Windows 7 - How do you set default wallpaper and screen saver for custom install?

I've been playing around with the $OEM$ folder used for custom branded OEM installs. I've figured out how to set the OEM info and add custom wallpapers and screen savers to the install media. What I haven't figured out is how you actually set the default wallpaper or screen saver during the install? If someone knows where the info is stored in the registry I can probably do it with a reg file like I do the OEM info displayed on the system screen. I've been testing by installing from a USB thumb drive. Once I have everything the way I want it I'll burn a DVD of the final version. I did some Googling and poked around a Microsoft web site but all I ended up with was a headache. Any info or suggestions are welcome, thank you.

Hello Kerry,

The default desktop background wallpaper registry location is below. You would modify the the Wallpaper string value with the full path of the image in quotes that you wanted for it. More details on this in the change wallpaper tutorial though.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

The screensaver registry location is the same as above. You would modify the the SCRNSAVE.EXE string value (create if not there) with the full path to the .scr file that you wanted for the screen saver. The Screen Saver tutorial will show you the default locations of the .scr files for the default screen savers included in Windows 7 to help. You would also modify the ScreenSaveTimeOut string value for how many idle seconds (for minutes) to "Wait" before the screen saver turns on.




In addition, you might see if using the registry options in the tutorials below to specify a default desktop background and screensaver may help you with this. However, when specifying a default using this method, it prevents the ability to change them by all users afterwards.

Desktop Background - Specify and Prevent Change

and

Screen Saver - Specify a Default for All Users

Hope this helps some.

I want the option to change it at a latter date. I've been building my own custom Windows 7 install DVDs tailored to a specific PC. I'm trying to get as close as I can to the Branded OEM install disk that would normally come with a name brand PC. Like what you used to get with a Dell or Acer in the XP days. Real install media instead of the recovery disks you have to create yourself. I just thought it might be fun to have it default to the Dell or Acer wallpaper the first time you log in. I just don't know how Dell or Acer do it. Right now I have it so all the files copy over to the PC's hard drive during the install and I can go in and manually set them if I want. I've tried playing around with the Windows Automated Installation Kit but find it very confusing to say the least. I was thinking of using the unattended install to do what I want and enter the product code etc but like I said I find all the various options in the WAIK very confusing and any guides I looked at didn't help. I will look at those links you posted as they may help me sort it out, thanks.

How did manually changing them using the registry location that you could use with a REG file at the top of my post work for you? You will be able to change them afterwards as usual using that option.

I haven't tried it yet, but will some time this weekend. With a reg file I should be able to test it without actually re-installing windows. That would be my preferred way of doing it as it should be the easy way. Thanks again I'll let you know if it works.

Ok. I hope it'll do the trick for you.

So far I've looked at two of my PC's and that reg key is always the same and never changes no matter what wallpaper I select.
C:\Users\Kerry\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\TranscodedWallpaper.jpg
It looks like what ever wallpaper is selected is renamed to TranscodedWallpaper.jpg and put in that folder? I think I can put a wallpaper in that folder but the Users\Kerry folder is created during the windows install and I'm not sure when Windows transfers stuff from the $OEM$ folder to the hard drive. I'd have to do a clean install to test it too so this might site on the back burner for a while. at least till Christmas is over.

TranscodedWallpaper.jpg is what it uses in the path when you are using a wallpaper included in a theme by default, or if you save a theme with your current wallpaper. It's basically just like a shortcut to whatever your wallpaper is for your currently selected theme. Otherwise, it will use whatever you wallpaper you have in the full path on that reg key instead.

I'm going to play around with it at some point and put a different path in there. I exported that key so I'll just edit that to make a new reg file and test it on my backup rig.

No real need to back it up though. Selecting any theme will add it back by default, and replace the custom path.