Active Desktop Wallpaper

User Configuration\AdministrativeTemplates\Desktop\Active Desktop

Description

Specifies the desktop background ("wallpaper") displayed on all users' desktops.

This policy lets you specify the wallpaper on users' desktops and prevents users from changing the wallpaper or its style. The wallpaper you specify can be stored in a bitmap (*.bmp), JPEG (*.jpg), or HTML (*.htm, *.html) file.

To use this policy, type the fully-qualified path and name of the file that stores the wallpaper image. You can type a local path, such as C:\Winnt\Logo.bmp or a UNC path, such as \\Server\Share\Logo.bmp.

If the specified file is not available when the user logs on, no wallpaper is displayed. Users cannot specify alternate wallpaper.

You can also use this policy to specify that the wallpaper image be centered, tiled, or stretched. Users cannot change this specification.

If you disable this policy or do not configure it, no wallpaper is displayed. However, users can select the wallpaper of their choice.

Note

This policy requires that Active Desktop be enabled. By default, Active Desktop is disabled. To use a policy to enable Active Desktop, use the Enable Active Desktop policy.

To make changes to this policy effective, you must log off of Windows 2000 and then log on again. (The Explain tab in Group Policy fails to mention this requirement.)

Related Policies

Allow only bitmapped wallpaper

Disable changing wallpaper