Windows 7 Classic Logon

[dmd3x]

I am helping in creating a standard image for a Windows 7 rollout and I need to disable the default wallpaper on the Ctrl+Alt+Del logon screen so I just have a plain classic blue color. Right now it is a graphic that looks like grass or something.

Can this be done with a GPO or do I have to use the registry?

Also, this isn't as important but is there a way to get the classic login box back (with the drop down for domain, etc)? Currently, there are blank boxes for user icons I'd also like to get rid of, as we will never use them, and I have to click over to get the extended options for switching domains. If there is anyway to get this consolidated into one classic-like dialog box?

Just trying to keep things professional and minimal.

[Singh400]

Can this be done with a GPO or do I have to use the registry?

You need to use both methods (well I have anyway). See screenshot below for gpedit.msc options...

Also, this isn't as important but is there a way to get the classic login box back (with the drop down for domain, etc)? Currently, there are blank boxes for user icons I'd also like to get rid of, as we will never use them, and I have to click over to get the extended options for switching domains. If there is anyway to get this consolidated into one classic-like dialog box?

The old (Windows 2000 style) classic logon dialog box was removed in Windows Vista & Windows 7. You can't get it back. You can however change the wallpaper.

First open regedit.exe and navigate to [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\Background] and check for the DWORD OEMBackground, if it exists change the value to 1 (if it doesn't exist, create it).

Then navigate to C:\Windows\System32\oobe\info\backgrounds (again if these folders/locations don't exist create them) and drop your selected wallpaper into that location. Just make sure it matches the screen ratio, is under 256kb in size and is called backgroundDefault.jpg.

[dmd3x]

First open regedit.exe and navigate to [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\Background] and check for the DWORD OEMBackground, if it exists change the value to 1 (if it doesn't exist, create it).

My goal is to have no wallpaper and just a solid color. Would making this value 0 do that for me?

[zhangm Supervisor]

My goal is to have no wallpaper and just a solid color. Would making this value 0 do that for me?

No, setting the value to 0 will make Windows pull the default image from a system resource. Your best bet (if you want to avoid editing the system file) is to create a solid color JPG image and use this reg setting. This registry setting appears to be tied to the Windows themes, so switching to a different theme will reset it to 0. I suppose that means you can save the setting as a new enforced theme.

You can also replace those files in logonui.exe with a resource editor, but it isn't the best option.

[Singh400]

My goal is to have no wallpaper and just a solid color. Would making this value 0 do that for me?

No, that would just use the default wallpaper. Just quickly create your own very simple wallpaper in mspaint.exe.

[dmd3x]

No, that would just use the default wallpaper. Just quickly create your own very simple wallpaper in mspaint.exe.

Perhaps I could set the value to 1 and whack all the bitmapped wallpapers, I'll see if that will give me a solid color.

[zhangm Supervisor]

Perhaps I could set the value to 1 and whack all the bitmapped wallpapers, I'll see if that will give me a solid color.

I believe that if Windows is unable to find the file specified by the registry key, it will default back to the one hard-coded in logonui.exe.

Why are you not able to just feed it a solid color image? I use this one, and it looks fine.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\Background]
"OEMBackground"=dword:00000001

F:\Windows\System32\oobe\info\backgrounds\backgroundDefault.jpg