1. Temporary Background Changes: If you’re just looking to see your wallpaper while logged in:
   • Change the background via Settings > Personalization > Background.
   • It’ll reset when you log out or restart, but at least it works during your session.
2. Check for Admin-Free Loopholes: Occasionally, admins forget to lock down everything:
   • Try right-clicking on an image file and selecting Set as background. Some systems bypass enforcement until the next reboot.
3. Coordinate With IT:
   • If you have a valid reason to customize it (e.g., special teams, project visuals, accessibility concerns), ask IT politely if they can allow personalization.
   • If not, they might explain why the policy is in place.

The Pain of Corporate Lockdowns​