Change Local GPO using PowerShell

[LittleNeutrino Veteran]

Greetings,

 

I am attempting to create a powershell script that will move files onto the computer from a network location and then set them as defaults using local GPO. Normally I have been doing this manually i just think this will speed things along.

 

I am moving a Default Wallpaper, Default Lock Screen Background, and 2 user images (Guest and User)

 

I have the scripts to move the files however, i am unsure how to script the changes to GPO?

 

 

Here are the Group Policy Objects I want to change.

 

LCP\Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Control Panel\User Accounts\Apply the default user logon picture to all users (Enable)

LCP\Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Logon\Always use custom logon background (Enable)

LCP\User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Desktop\Desktop\Desktop Wallpaper (Enabled and set to C:\windows\web\wallpaper\Default.bmp)

 

Anyone have an idea as to how to do this?

[sc302 Veteran]

you wouldn't use a gpo for that you would change it in the registry.  You can have the script run at logon that would change this, you can even have the script copy it and then modify the registry. 

 

For logon picture:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

UseDefaultTile=1

 

Change this file to whatever file you want, keeping the filename the same

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\user.bmp

 

For logon background:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\Background

OEMBackground=1

 

Place image here (file needs to be below 250KB):

C:\Windows\System32\oobe\info\backgrounds

name it "backgroundDefault.jpg"

 

Desktop Wallpaper:

HKCU\control panel\desktop

Wallpaper=c:\where_ever_the_location_of_the_file\filename.jpg

 

If you need help creating a vbscript or a kixscript let me know.  gpo just makes a point and click interface to registry keys (in most cases anyway).

[Max Norris]

In addition to the above, you can set the default background image at HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper, string value with full path to the background image, but note that only will apply to newly created accounts, existing users will already have a different value set. Also note that the default user image won't be applied until a new user logs in for the first time if I remember right, won't show on the login screen properly until after that.

If you really want to go the GPO route via a desktop edition note that you'll need to install RSAT to have the groupolicy module available.. but agree with sc302, registry is much easier in this case. But here's a writeup on it regardless: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee461027.aspx