How to Change the Default Domain Wallpaper in Windows XP Via Registry Editor

In Windows, the wallpaper is the image displayed on the desktop.

One thing that many businesses strive for in their computer workstations is a uniform appearance. For this reason, if you have many workstations at your place of business, you might like to set a default wallpaper using the Windows registry so that each workstation looks the same. Change the Windows XP registry to set a default wallpaper for the Windows desktop.

Instructions

1. Press the Windows logo and "R" keys simultaneously to display the "Run" dialog box. Type "regedit" in the box and press "Enter." The registry editor appears.

2. Use the folder structure in the left pane of the window to navigate to "HKEY_CURRENT_USER," "Software," "Windows," "CurrentVersion," "Policies" and "System."

3. Right-click the "System" folder and click "New" and "String Value." A new item appears in the right pane of the window with a blinking cursor for you to type the name. Name the item "Wallpaper" and press "Enter."

4. Double-click "Wallpaper." Type the full path to the wallpaper file that you want to use in the "Value Data" box. In Windows XP, the wallpaper files included with the operating system are in "C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper." So, if you wanted to use the Windows XP "Bliss" wallpaper, you would type "C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper\Bliss.bmp" and click "OK."

5. Right-click the "System" folder and click "New" and "String Value." Name the new string "WallpaperStyle."

6. Double-click "WallpaperStyle" and type "0" under "Value Data" if you want the wallpaper image to be centered, "1" if you want it to be tiled or "2" if you want it to be stretched. Click "OK."

7. Close the registry editor and restart the computer. The new wallpaper is the one you have configured in the registry.

References

• PC Tools: Specify the Background Image and Wallpaper Style