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Force the Desktop Background to Appear on Windows 7 & Windows Server 2008 (Optional)

The following procedure should force a desktop wallpaper image to be displayed for all users regardless of whether or not the Desktop Background option is selected in the .rdp file.  This could be useful if you want a logo or an image containing instructions for the user to always be displayed.  There are some local group policy settings which can be configured to force a wallpaper to be shown and prevent users from changing it.  However, this only seems to work if the Desktop Background option is selected in the .rdp file.

You may encounter difficulty getting the wallpaper to be displayed under all situations.  One known situation is when a user connects with the Desktop Background option disabled.  The wallpaper should be displayed initially.  If the user disconnects from the remote computer (but does not log out) and then reconnects, the wallpaper will probably not appear.

1. Run gpedit.msc
2. Navigate to User Configuration > Windows Settings > Scripts (Logon/Logoff)
   
3. Double-click Logon
4. Click Show Files...
   The following directory should open: C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy\User\Scripts\Logon
   
5. Create a new text file with a .cmd extension in this directory

6. Add

7. Script Name: reg.exe

the following to the file:

set WALLPAPER_PATH=%1 reg.exe ADD "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Remote\2\Control Panel\Desktop" /v Wallpaper /d "%WALLPAPER_PATH%" /f reg.exe ADD "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Remote\2\Control Panel\Desktop" /v WallpaperStyle /d 0 /f reg.exe ADD "HKEY_CURRENT_USER

Script Parameters: DELETE "HKCU\Remote\1

\Control Panel\Desktop" /v Wallpaper /d "%WALLPAPER_PATH%" /f reg.exe ADD "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\General" /v WallpaperSource /d "%WALLPAPER_PATH%" /f

8. Save the .cmd file
9. Click the Add... button on the Logon Properites pane:
   Image Added
10. Click Browse...
11. Select the .cmd file and click Open
12. Enter the path to an image file in the Script Parameters box:
    Image Added
13. Click OK twice
14. Close the Local Group Policy Editory
15. Run gpupdate.exe /force

Windows XP and Windows Server 2003

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