XP Wallpaper quirk

[myerscg1]

I have a user that changed her wallpaper and now everyone that logs into that workstation gets her wallpaper. It is a JPG file that she found on the internet and saved and now she keeps it for her computer wallpaper. It's nothing inappropriate, but other users that utilize that computer are beginning to ask where the wallpaper came from and why is it on their desktop.

The workstation is running XP SP2 with all Microsoft patches. Its puzzling to me that a user would even be able to intentionally change the default wallpaper for everyone, let alone accidentally. This user is not computer savvy in the least.

 

[Glenn9999]

How did she change the wallpaper? Windows can do it, but a program can do it as well (I posted one here once upon a time). The program in question might not address the current user, but address the default (everyone). Of course, there's always the possibility that she knows a little more than she's letting on.

Anyway, the wallpaper for the current user is set in:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Control Panel/Desktop

The default setting is at
HKEY_USERS/.Default/Control Panel/Desktop

You can try looking at and changing the latter.

 

[linney]

By "everyone that logs into that workstation gets her wallpaper" do you mean via Remote Desktop, or by Manually Logon under another Username, or (too simple) the original Usersname?

Have you looked at the Remote Desktop settings under the Options/ Experience button, such as "Desktop Background"?

HOW TO: Create a Custom Default User Profile (Q305709)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q305/7/09.asp

Try this location and file.

C:\Documents and Settings\Usernamexxxx\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\WALLPAPER1.bmp

Or this one if you set any Wallpaper via IE.

C:\Documents and Settings\Usernamexxxx\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ INTERNET EXPLORER WALLPAPER.bmp

See if you can match any image to your current Wallpaper?

How to save desktop wall paper with profile?
Thread779-961312


Here is a quote from a thread that has disappeared.

" have however found the cause of the wallpaper change:
It's within the use of a third-party software - both I and my sister use ACDSee to set our wallpaper. ACDSee saves the wallpaper in a file call ACDSee wallpaper.bmp in the Windows directory. However, since we both used ACDSee, then we both share the same wallpaper file because ACDSee does not differentiate between different XP profiles.

So, my solution was simple. I've set my wallpaper through Internet Explorer rather than ACDSee.

Both applications have "Set to wallpaper" feature, but Internet Explorer recognizes the different XP profiles and is able to put different wallpaper for different accounts".