Desktop Background Wallpaper - Change in Windows 7 Starter

How to Change Desktop Background Wallpaper in Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic Editions​

   Information

By default the Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic editions do not include the Personalization features such as change desktop background, Desktop Slideshow, Screen Saver, and Windows Color and Appearance.


This tutorial will show you how to add these features to the Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic editions.

• For free desktop background wallpapers from Microsoft, see: Desktop backgrounds (wallpaper) - Microsoft Windows
• By default, the Windows 7 Home Basic edition will only allow you to change the desktop background by right clicking on a image and clicking on Set as desktop background.
• If you plan on doing a in-place upgrade to another higher level edition of Windows 7 in the future, then be sure to uninstall this Oceanis Change Background W7 or Personalization Panel program first to avoid incompatibility issues with it in the new edition of Windows 7. It was designed to only work in the Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic editions.

OPTION ONE

Using the "Oceanis Change Background W7" Program

   Note

This will show you how to download and use the program Oceanis Change Background W7 provided by Oceanis so that you can change the desktop background with a optional desktop slideshow (shuffle) in the Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic editions.


If the Oceanis program is closed, then the desktop background goes with it. You will need to leave the Oceanis program running to keep the background.

• You must be using the Windows 7 Basic theme.
• If the Oceanis Change Background W7 program no longer works properly after installing some Windows Updates, then uninstall and reinstall the Oceanis Change Background W7 program to have it run properly again.
• If you get the black wallpaper in Windows 7 Starter, then:
  • Double check to make sure that the Remove background images (where available) box is unchecked in the Ease of Access Center.
  • Change the Color Scheme to Windows Classic and click on Apply, then change it to Windows Basic and click on OK.
  • If non of the above helped, then also see if this solution by Foe may be a possible fix.
• Run a sfc /scannow command, and restart the computer afterwards. You may have some corrupted system files causing the background wallpaper to not display.

1. Click on the Download button below to download the Oceanis Change Background W7 ZIP file provided by Oceanis, click on Save, and save it to your Desktop.

Download


2. Open the downloaded ZIP file, extract (drag and drop) the exe file below to your desktop, and run it.
NOTE: You will be prompted to restart the computer to finish installing this program.
Oceanis_Change_Background_W7.exe
3. When your computer restarts, you will see this as your desktop background. Click on the Oceanis Change Background W7 shortcut to change your desktop background. (see screenshot below)

4. Browse to the images that you want to use and check (select) a image, or more than one image to have a desktop slideshow. Select the Picture position for how you want the images displayed, and any desktop slideshow settings if you selected more than one image. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: These options are just like the default ones in the other editions of Windows 7 here that are now being allowed by this program by Oceanis for the Windows 7 Starter edition.



5. When done, click on Save changes. (see screenshots above)

OPTION TWO

Using the "Personalization Panel" Program

NOTE: This will show you how to download and use the Personalization Panel program to add Personalization to the desktop context menu to be able to change the desktop background, Windows Color and Appearance, Sounds, and Screen Saver in the Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic editions. This program does not add the desktop slideshow feature though.
1. Download and install the Personalization Panel program using Regular setup option at the Download link below.

Download


2. When finished installing, you can now right click on the desktop and click on Personalization.

3. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

4. From here you can select and set the Appearance and Personalization options you like. (see screenshot below)

5. Desktop Background
A) In Windows Starter

B) In Windows Home Basic

6. Windows Color
A) In Windows Starter



B) In Windows Home Basic, you will see this below first then the screenshots above.

7. Sounds
A) This is the same Sounds settings as in the other editions of Windows 7.
8. Screen Saver
A) This is the same Screen Saver settings as in the other editions of Windows 7.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Change the Windows 7 Desktop Background
• How to Create a Desktop Slideshow in Windows 7
• How to Enable Aero in Unsupported Editions of Windows 7
• How to Remove Background Images to have Only Solid Colors in Windows 7
• How to Change the Window Color and Appearance in Windows 7
• How to Change the Screen Saver in Windows 7
• How to Change or Save a Windows 7 Theme
• How to Create a Windows 7 Personalization Shortcut

 

[Brink]

Thank you Simon. I'll have to do some playing with it. Are those the exact permission settings in your screenshots that you used to change the background?

 

[SIW2]

Yes, exactly.

Add Everyone and allow read permisions seems important - as you are removing other permissions.

 

[Brink]

Thank you again Simon. I'll be playing with it some tonight and tomorrow then.

