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
    2010-05-05T07:20:28+00:00

    hahah yes true true ..well i've given up now, but still it's ____ =/ i hate this com and i regret buying it but what can you do! i'll just have to deal with it..best i can do, mines a toshiba one that was cheap because of easter sales and this is display model. best deal i could find espically when i have to pay for it myself =.= but i'm over it and thats that!!

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-05-01T03:18:51+00:00

    I would have to say that you really made me laugh! You have a point!

    But in a more helpful note, you can change the wallpaper of Windows 7 starter, but its not part of the standard package (yes a pain...). This article would be very helpful for you - Change the Wallpaper of Windows 7 Starter

    It gives you two ways to change the wallpaper. I like the second one better but the first one is cool as well.

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-04-22T16:34:46+00:00

    thhankkkk

    thhankkkk

    thhankkkk

    thhankkkk

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-04-22T16:16:31+00:00

    On Thu, 22 Apr 2010 06:14:59 +0000, technocrate wrote:

    > There is no way to change the background in Windows 7 Starter Edition.

    Sorry, that's not correct. Although Windows 7 Starter Edition comes

    with no way to do it, there are workarounds. Read here:

    http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/47294-desktop-background-change-windows-7-starter.html

    > 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,

    Sorry, but that's also not correct. You are perhaps thinking of Home

    Basic, which is for emerging markets. Starter Edition is what normally

    comes with Netbooks, and in the USA.

    > 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).

    Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003

    Ken Blake

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