How to Change the Background??

[suzannevt7]

I can't believe the easiest thing is so difficult with Windows 7???
I just bought my daughter a mini notebook that has Windows 7.
I can't get the background to change. I right click on the desktop and I don't 'Properties' like I do with XP. And I don't have 'Personalize' like I've seen in some of the threads here to fix the problem.
I've found some tuturials that have you change the registry, which I don't really want to do.
Isn't there an easy way to do this????
thanks in advance for any help
Suzanne

 

[Brink]

Hello Suzanne, and welcome to Seven Forums.

What edition of Windows 7 does the netbook have?

If it is Windows 7 Starter edition, then you will not have the option to change the desktop background available in that edition.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/14422-compare-windows-7-editions.html

and

Let?s talk about Windows 7 Starter - Windows 7 Team Blog - The Windows Blog

 

[Subsonic]

Is it Windows 7 Starter edition? You can't change the background in starter edition.

 

[mickey megabyte]

an awful awful decision by microsoft

 

[HexDSL]

that seams to be stupid!

 

[suzannevt7]

well it's off now so I can't look right this minute, but I"m sure that's it now,especially after reading the blog.
Working in the IT industry I try to defend Windows (why I don't know?? but I do) and after Windows ME and the Vista and now this! I'm not so sure I'm that happy with microsoft.

I'd love to be in one of their 'brainstorming sessions' to hear the idiot say 'we need to remove the background feature'...agh obviously these guys don't have kids..

thanks for the help though. glad I didn't get into the registry..

 

[Brink]

Sorry to hear that Suzanne. If it turns out that you do not have the Starter edition, then please let us know.

 

[Roddy]

well it's off now so I can't look right this minute, but I"m sure that's it now,especially after reading the blog.
Working in the IT industry I try to defend Windows (why I don't know?? but I do) and after Windows ME and the Vista and now this! I'm not so sure I'm that happy with microsoft.

I'd love to be in one of their 'brainstorming sessions' to hear the idiot say 'we need to remove the background feature'...agh obviously these guys don't have kids..

thanks for the help though. glad I didn't get into the registry..

--------------------------------------

FROM THE EXCELLENT PAUL THURROTT'S WINDOWS SUPERSITE - MAY HELP YOU, I DON'T KNOW...


As you must know by now, Microsoft has severely limited the ways in which you can customized its lowest-end Windows 7 version, Windows Starter Edition. (See Windows 7 Starter? That's How They Get You for more information.) The worst of these limitations, of course, is that users cannot customize the desktop wallpaper. Instead, they're stuck with what Microsoft provides: A single background image.
Today, Rafael posts about an HP netbook that appears to get around this limitation. How they do it is interesting. Lame. But interesting.

Nicholas R., initially emailing Paul, noticed HP was somehow bypassing this restriction according to a bulleted claim on their Mini 110 netbook product page:

The unique ability to change the wallpaper in Windows 7 Starter: a specialized theme includes a custom screen saver and 15 wallpapers designed by Boontje.
​

How is this possible?
Upon clicking the Customize and Buy link on HP’s website, and clicking through the various customizable components, you’ll discover the included software bundle consisting of some simple applications and a copy of Stardock MyColors, designed for Windows 7. For those unaware, MyColors is simply a stripped down WindowBlinds application targeting the download-and-apply-my-theme users that don’t need the power (or cost) of WindowBlinds. The internals, however, are the same. As this software replaces the Microsoft Windows theming subsystem with its own, it completely bypasses any and all license restrictions imposed by Microsoft.
​

So is it legal? You have to think HP, a major league Microsoft partner, got the OK from the software giant.
I mean. They must have. Right?

______________________

Rgds
Rod

 

[HexDSL]

thats a great work around, it was only a matter of time before some one figured this out. i think that its a silly restristion in the first place as logically there would be stacks of ways to overcome it.

once again Microsoft are trying to squeeze every penny out of people. i hate the way they conduct business and treat customers so badly.... but i love the software.