Unable to change Windows 7 Starter wallpaper!

Anonymous
2009-12-25T02:35:37+00:00

original title: Windows 7 Starter wallpaper!

Seriously!?!?!?!? You can't change the background wallpaper on Windows 7 starter!? Of course I understand that this version of Windows is meant to be very light on features for running smoothly on netbooks...but F-ing wallpapers? Microsoft does remember that they are still writing computer operating systems right? My dinosaur, Nokia cell phone from like 5 years ago let you change the wallpapers.  They left the gadget feature but not wallpaper!?!? This really proves to me that Microsoft has absolutely no clue what they are doing.  Windows 7 comes on just about every netbook now as of this current holiday season.  So here is my question...Why would anyone want a windows 7 netbook when XP (the operating system before the one before windows 7) had more features than it does? Apple is looking better and better. I didn't even get a netbook for christmas, and even though I really wanted one, i'm very glad I didn't. I'm not going to get one at all now if its got windows 7 on it.  I'll wait for that Apple tablet and that's it.  What do you say Microsoft?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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Anonymous
2009-12-30T19:20:26+00:00

Hello socratesman,

Thank you for visiting the Microsoft Answers Community.

In Windows 7 Starter you are not allowed to change the desktop background. You cannot even replace the default image with another one because the system compares the file hash of your desired background with the file hash of the default wallpaper.

You have to upgrade to a more complete version of Windows 7:

Why can't I change my desktop background?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Why-cant-I-change-my-desktop-background

Hope this helps

Chris.H

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-04-22T06:14:59+00:00

    There is no way to change the background in Windows 7 Starter Edition.  The image is locked to the BetaFish, locked by a hash and refered to in Shell32.dll so there's no way around it.

    Starter edition is mainly for emerging markets, and North America / Europe customers cannot even buy it if they wanted to.

    Home Premium is suggested if you want the additional flexibility of changing the screen background (and a bunch of other functions that are not available in Starter).

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-04-21T21:26:25+00:00

    Chris.H

    You, sir, are a ******. Here you have a legitimate customer complaint and you respond by simply restating his complaint as a reason to shell out a bunch of money. If you want happy customers then you give them what they want or at least explain the reasons why you make a decision like this instead of looking like greedy ******. This is one of the biggest reasons people don't like Microsoft.

    Everyone else,

    There are hacks to change your background, but my advise is to dual boot Ubuntu Netbook Remix, which is a 100% free alternative operating system that has many more features than Windows 7 Starter, and uses less system resources (meaning your computer runs better), and is much more secure than Windows. Unfortunately it does not run all the software that Windows can which is why you shouldn't completely ditch Windows, but, especially for a netbook, Ubuntu is WAY better.

    For examples for why ubuntu is better: You can change your background very easily, Installing new program is as easy as opening a program and searching through thousands of free programs, You can try out any version from a live CD or USB drive meaning you can run it one your computer without installing it, new versions are always free, And unlike what most people think, it is every easy to use, and you do not have to know how to use a command line.

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-04-04T12:39:44+00:00

    ohh f-ing ____ i've done eveything 10 times!!! i'm getting angry!! >.< it's not fair i might just be 15 but i'm a cimouter nerd ( thanks to my father)i know what your taking about and ive cheacked over!!! but it's just coming up as black screen =( this is hopeless

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-04-03T05:04:01+00:00

    I did this and now my computer is completely effed up. Its just a black screen with my cursor and now I cant do anything.

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