Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain

black3dynamite

Here's what I do to set up a wallpaper background.
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Kelly

@black3dynamite Has it. The key is that the file copy is a computer policy and the desktop wallpaper is a user policy. Best practices would have you put them into different policies so that you can update the computer policy without having to process everything that hasn't changed in the user policy.

CCWTech

@black3dynamite So if you are pointing to the unc path on the server, what good does it do to copy the file to the local machine?

DustinB3403

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@black3dynamite So if you are pointing to the unc path on the server, what good does it do to copy the file to the local machine?

So the machine can go offline and keep your settings.

CCWTech

The big question though is not how to apply it. But how to make it update when you change the photo. @black3dynamite have you tested that part?

DustinB3403

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

The big question though is not how to apply it. But how to make it update when you change the photo. @black3dynamite have you tested that part?

You "update" the GPO settings.

DustinB3403

The easiest way I've found to get a GPO to update, is to one, set it to "update" and in cases like screensavers (backgrounds etc), literally just name the anything else.

"bg.jpg" the new one gets changed to "bg1.jpg" etc.

CCWTech

@dustinb3403 said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

The easiest way I've found to get a GPO to update, is to one, set it to "update" and in cases like screensavers (backgrounds etc), literally just name the anything else.

"bg.jpg" the new one gets changed to "bg1.jpg" etc.

Trying to do this without the user touching GPO. I'm still fuzzy on how to set the GPO to update?

Kelly

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@dustinb3403 said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

The easiest way I've found to get a GPO to update, is to one, set it to "update" and in cases like screensavers (backgrounds etc), literally just name the anything else.

"bg.jpg" the new one gets changed to "bg1.jpg" etc.

Trying to do this without the user touching GPO. I'm still fuzzy on how to set the GPO to update?

You only change the file copy GPO. I would have a different file name in your source file like 20180907_info.jpg. That way the GPO will process because it detects a change event. You can have the same destination file.

CCWTech

@kelly said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@dustinb3403 said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

The easiest way I've found to get a GPO to update, is to one, set it to "update" and in cases like screensavers (backgrounds etc), literally just name the anything else.

"bg.jpg" the new one gets changed to "bg1.jpg" etc.

Trying to do this without the user touching GPO. I'm still fuzzy on how to set the GPO to update?

You only change the file copy GPO. I would have a different file name in your source file like 20180907_info.jpg. That way the GPO will process because it detects a change event. You can have the same destination file.

That would require editing of the GPO that applies the wallpaper.

Kelly

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@kelly said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@dustinb3403 said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

The easiest way I've found to get a GPO to update, is to one, set it to "update" and in cases like screensavers (backgrounds etc), literally just name the anything else.

"bg.jpg" the new one gets changed to "bg1.jpg" etc.

Trying to do this without the user touching GPO. I'm still fuzzy on how to set the GPO to update?

You only change the file copy GPO. I would have a different file name in your source file like 20180907_info.jpg. That way the GPO will process because it detects a change event. You can have the same destination file.

That would require editing of the GPO that applies the wallpaper.

It depends on how you set it up. My preferred method, and I believe best practice, is that you split your policies. The User policy applies the wallpaper based on <localpath>\picture.jpg. The computer policy copies the wallpaper from <remotepath>\20180907_picture.jpg to <localpath>\picture.jpg. When you need to update the wallpaper you place 2018xxxxx_picture.jpg in <remotepath> and update the policy to the new file name. When the machine reboots or refreshes its policies it copies the file from <remotepath> to <localpath>. When the user logs in the user policy is applied which uses the same file name (because as far as it is concerned nothing changed), but the new wallpaper is loaded because it is a different image.

Does that make sense?

CCWTech

@kelly said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@kelly said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@dustinb3403 said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

The easiest way I've found to get a GPO to update, is to one, set it to "update" and in cases like screensavers (backgrounds etc), literally just name the anything else.

"bg.jpg" the new one gets changed to "bg1.jpg" etc.

Trying to do this without the user touching GPO. I'm still fuzzy on how to set the GPO to update?

You only change the file copy GPO. I would have a different file name in your source file like 20180907_info.jpg. That way the GPO will process because it detects a change event. You can have the same destination file.

That would require editing of the GPO that applies the wallpaper.

It depends on how you set it up. My preferred method, and I believe best practice, is that you split your policies. The User policy applies the wallpaper based on <localpath>\picture.jpg. The computer policy copies the wallpaper from <remotepath>\20180907_picture.jpg to <localpath>\picture.jpg. When you need to update the wallpaper you place 2018xxxxx_picture.jpg in <remotepath> and update the policy to the new file name. When the machine reboots or refreshes its policies it copies the file from <remotepath> to <localpath>. When the user logs in the user policy is applied which uses the same file name (because as far as it is concerned nothing changed), but the new wallpaper is loaded because it is a different image.

Does that make sense?

Yes, so I need to point the wallpaper to load it from the computer not the server?

