How to Upload Static Wallpaper on Domain

Group Policy is of course one of the best means y'all tin can lockdown and configure your windows systems in your environment and one of the most usually configured setting in Grouping Policy is the ability to configured the Desktop Wallpaper (a.chiliad.a. Background) prototype. Now most of y'all might simply say is all you need to practise is set the  grouping policy setting all the same there are some common traps that y'all might fall into if y'all don't use this setting correctly.

Method #1: Authoritative Template "Desktop Wallpaper" Setting

The "Desktop Wallpaper" method is of course the most commonly used fashion for configuring the Wallpaper on a computer nevertheless equally it seems with all things Grouping Policy using this setting comes with its ain pro'due south and con's.

Pro's

• Change is Restricted for the users
• Works on all versions of Windows

Con's

• Limited targeting only based on standard Grouping Policy Object'due south (OU,Security Filter,Site,WMI & Domain)

This setting can be found under User Configuration > Authoritative Templates > Desktop > Desktop and is straight frontwards to configure as all yous have to practise is specify the explicit local path or a UNC to the paradigm you desire displayed as the desktop wallpaper (see below).

Behind the scenes all this setting is doing is configuring the REG_SZ "Wallpaper" and the REG_SZ "WallpaperStyle"  registry keys under the HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System  path.

TIP #one: If you are running Windows 7/Server 2008 R2 pre-Service Pack 1 you volition demand to install hotfix http://support.microsoft.com/kb/977944 for this setting to work.

TIP #2: If y'all are configuring this setting I recommend that you utilize the "Fill" Wallpaper Style as this volition work best with most screen resolutions (especially on Windows seven).

TIP #iii: If you configure this setting you will need to expect for the user to logoff the calculator before the background is updated.

Method #2: Group Policy Preferences Registry Key Wallpaper Configuration

As I mention in Method #1 all the Authoritative Template "Desktop Wallpaper" does is configure the HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System REG_SZ "Wallpaper" fundamental. Therefore y'all tin can also use the Group Policy Preference Registry Extension option to as well set the aforementioned key to give yous some added benefits.

Pro'due south

• Support advanced targeting option due to Group Policy Preferences Item-Level Targeting
• Change is Restricted or Unrestricted for the user

Con's

• Must run Windows XP (or greater)
• Must have the Group Policy Client Side Extensions installed.

To configured the Desktop Wallpaper the same as the "Desktop Wallpaper" authoritative template simply create ii registry keys User Configuration > Preferences > Windows Settings > Registry (see below). At present depending on the registry central that yous configure for this setting you lot can either have this equally a restricted (a.k.a. locked) setting or an unrestricted setting that allows the users to make their own changes.

Restricted: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Arrangement\Wallpaper

Unrestricted: HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper

Restricted: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Organisation\WallpaperStyle

Unrestricted: HKCU\Control Console\Desktop\WallpaperStyle

Tip #4: If you don't configured the "WallpaperStyle" registry central and then users volition nevertheless be able to choose their ain Wallpaper Manner.

If you chose the restricted registry keys to configured the wallpaper then ensure you also select the "Replace" action and "Remove this particular when it is no longer practical" common option is selected (see beneath). If y'all don't exercise this you will find that your users will non exist able to change their wallpaper even after the policy is removed equally the policy registry key will not exist removed.

If yous chose to utilise the unrestricted registry key values then likewise brand sure you lot chose the "Use once and do not reapply" choice. If you don't exercise this the users wallpaper will be reset ever time they log off their computer every bit the key volition exist fix back to the original value during each policy refresh.

Configuring the Desktop Wallpaper Storage Location

Now that you know the many options for configuring the Desktop Wallpaper via Group Policy the next thing you should consider is where is the wallpaper being stored. As you can seen in the screen shots of the administrative template Desktop Wallpaper that they employ the example of a UNC path. Just…

TIP #v: DONT Ever USE A UNC PATH FOR A DESKTOP WALLPAPER… EVER!!

Simple put using a UNC path puts a lot of stress on network as it has to download file every fourth dimension the wallpaper is loaded. It too means that if the network path cannot be contacted when the user logs on all they will get is a black background wallpaper. This is peculiarly obvious when someone logs on with a laptop not continued LAN.

So the obviously question is how exercise you lot make sure that file that the desktop wallpaper uses is always available and easily accessible? Apply a script and re-create the file to the local hard bulldoze. Sure… but http://ihatelogonscripts.com and the effect with using a script is that it will merely run when the reckoner starts up or when the user logs on. Generally this would not be a problem and if you are smart enough to use a copy plan like robocopy or other such programme it wont stress your LAN as it will only copy the file once. But on the day that you modify the desktop wallpaper ever calculator and/or user will endeavor to download the new wallpaper all at one time.

The Answer? Use Group Policy Preferences File Extension and re-create the file down to the local figurer.

Using the Group Policy Preferences File Extension

Using the File Extension to copy the file to the local hard bulldoze means the file will be copied to the local hard drive making obviously available at all times. However the File Extensions options also has the advantage of being able to updated the file during each grouping policy refresh. This style the figurer gets the updated wallpaper without having to logoff or reboot the figurer and y'all avert slamming the network in the morning when all the computers turn on.

TIP #vi: Setup the file re-create as a computer setting and then that it volition update the files even when there is no user logged on.

TIP #7: If you follow Tip #six then you lot demand to make sure that the desktop wallpaper file has got "Domain Computers" Read permissions and then the local system business relationship has access to copy the file from the network.

So past now, hopefully y'all know how to set the desktop wallpaper and and so yous can ensure that the images you use for the wallpaper are always available that way you lot  can ensure that your users are ever subjected to your corporate desktop wallpaper.

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Source: https://www.grouppolicy.biz/2011/03/best-practice-using-group-policy-to-configure-desktop-wallpaper-background/

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