Wallpaper can’t be changed in Windows 7 Starter Edition
The latest leaked build of Windows 7, Build 7068, can run in any of the six SKUs by modifying the ei.cfg file. Paul Thurott decided to dive in to all the SKUs and was surprised to discover that the default wallpaper for Windows 7 Starter was a dumbed down version of the default beta fish wallpaper.
What makes it even worse is that Microsoft has completely removed the Personalization options from Control Panel, making it impossible almost impossible to change the wallpaper. Even other methods of changing it such as from Windows Photo Gallery do not work. Rafael from Within Windows explains the situation like this:
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%\web\wallpaper\windows\img0.jpg.
As many times before, he has found a workaround, suggesting that one can log in as adminstrator and reset the permissions on img0.jpg, then overwrite the file. Another alternative would be to use third-party software.
The inability to change wallpaper now adds on to Microsoft’s list of features to take away or dumb down in Starter.You can view a chart showing full comparison of major features in each of the SKUs here. Here are a few of the main ones:
- Three application limit (not counting Antivirus software and background processes)
- Aero Theme
- Windows Touch Features
- Windows Media Center
- DVD Playback
- Less games
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Tags: windows 7, windows 7 starter, windows 7 starter edition, windows 7 starter wallpaper
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11 Responses to “Wallpaper can’t be changed in Windows 7 Starter Edition”
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Next thing you know, they won’t allow you to log in as administrator.
Raffa is really the best in digging things like that and his knowledge is just enormously and a great help in everything
Microsoft are probably doing this for the sake of OEMs of netbooks/laptops. The forced branding means they can bring down the prices of the hardware. It’s all to do with licencing costs.
Good point but how much do you think companies will pay to be able to set a default wallpaper?
I wouldn’t find this to be such a bod deal if it wasn’t such an ugly wallpaper!
[...] possibility of that being true isn’t unrealistic. If you think about it, Starter contains a few inconvenient restrictions that draw away from the complete Windows experience, particularly the inability to have three [...]
[...] possibility of that being true isn’t unrealistic. If you think about it, Starter contains a few inconvenient restrictions that draw away from the complete Windows experience, particularly the inability to have three [...]
I have found a sudo-workaround to atleast ditch aero basic and the wallpaper and use windows classic and a sold color desktop background…
Check it out:
http://blog.mattatobin.com/2009/06/09/windows-seven-starter-kill-wallpaper-and-have-classic-theme.binoc
You can use Stardock MyColors to change Windows 7 wallpaper.
You can use Stardock MyColors to change Windows 7 Starter wallpaper. I entirely bypass that restriction.
ows.. ?? really does stardock will cahnge the wall paper of win7 starter?
It is disappointing, why I buy the product that I don’t have the right to use on ways i want. Like personalization right.