Kelly

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@kelly said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@kelly said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@dustinb3403 said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

The easiest way I've found to get a GPO to update, is to one, set it to "update" and in cases like screensavers (backgrounds etc), literally just name the anything else.

"bg.jpg" the new one gets changed to "bg1.jpg" etc.

Trying to do this without the user touching GPO. I'm still fuzzy on how to set the GPO to update?

You only change the file copy GPO. I would have a different file name in your source file like 20180907_info.jpg. That way the GPO will process because it detects a change event. You can have the same destination file.

That would require editing of the GPO that applies the wallpaper.

It depends on how you set it up. My preferred method, and I believe best practice, is that you split your policies. The User policy applies the wallpaper based on <localpath>\picture.jpg. The computer policy copies the wallpaper from <remotepath>\20180907_picture.jpg to <localpath>\picture.jpg. When you need to update the wallpaper you place 2018xxxxx_picture.jpg in <remotepath> and update the policy to the new file name. When the machine reboots or refreshes its policies it copies the file from <remotepath> to <localpath>. When the user logs in the user policy is applied which uses the same file name (because as far as it is concerned nothing changed), but the new wallpaper is loaded because it is a different image.

Does that make sense?

Yes, so I need to point the wallpaper to load it from the computer not the server?

Yes, for the user policy it is the local path on the computer.

i3

I have a similar issue. Followed the directions and ensure the gpo's get applied. I can verify the file gets copied down locally and the policy is applied to set it as the wallpaper, however, the wallpaper shown on all pc's is just a blank black screen. If I go into personalize to set it manually the correct local file is set but just does not show up.

Windows 2012 R2
Windows 7 pro and Windows 10 pro both exhibit the same behaviors.

Kelly

@i3 said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

I have a similar issue. Followed the directions and ensure the gpo's get applied. I can verify the file gets copied down locally and the policy is applied to set it as the wallpaper, however, the wallpaper shown on all pc's is just a blank black screen. If I go into personalize to set it manually the correct local file is set but just does not show up.

Windows 2012 R2
Windows 7 pro and Windows 10 pro both exhibit the same behaviors.

Can you post your rsop or gpresult.html?

CCWTech

@kelly said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@kelly said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@kelly said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@dustinb3403 said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

The easiest way I've found to get a GPO to update, is to one, set it to "update" and in cases like screensavers (backgrounds etc), literally just name the anything else.

"bg.jpg" the new one gets changed to "bg1.jpg" etc.

Trying to do this without the user touching GPO. I'm still fuzzy on how to set the GPO to update?

You only change the file copy GPO. I would have a different file name in your source file like 20180907_info.jpg. That way the GPO will process because it detects a change event. You can have the same destination file.

That would require editing of the GPO that applies the wallpaper.

It depends on how you set it up. My preferred method, and I believe best practice, is that you split your policies. The User policy applies the wallpaper based on <localpath>\picture.jpg. The computer policy copies the wallpaper from <remotepath>\20180907_picture.jpg to <localpath>\picture.jpg. When you need to update the wallpaper you place 2018xxxxx_picture.jpg in <remotepath> and update the policy to the new file name. When the machine reboots or refreshes its policies it copies the file from <remotepath> to <localpath>. When the user logs in the user policy is applied which uses the same file name (because as far as it is concerned nothing changed), but the new wallpaper is loaded because it is a different image.

Does that make sense?

Yes, so I need to point the wallpaper to load it from the computer not the server?

Yes, for the user policy it is the local path on the computer.

Kelly, when you move the file will it update if you don't update the policy with the new file name but instead keep the name the same in the wallpaper gpo?

Kelly

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@kelly said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@kelly said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@kelly said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@dustinb3403 said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

The easiest way I've found to get a GPO to update, is to one, set it to "update" and in cases like screensavers (backgrounds etc), literally just name the anything else.

"bg.jpg" the new one gets changed to "bg1.jpg" etc.

Trying to do this without the user touching GPO. I'm still fuzzy on how to set the GPO to update?

You only change the file copy GPO. I would have a different file name in your source file like 20180907_info.jpg. That way the GPO will process because it detects a change event. You can have the same destination file.

That would require editing of the GPO that applies the wallpaper.

It depends on how you set it up. My preferred method, and I believe best practice, is that you split your policies. The User policy applies the wallpaper based on <localpath>\picture.jpg. The computer policy copies the wallpaper from <remotepath>\20180907_picture.jpg to <localpath>\picture.jpg. When you need to update the wallpaper you place 2018xxxxx_picture.jpg in <remotepath> and update the policy to the new file name. When the machine reboots or refreshes its policies it copies the file from <remotepath> to <localpath>. When the user logs in the user policy is applied which uses the same file name (because as far as it is concerned nothing changed), but the new wallpaper is loaded because it is a different image.

Does that make sense?

Yes, so I need to point the wallpaper to load it from the computer not the server?

Yes, for the user policy it is the local path on the computer.

