Win7, dual monitor, desktop wallpaper won't stick

[t***@gmail.com]

Hi,

Do you have to be admin on your desktop to get wallpapers to stick in Win7?

I'm able to change the wallpaper (temporarily) in Personalize, but a couple minutes later it's bumped me back to a black desktop. When I go back into Personalize I see an additional theme called "Unsaved" with a black background.

I have dual monitors if that makes any difference. I'm just trying to get the same wallpaper applied to both monitors, not trying for anything fancy.

Thanks.

[Spalls Hurgenson]

Post by t***@gmail.com
Hi,
Do you have to be admin on your desktop to get wallpapers to stick in Win7?
I'm able to change the wallpaper (temporarily) in Personalize, but a couple minutes later it's bumped me back to a black desktop. When I go back into Personalize I see an additional theme called "Unsaved" with a black background.
I have dual monitors if that makes any difference. I'm just trying to get the same wallpaper applied to both monitors, not trying for anything fancy.

A few possibilities cross my mind:


If you are not running as admin, that feature can be disabled for
regular users. This is optional and must be intentionally toggled by
the admin.

Since I'm too lazy to write up the instructions, see here for how to
re-enable that feature (it says Vista but works for Win7 too)
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/107383-desktop-background-wallpaper-prevent-change.html
Of course, you will have to have admin rights to make these changes



If Windows determines it is unauthorized (has an invalid license key
or has not been activated within 30 days of installation) it disables
certain features as well, which I believe also includes the desktop
wallpaper, changing it too black. Sometimes Windows gets confused
about whether it has been authorized or not so simply run the
Activation tool again (type "Activate" in the start-menu search box
and it should be the first result)



Windows 7 Starter edition does not allow you to change the wallpaper
at all. It's one of the limitations baked into that version of the OS.