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]

That's great news. I'm happy to hear that, and will add what you did to the tips.

 

[Woody78shvl]

Thanx

Worked great & easy as pie Thanks again. Do you suggest any particular threads to help me clean up useless unneeded programs on my new ASUS netbook. I will mostly be using it for browsing web / email / maintaining my iPhone with iTunes & netflix. Running Windows 7 Starter Atom 450 processor 1GB RAM 250 GB HD
Thanks again with the background help

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Woody.

You can use this one to uninstall the programs that you do not want or need normally.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/77761-programs-features-uninstall-change-program.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[brandnew]

Hi so i downloaded it, and the picture shows up for about a second then the throgram closes and picture goes away. ive done everything that other people have suggested to do and it still does not work. help?

 

[Brink]

Hello Brandnew, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you tried everything in the yellow TIP box at the top of the tutorial, then I'm not sure what else to suggest.

Could you post back what brand and model of computer you have to see if there may be something in common with the others that have the same issue?

 

[Starter7msi]

are there any known problems of the software over a long term of usage? an incident occurred in which my hard drive was subject to failure as a result of heavy fragmentation and a sudden RAM crash....after i used the program.....My computer is a brand new MSI wind by the way with less than 20% of the harddrive actually used.....any answer to this problem would be greatly appreciated...

 

[Brink]

Hello Start7msi, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Sorry, but it's not possible for this program to be responsible for that.

I would recommend to contact MSI for either a replacement system or repair if the HDD failed and RAM crashed that soon with a new computer.

 

[brandnew]

Hello Brandnew, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you tried everything in the yellow TIP box at the top of the tutorial, then I'm not sure what else to suggest.

Could you post back what brand and model of computer you have to see if there may be something in common with the others that have the same issue?

I have a toshiba NB250

 

[Judas]

If your background disappears when you close oceanis, you did not check the boxes on the top left of your pictures in Oceanis. Make sure you have them checked.

 

[raechellerpl]

Windows 7 starter change background

Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is a wonderful program and it was soooooo easy to use. Now I can hold off for a bit before spending the money to upgrade, if I even do as I only need my computer for very basic things, so you saved me lots of money! Bless your heart and again, thank you!

 

[Brink]

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

 

[janonymous19]

Hi,

I seem to have missed the warning that you posted for uninstalling Oceanis before upgrading to the full Windows 7 from a starter version. I went ahead and upgraded with Oceanis still installed and now my wallpaper won't change in the Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit that I'm running. Do you have any suggestions on how to fix this problem?Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello Janonymouse, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You can try uninstalling Oceanis, then run a sfc /scannow command to see if that may help. If not, then you may need to reinstall Windows 7 Home Premium.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[poochie]

I recently purchased a mini laptop with windows 7 started edition ..I discovered the next day that I am unable to change the desktop wallpaper . After reading the forums , I downloaded oceanis to change the background. and viola it worked.Thanks

Hi, I downloaded oceanis but when I click on the shortcut icon it says I have to restart my computer before I am able to use the program. I restarted my computer, but I am not able to use the program. What do I need to do now? Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Poochie, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Are you logged in as an administrator?

After the restart, what happens when you click on the Oceanis shortcut?

 

[poochie]

Hello Poochie, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Are you logged in as an administrator?

After the restart, what happens when you click on the Oceanis shortcut?

Hi Brink, Not sure what you are asking. The Asus netbook is new, and I am only user. After I download oceanis and I see the oceanis icon, I click on it and it says " you have to restart computer before you are able to use this program". I right clicked on the desktop icon and clicked on run as administrator and restarted...still no luck. Any advice....?

 

[twistee]

issuses

i installed this program restarted the comp when i went to apply a background the screen went black and now my track pad is clicking all over the place and it thinks the right click is stuck down
i tried to uninstall the program that didnt fix it
pls help!!!!!!!!

 

[Brink]

Hello Twistee, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Check to see if the touchpad's right button is stuck down. You may need to tap it a bit harder than usual to pop it loose if so. Check to see if it there may be dirt or something sticky under it.

For the black screen issue, check the items in the yellow tip box to see if they may be able to help.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Brink]

Hello Poochie, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Are you logged in as an administrator?

After the restart, what happens when you click on the Oceanis shortcut?

Hi Brink, Not sure what you are asking. The Asus netbook is new, and I am only user. After I download oceanis and I see the oceanis icon, I click on it and it says " you have to restart computer before you are able to use this program". I right clicked on the desktop icon and clicked on run as administrator and restarted...still no luck. Any advice....?

Just to be sure since you said "...restart computer before you are able to use this program", did Oceanis start installing as described in the tutorial before the restart?

If no, try installing again.

If yes, then enable and log in to the built-in Administrator account, uninstall Oceanis, then install it again.

 

[poochie]

Hello Poochie, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Are you logged in as an administrator?

After the restart, what happens when you click on the Oceanis shortcut?

Hi Brink, Not sure what you are asking. The Asus netbook is new, and I am only user. After I download oceanis and I see the oceanis icon, I click on it and it says " you have to restart computer before you are able to use this program". I right clicked on the desktop icon and clicked on run as administrator and restarted...still no luck. Any advice....?

Just to be sure since you said "...restart computer before you are able to use this program", did Oceanis start installing as described in the tutorial before the restart?

If no, try installing again.

If yes, then enable and log in to the built-in Administrator account, uninstall Oceanis, then install it again.

Hi Brink,

If I unistall Oceanis...where would the built in adminstrator account be?