How to Create a Change "Desktop Background" Shortcut in Vista and Windows 7
Information
This will show you how to create or download a change Desktop Background shortcut to change your desktop background to either a wallpaper picture (image), solid color, or slideshow (Windows 7 only) of you choice in Vista and Windows 7.
The Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic editions do not have this feature included in them.
The Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic editions do not have this feature included in them.
EXAMPLE: Desktop Background in Vista and Windows 7
OPTION ONE
To Download the "Desktop Background" Shortcut
1. Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Desktop_Background.zip
Download
2. Click on Save, and save the .zip file to the desktop.
3. Open the .zip file and extract (drag and drop) the Desktop Background shortcut to the desktop.
4. Right click on the Desktop Background shortcut, and click on Properties, General tab, and on the Unblock button.
NOTE: If you do not have a Unblock button under the General tab, then the shortcut is already unblocked and you can continue on to step 5.
5. You can now Pin to Taskbar (Windows 7 only) or Pin to Start Menu this shortcut, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move it where you like for easy use.
6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .zip file on the desktop if you like, or save it to use again.
OPTION TWO
To Manually Create the "Desktop Background" Shortcut
1. Right click on a empty area on desktop, and click on New and Shortcut.
2. Type the command below into the location area, and click on the Next button. (see screenshot below)
rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,@desktop
3. Type Desktop Background for the name, and click on the Finish button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You can name this anything you would like though.
4. Right click on the new Desktop Background shortcut on the Desktop and click on Properties.
5. Click on the Shortcut tab, then click on the Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)
6. In the line under "Look for icons in this file", type the location below and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
%windir%\System32\desk.cpl
7. Select the icon highlighted in blue above and click on OK. (see screenshot above)
NOTE: You can use any icon that you would like instead though.
8. Click on OK. (see screenshot below)
9. You can now Pin to Taskbar (Windows 7 only) or Pin to Start Menu this shortcut, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move it where you like for easy use.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Change the Windows 7 Desktop Background
- How to Remove the Windows 7 Desktop Background Picture Location History
- How to Change the Desktop Background in Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic Editions
- How to Create a Windows 7 Personalization Shortcut
- How to Allow or Prevent Changing Desktop Background in Windows 7
- How to Specify a Desktop Background for All Users
- How to Remove Background Images to have Only Solid Colors in Windows 7
- How to Add or Remove "Personalize" from Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7 and Windows 8
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