I always hate when someone uses my computer and changes settings, particularly the wallpaper. Thankfully, we can disable this. To prevent other users from changing your favorite wallpaper, do the following:

Disclaimer:Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. Modify the registry at your own risk, Every effort has been made to ensure that registry edit instructions are correct and safe. FixMyXP cannot be held responsible for any damage done to your system by using this guide.

Before beginning this guide, please Backup your Registry

Click then Type regedit then click OK

Then navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop

This key may not exist in your registry, if it does not, then create it. To create this key right click on Policies and select New then Key then name the key strong

Then once you have created the ActiveDesktop key, click on it and on the right hand window, right click and select New then Dword. Name the Dword NoWallpaperChanging

Double Click on this New DWord you just created and give it a value of 1

Reboot your computer

To make this setting machine wide navigate to navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Active Desktop

And create a DWord, name it NoChangingWallpaper, then double click on the new Dword you just created and give it a value of 1)

FixMyXP.com

Comments (3)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Correction to the Above
written by BrianP, November 01, 2007

There is a typo in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER instructions above. The DWord should be: "NoChangingWallpaper" NOT "NoWallpaperChanging".

Example:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentV ersionpoliciesActiveDesktop]
"NoChangingWallpaper"=dword:00000001
"NoHTMLWallPaper"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVe rsionPoliciesActiveDesktop]
"NoChangingWallpaper"=dword:00000001
"NoHTMLWallPaper"=dword:00000001

No good....
written by Matt the IT guy, September 26, 2007

users can still change the wp if they use the right mouse menu over an image.

Excellent instructions with one slight mistake
written by PG, February 13, 2007

The bottom bit should read

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVe rsionPoliciesActiveDesktop

i.e. There should be no space inbetween Active and Desktop

Name

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment