Desktop Background Wallpaper - Prevent Change

INFO: This will allow you to set a default optional Desktop Background Wallpaper of your choice for all user accounts, and prevent it from being changed.

NOTE: STEP ONE below will just remove the Desktop Background option from the Personalize appearance and sounds screen. Users will still be able to change the wallpaper by right clicking on a image and click Set as Desktop Background. You must also do STEP TWO below to prevent the desktop background from being changed. You will have a choice of do this using METHOD ONE or METHOD TWO on how to do the same thing below.

RELATED LINKS:
1. How to Change the Desktop Background Wallpaper in Vista

2. How to Install and Use DreamScene in Vista

3. How to Enhance Windows Vista DreamScene with Stardock DeskScapes

4. How to Add or Remove the Theme Option in Vista

5. How to Add or Remove the Screen Saver Option in Vista


EXAMPLE:
NOTE: This will be removed in STEP ONE below.
Desktop_Background.jpg


METHOD ONE:
Through the Local Group Policy Editor :
NOTE: This is only available for the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise versions. See Method Two below for Vista Home Basic and Home Premium versions.

STEP ONE:
Remove or Show the Desktop Background Option :
NOTE: STEP ONE will just remove the Desktop Background option from the Personalize appearance and sounds screen. Users will still be able to change the wallpaper by right clicking on a image and click Set as Desktop Background. You must also do STEP TWO below to prevent the desktop background from being changed..

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
3. Click Continue for the UAC prompt.
4. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, Display.
(See screenshot below)
5. In the right pane, right click on Prevent changing wallpaper and click Properties.

Group_Policy2.jpg

6. To Show the Desktop Background Option - Dot Disabled or Not Configured and click OK.
(See screenshot below)

7. To Remove the Desktop Background Option - Dot Enabled and click OK.
NOTE: These changes will be immediate.

Prevent_Properties.jpg


STEP TWO:
Disable or Enable Changing the Desktop Background
NOTE: This will also disable the Set as Desktop Background option when a user right clicks on a image. It will not be grayed out, but it will not work unless enabled.

8. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Desktop, Desktop.
(See screenshot below)
9. In the right pane, right click on Desktop Wallpaper and click Properties.

Group_Policy1.jpg

10. To Enable Changing Desktop Background - Dot Disabled or Not Configured and click OK.
(See screenshot below)

11. To Disable Changing Desktop Background - Dot Enabled.
A) In the Wallpaper Name: box, type in the full path of a wallpaper you want displayed for all user accounts.
NOTE: You can only use a .BMP or .JPG image. If you just want a blank wallpaper, you can enter a invalid path.
(EX: C:\ )
B) In the Wallpaper Style: box, select if you want the wallpaper to be in Center, Stretch, or Tile style.
C) Click OK.

Desktop_Wallpaper_Properties.jpg

12. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.
13. Restart the computer to apply the changes.


METHOD TWO:
Through the Registry :
NOTE: This will work for All versions of Vista.
Through a Download:
NOTE: STEP ONE will just remove the Desktop Background option from the Personalize appearance and sounds screen. Users will still be able to change the wallpaper by right clicking on a image and click Set as Desktop Background. You must also do STEP TWO below to prevent the desktop background from being changed.

STEP ONE:
1. To Show the Desktop Background Option - Show_Desktop_Background.reg < Click To Download

2. To Remove the Desktop Background Option - Remove_Desktop_Background.reg < Click To Download
NOTE: This will just remove the Desktop Background option from the Personalize appearance and sounds screen. Users will still be able to change the wallpaper by right clicking on a image and click Set as Desktop Background. You must also do STEP TWO below to prevent this.

STEP TWO:
3. To Enable Changing the Wallpaper - Enable_Changing_Wallpaper.reg < Click To Download

4. To Disable Changing the Wallpaper- Disable_Changing_Wallpaper.reg < Click To Download
NOTE: This download will give you a blank wallpaper. If you want to disable changing the wallpaper and have a wallpaper of your choice, then see STEP TWO in the Manual section below.

5. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.
6. Right click the .reg (On Desktop) file and click Merge.
7. Click on the Run button for Security Warning pop-up.
8. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
9. When done, you can delete the .reg file (On Desktop).
10. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply the changes.


The Manual Way:
1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.
3. If prompted, click the Continue button for the UAC prompt.
4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

Policies_Reg.jpg


STEP ONE:
Remove or Show the Desktop Background Option :
NOTE: STEP ONE will just remove the Desktop Background option from the Personalize appearance and sounds screen. Users will still be able to change the wallpaper by right clicking on a image and click Set as Desktop Background. You must also do STEP TWO below to prevent the desktop background from being changed.

5. To Remove the Desktop Background Option -
A) In the left pane, right click on Policies and click New -> Key. (See screenshot below step 4)
NOTE: If you already have the ActiveDesktop key, then go to step 5C.
B) Type ActiveDesktop and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
C) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click New -> DWORD (32 bit) Value.

ActiveDesktop_Reg.jpg

D) Type NoChangingWallpaper and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
E) In the right pane, right click on NoChangingWallpaper and click Modify.

NoChangingWallPaper.jpg

F) Type 1 and click OK. (See screenshot below)

Modify_NoChangingWallpaper.jpg

6. To Show the Desktop Background Option -
A) Right click on NoChangingWallpaper and click Delete. (See screenshot below step 5E)
B) Click Yes to confirm Delete.
C) In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop
D) In the right pane, repeat steps 6A and 6B if NoChangingWallpaper is there to.

HKLM_ADD_Reg.jpg


STEP TWO:
Disable or Enable Changing the Desktop Background
NOTE: This will also disable the Set as Desktop Background option when a user right clicks on a image. It will not be grayed out, but it will not work unless enabled.

7. To Disable Changing the Desktop Background -
A) In the left pane, right click on Policies and click New -> Key. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you already have the System key, then go to step 7C.

Policies2_Reg.jpg

B) Type System and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
C) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click New -> String Value.

System_Reg.jpg

D) Type Wallpaper and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
E) In the right pane, right click on Wallpaper and click Modify.

Wallpaper_Reg.jpg

F) Type in the full path of a wallpaper you want displayed for all user accounts and click OK. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You can only use a .BMP or .JPG image. If you just want a blank wallpaper, you can enter a invalid path.
(EX: C:\ )

Modify_Wallpaper.jpg

G) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click New -> String Value. (See screenshot below)
H) Type WallpaperStyle and press Enter.
I) In the right pane, right click on WallpaperStyle and click Modify.

WallpaperStyle_Reg.jpg

J) Type in a number below in bold for the wallpaper to be in Center, Stretch, or Tile style, and click OK.
(See screenshot below)

• Type 0 to Center the wallpaper on the desktop.
• Type 1 to Tile the wallpaper on the desktop.
• Type 2 to Stretch the wallpaper to fit the desktop.

Modify_WallpaperStyle.jpg

8. To Enable Changing the Desktop Background -
A) In the right pane, right click on both Wallpaper and WallpaperStyle and click Delete.
(See screenshot below step 7I)
NOTE: You will have to do these one at a time.
B) Click Yes to confirm each deletion.

9. Close regedit.
10. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply changes.


That's it,
Shawn