User theme not remembered

[buggaby]

My friend just bought a new Windows 7 computer (I think it's the Professional version) and there is some weird behaviour that I can't explain. When we signed in for the first time, it was the default Asus background and settings. We changed that to another theme. Also, we removed the auto-hide option for the 7 toolbar. Whenever we restart the computer, though, it reverts to the original settings (Asus wallpaper, auto-hide on...). I have never had this problem on my computer (also Windows 7).

Any ideas?

 

[Mike Connor]

ASUS sets various defaults to prevent the user from changing the configuration.

You can change it easily if your system has gpedit.msc ( Not in all windows versions ).

More info http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10...ws-7-using-the-local-group-policy-editor/1014

To use it;


Start>Seach Box>type in "gpedit.msc" without the quotations
The Local Group Policy Editor will open
Expand User Configuration>Expand Administrative Templates>Expand Desktop>now click on Desktop in the sub-directory key
Look for the entry in the right hand pane "Desktop Wallpaper"
Double click on that and choose Setting - available options will be; not configured, enabled or disabled
Choose disabled

The same applies to many other such settings.

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[buggaby]

So, gpedit isn't on my friend's computer. I guess they have Home Premium.

But, this can't be because Asus has restricted configuration of the desktop theme. That's like removing functionality built into the OS itself. So, like, every Asus laptop has the same wallpaper, and it can't be permanently changed (unless you have access to gpedit, and know how to use it)? I've never heard of something so stupid (well, I have, but I've never heard of it here). Either it's a different problem, or Asus is retarded (Also, why would that restrict locking the toolbar? It doesn't make sense.)

Any other ideas on how to change this Asus lockout, or determine if it's a different problem?

 

[Mike Connor]

So, gpedit isn't on my friend's computer. I guess they have Home Premium.

But, this can't be because Asus has restricted configuration of the desktop theme. That's like removing functionality built into the OS itself. So, like, every Asus laptop has the same wallpaper, and it can't be permanently changed (unless you have access to gpedit, and know how to use it)? I've never heard of something so stupid (well, I have, but I've never heard of it here). Either it's a different problem, or Asus is retarded (Also, why would that restrict locking the toolbar? It doesn't make sense.)

Any other ideas on how to change this Asus lockout, or determine if it's a different problem?

Quite a few OEM's change and lock quite a few things on various machines. They obviously have their reasons. I have also seen a lot of machines with altered and locked BIOS. Presumably they think that is an area where normal users should not be changing stuff?

Also, OEM licenses are a lot cheaper than full versions because they have a lot of restrictions built in.

However this may be, if you don't have Gpedit You can tweak the the registry itself to alter the settings, but I have no information on that. If you google it you will probably find the settings to be changed.

You can also do a clean install with Windows ( NOT the OEM version!). This usually solves most problems. It pays to be very careful and do a lot of research before buying a machine.

Also, the program from Asus, "Power4Grid", ( which is apparently available from their support centre), might help you. I don't know, I have never tried it.

http://support.asus.com/download/Download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us

Regards....Mike Connor

EDIT: Many people complain about things like this, with Asus and other manufacturers, ( the web is full of complaints about being unable to change wallpapers on Asus OEM licensed machines), but this is basically because they chose a system with a restricted license because it was cheaper, or because they didn't know any better. So, in the final analysis, it's their own fault.

 

[buggaby]

A clean install isn't really a good option in our case.

Anyway, after googling for information the Power4Grid (I'm not quite sure how it relates to Power4Gear - perhaps a different version or something?), we uninstalled whichever one was on the computer (I forget which one it was). We were going to install the new one, but instead, we just tested the computer with a restart. We have control over the settings now, and we didn't feel the need to install anything else. Windows 7 has sufficient power control options, so we just left that particular Asus software off.

It seems to be good, now. Thanks for the help.

 

[Mike Connor]

My pleasure, glad to hear it helped.

Regards....Mike Connor