we had deployed wallpaper with gpo black screen appears when switch to other network and wfh

Question

out of network it is black screen and within network working fine

file is saved on local dc, shared properly.

Answer 1

Hello Sufiyan,

Thank you for your question and for reaching out with your question today.

If the wallpaper set via Group Policy is causing a black screen when users switch to other networks or work from home (WFH), it could be due to the wallpaper file not being accessible when outside the corporate network. Here are some steps to troubleshoot and resolve the issue:

1. Check Access to Wallpaper File: Verify that users have proper access to the wallpaper file when they are outside the corporate network. Make sure the file is accessible through VPN or other remote access methods. If the file is stored on the local DC, users might not be able to access it from outside the network without proper remote access configuration.
2. Use UNC Path: To ensure consistent access to the wallpaper file, use a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path in the GPO instead of a local path. A UNC path allows users to access the file using the server name and share name, making it accessible regardless of the network location.
3. Check Share Permissions: Ensure that the share permissions on the DC hosting the wallpaper file are set correctly. Users should have at least "Read" access to the share to be able to access and apply the wallpaper.
4. Use Group Policy Loopback Processing: Consider using Group Policy loopback processing in the GPO settings. Loopback processing allows the user settings in a GPO to apply based on the computer's location, rather than the user's location. This can help ensure that the wallpaper is consistently applied, regardless of where the user is located.
5. Test with Different Wallpaper: Try using a different wallpaper file to see if the issue persists. It's possible that the current wallpaper file has become corrupted or has compatibility issues.
6. GPUpdate and Reboot: After making any changes to the GPO or network settings, run gpupdate /force on the affected client machines to force an update of the Group Policy settings. Also, consider restarting the machines to ensure the changes take effect.
7. Event Viewer: Check the Event Viewer on the affected machines for any relevant error messages or warnings that may provide more insight into the issue.
8. Test in a Controlled Environment: If possible, test the GPO and wallpaper settings in a controlled environment (e.g., a test VM) to isolate the issue and verify that the wallpaper is applied correctly in different network scenarios.

If the issue persists after trying the above steps, consider reaching out to your IT support team or a network administrator who can further investigate the configuration and help troubleshoot the black screen issue. They can provide more specific assistance based on your organization's network setup and GPO configurations.

I used AI provided by ChatGPT to formulate part of this response. I have verified that the information is accurate before sharing it with you.

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Best regards.