Kelly, when you move the file will it update if you don't update the policy with the new file name but instead keep the name the same in the wallpaper gpo?

So if you move photo.jpg from C:\Users\Public\ to C:\Temp\Shared? I'm not completely sure I understand the scenario you're describing?

CCWTech

@kelly said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@kelly said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@kelly said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@kelly said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@ccwtech said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

@dustinb3403 said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

The easiest way I've found to get a GPO to update, is to one, set it to "update" and in cases like screensavers (backgrounds etc), literally just name the anything else.

"bg.jpg" the new one gets changed to "bg1.jpg" etc.

Trying to do this without the user touching GPO. I'm still fuzzy on how to set the GPO to update?

You only change the file copy GPO. I would have a different file name in your source file like 20180907_info.jpg. That way the GPO will process because it detects a change event. You can have the same destination file.

That would require editing of the GPO that applies the wallpaper.

It depends on how you set it up. My preferred method, and I believe best practice, is that you split your policies. The User policy applies the wallpaper based on <localpath>\picture.jpg. The computer policy copies the wallpaper from <remotepath>\20180907_picture.jpg to <localpath>\picture.jpg. When you need to update the wallpaper you place 2018xxxxx_picture.jpg in <remotepath> and update the policy to the new file name. When the machine reboots or refreshes its policies it copies the file from <remotepath> to <localpath>. When the user logs in the user policy is applied which uses the same file name (because as far as it is concerned nothing changed), but the new wallpaper is loaded because it is a different image.

Does that make sense?

Yes, so I need to point the wallpaper to load it from the computer not the server?

Yes, for the user policy it is the local path on the computer.

Kelly, when you move the file will it update if you don't update the policy with the new file name but instead keep the name the same in the wallpaper gpo?

So if you move photo.jpg from C:\Users\Public\ to C:\Temp\Shared? I'm not completely sure I understand the scenario you're describing?

What I want to do is to put a photo names info.jpg either on the server and have a GPO to point to that file to use as wallpaper.

Without touching the GPO that points to info.jpg I want the end user to be able to replace info.jpg with another file called info.jpg that has the same name but it's a different photo with the same name. Then the desktop updates on each workstation.

It seems like either copying the file from the server to the local workstation or pointing to the file on the server both require that you change the GPO for wallpaper and do a info1.jpg, info2.jpg to update the wallpaper GPO each time you change the photo.

I don't want the end user to mess with GPO but do trust them to simply save another file with the same name.

black3dynamite

I found this PowerShell script, that does what you are trying to do.
https://smulpuru.wordpress.com/2015/04/01/change-wallpaper-using-windows-api-systemparametersinfo-from-user32-dll/

$setwallpapersource = @"
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
public class wallpaper
{
public const int SetDesktopWallpaper = 20;
public const int UpdateIniFile = 0x01;
public const int SendWinIniChange = 0x02;
[DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true, CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
private static extern int SystemParametersInfo (int uAction, int uParam, string lpvParam, int fuWinIni);
public static void SetWallpaper ( string path )
{
SystemParametersInfo( SetDesktopWallpaper, 0, path, UpdateIniFile | SendWinIniChange );
}
}
"@
Add-Type -TypeDefinition $setwallpapersource
[wallpaper]::SetWallpaper("\\SERVER1\wallpaper.jpg")

The only thing I've noticed with this script is how fast these locations get updated with the new background.

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\TranscodedWallpaper
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\CachedFiles\

For some reason in the CachedFiles, it will still so the previous background instead of the new one and TranscodedWallpaper file doesn't update.

Even running this command requires multiple attempts before the wallpaper show up.
RUNDLL32.EXE USER32.DLL,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters 1, True

CCWTech

@black3dynamite said in Desktop photo for all PC's in the domain:

I found this PowerShell script, that does what you are trying to do.
https://smulpuru.wordpress.com/2015/04/01/change-wallpaper-using-windows-api-systemparametersinfo-from-user32-dll/
$setwallpapersource = @"
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
public class wallpaper
{
public const int SetDesktopWallpaper = 20;
public const int UpdateIniFile = 0x01;
public const int SendWinIniChange = 0x02;
[DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true, CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
private static extern int SystemParametersInfo (int uAction, int uParam, string lpvParam, int fuWinIni);
public static void SetWallpaper ( string path )
{
SystemParametersInfo( SetDesktopWallpaper, 0, path, UpdateIniFile | SendWinIniChange );
}
}
"@
Add-Type -TypeDefinition $setwallpapersource
[wallpaper]::SetWallpaper("\\SERVER1\wallpaper.jpg")
The only thing I've noticed with this script is how fast these locations get updated with the new background.

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\TranscodedWallpaper
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\CachedFiles\

For some reason in the CachedFiles, it will still so the previous background instead of the new one and TranscodedWallpaper file doesn't update.

Even running this command requires multiple attempts before the wallpaper show up.
RUNDLL32.EXE USER32.DLL,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters 1, True

So it's not really a reliable script/method then?