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

 

[herman26]

Hi there, I'm confused. Bought my netbook yesterday with this lovely
windows 7 starter, of course can't change the background so I followed the instructions
above. After installing/restarting, the background changed to the same picture
it says it will. Then it says to click on the Oceanis Change Background W7 to change
it but everytime i click on this icon, a message pops up that says that i have to
restart my computer to run this program, my options are OK or Cancel. I click ok,
let it restart again and once it comes back on, same thing happens again.
Anything I do to try and open that Icon, it tells me to restart.
Help please.

 

[Brink]

Hello Herman, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Try the options in the yellow TIP box at the top of the tutorial to see if it may help afterwards. Be sure you are doing this while logged in as an administrator.

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

 

[syeweyoss]

tq!

 

[recognize]

Wow man... I was really bumbed coz of the cant change wallpaper thing, but now you've solved it!

Graci!

 

[mason1234]

thanks a lot

how can i download it?

 

[Brink]

Hellow sysweyoss, Mason, recognize, and welcome to Seven Forums.


Mason,

You should be able to click on the blue download button in the tutorial to download the program.

 

[f52cya]

THX~

Thank you very much!!
I've spent a lot of time finding this useful tool!

 

[Brink]

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

 

[teribiz]

Hi, I tried downloading the program and followed the installation procedure. Problem is, the wallpaper I was trying to save did not effect on the background Though I have already re-started my PC. Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello Teribiz, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Is your user account an administrator account?

You might also try the items listed in the yellow TIP box at the top of the tutorial to see if they may be able to help.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[balla]

Hi..can smeone help me..i'm having problem after installed oceanis...my window appear black and i even can't using my notebook now...after i restarted my notebook a box appear shows "wallpaperagent.exe-system error...the program can't start because CommonHelpDll.dll is missing from your computer.Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem..."...how can i reinstalled the program if i can't see my start button...i just can see black background and move my cursor around....hope someone can help me

 

[Brink]

Hello Balla, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You can do a system restore at boot using a restore point dated before you had this issue to undo it.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Collywog]

Ok, I feel like a bit of a wally now, I was having the same problem as others where the picture wouldn't save when I closed the program, my problem was that I had clicked the picture in the program and not the check box in the top left corner of the picture. Then I saved settings, the program closed and now my desktop background is the picture I selected. So simple. Great program, Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello Collywog, and welcome to Seven Forums. Thank you for sharing your findings.

 

[balla]

thanks a lot..how i can use oceanis if the same problem occur...

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Balla.

To be safe, create a restore point before installing it again to make it easier to undo if you need to do another system restore. As a test, create another adminsitrator account, and see if installing and running the program while logged on to that account may work.

 

[teribiz]

Ok, I feel like a bit of a wally now, I was having the same problem as others where the picture wouldn't save when I closed the program, my problem was that I had clicked the picture in the program and not the check box in the top left corner of the picture. Then I saved settings, the program closed and now my desktop background is the picture I selected. So simple. Great program, Thanks.

Haha! You have solved my problem! I almost give up until I have read your message! I am nuts, not really clicking the check box but the picture itself! Thank you!

Hello Shawn, program is working now. Thank you!

 

[Brink]

LOL, that is great news Teribiz. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

 

[JamesPunk]

hi,

I installed the programme, restarted computer en tried it, but if i want to change the settings the pictures stays for a second en then disappears. I can`t save it, i don`t have any patches, and i did this al in administrator. does anyone know what i could do? PS i think my UAC is turned on but i dont realy know what it does...

 

[Brink]

Hello James, and welcome to Seven Forums.

As a test, create a new administrator account, then test to see if the program may work while logged on it.