Unable to change Windows 7 Starter wallpaper!

Anonymous

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?

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Anonymous

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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115 additional answers

Anonymous

2010-02-23T21:18:57+00:00

yes there is!!

right click on ur desktop

right click on gadgets

at the bottom click get more gadgets online

click on create your own theme :)

it actually pretty cool you can change way more than just ur desktop!!

well if you had read the thread correctly it is for windows 7 starter, clearly this option is unsupported by win 7 starter.

and btw i installed the oceanic themes and it will appear for a second then is gone! i verified my windows 7 and i still only have the black wallpaper....i do however have access and usability on all of my previos functions.
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Anonymous

2010-02-23T22:21:29+00:00

well if you had read the thread correctly it is for windows 7 starter, clearly this option is unsupported by win 7 starter. so who's stupid???

Indeed!

-- Nigel M
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Anonymous

2010-02-23T22:25:33+00:00

In Windows 7 Starter you are not allowed to change the desktop background...

Not allowed? I'm allowed to do what I want, you just mean the function has been disabled to ____ people off.

-- Nigel M
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Anonymous

2010-03-03T13:43:02+00:00

I changed mine using john the greek's instructions and it worked. I tried to change it again, and I got the "Cannot edit Wallpaper: Error writing the value's new contents" message, and it went back to the windows background. I will try playing with the permissions again later. Anything else I need to know?

This was a dumb thing for them to take away, I can understand trying to cut costs, but people love to customize their desktop.
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