 

[SIW2]

I think the importatnt bits are:

1. make sure your username is Owner.

2. Click Advanced and add Everyone - but only give read permisiion - okaying as neeeded.

3. Select Advanced tab again - select your username , ( I didn't tick the inheritable box - don't know if that would make any difference ) select Edit and deny everything except Read Control box - okaying as needed.

I might have forgotten something ( if so you will see from the screenshots ) - but that's the general idea.

 

[Brink]

Thank you.

 

[Candy811]

hi, new here

Hello, I sign up for this site because its awesome! the tutorial above was a great help when i bought my HP mini which had windows 7 starter. I was getting a little upset at first when i could'nt change desktop background but then i visited this site and followed the steps above and IT WORKED now im so excited! And im willing to learn alot more about windows 7 starter kit on this site! thanks alot it really helped! And i recommend this site to anyone who wants to know more about windows 7!!!!

 

[Brink]

I think the importatnt bits are:

1. make sure your username is Owner.

2. Click Advanced and add Everyone - but only give read permisiion - okaying as neeeded.

3. Select Advanced tab again - select your username , ( I didn't tick the inheritable box - don't know if that would make any difference ) select Edit and deny everything except Read Control box - okaying as needed.

I might have forgotten something ( if so you will see from the screenshots ) - but that's the general idea.

I got it working as well Simon. Thank you.

I'm not sure it would be a good idea to include it in the tutorial though since it does pose a potential security risk afterwards with the changed permissions.

 

[SIW2]

Not really - they are changed to read only - can't get any safer than that.

It's not very practical for most people to attempt tho. - an app like oceanis is much easier.

Oceanis doesn't put the registry back to it's previous state when you uninstall it - - doesn't matter , as the last background you selected remains.

 

[Brink]

True.

 

[simnar]

my desktop went black the pic i checked only shows when i open somthing it flashes the disipears how can i solve this

 

[SIW2]

You need to give us more information.

We have no idea what you did.

Did you use Oceanis?

 

[jeb5000]

Oceanis Change Background

Works great on my Toshiba NB255.

Are there any start commands like setting picture directory on start.

Would like to change backgrounds based on where I'm using the netbook by clicking a shortcut.

 

[Brink]

Hello Jeb, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Not that I'm aware of.

 

[Sope]

I noticed that Oceanis installs a BHO named StarterHelper.dll

Does anyone know what it's purpose is?
(As far as I can tell it doesn't enable IE to set the wallpaper from it's context menu if indeed that's it's purpose).

 

[Brink]

Hello Sope,

Correct. The StartHelper.dll file is installed in the C:\Program Files\Oceanis\SystemSetting folder. I don't the specific function of the file since I did not write the program, but it's just one of the program's files need to allow the program to work.

The program is safe to use.

 

[Sope]

The program is safe to use.

Thanks for the quick reply.

I wasn't too concerned about the security of the program as it's obviously being recommended from a trustworthy source. It does seem to be a little heavy though compared to some other offerings I've been taking a look at.

One alternative I've found which is worth a try can be found here:-
Starter background changer
The version available from the download link actually turns out to be v1.4 for some unexplained reason.
I found the wallpaper replacement (and background colour change) feature works well but the feature that is supposed to allow fill, tile, center etc. doesn't appear to work for me unfortunately. Uninstall appears easy enough though via the usual control panel route if needed.

 

[Brink]

Thank you. I'll have to check out that program as well.

 

[jussjoy]

Great work... Shawn..

Hey Shawn, Thanks for the Oceanis - file, which you have provided. Now, I can change my desktop wallpaper.. I really appreciate for providing this superb application. My system was looking awkward without the background wallpaper, but now.... It's Gr8..

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Jussjoy, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[Brink]

The program is safe to use.

Thanks for the quick reply.

I wasn't too concerned about the security of the program as it's obviously being recommended from a trustworthy source. It does seem to be a little heavy though compared to some other offerings I've been taking a look at.

One alternative I've found which is worth a try can be found here:-
Starter background changer
The version available from the download link actually turns out to be v1.4 for some unexplained reason.
I found the wallpaper replacement (and background colour change) feature works well but the feature that is supposed to allow fill, tile, center etc. doesn't appear to work for me unfortunately. Uninstall appears easy enough though via the usual control panel route if needed.

Thank you. I'll have to check out that program as well.

To bad it includes a nagware ad at the bottom of it when using the program. Link removed.