Script to change wallpaper in windows 10?

Question

I am trying to get a script to work that will change the default wallpaper for windows 10 because I will be deploying Win10 to all clients. When I run the batch code below, it is not changing the default wall paper. I see that the img0 file is in the correct directory C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper\Windows but it is not changing the background. The code below is what I am using. I do get some access denied errors when trying to del C:\Windows\Web\4K\Wallpaper\Windows\img0_1366x768.jpg Access is denied.

takeown /f c:\windows\WEB\wallpaper\Windows\img0.jpg
takeown /f C:\Windows\Web\4K\Wallpaper\Windows\*.*
icacls c:\windows\WEB\wallpaper\Windows\img0.jpg /Grant System:(F)
icacls C:\Windows\Web\4K\Wallpaper\Windows\*.* /Grant System:(F)
del c:\windows\WEB\wallpaper\Windows\img0.jpg
del /q C:\Windows\Web\4K\Wallpaper\Windows\*.*
copy %~dp0img0.jpg c:\windows\WEB\wallpaper\Windows\img0.jpg
copy %~dp04k\*.* C:\Windows\Web\4K\Wallpaper\Windows

Any ideas what I am doing wrong? TIA

Denouement

How are you deploying Windows 10? If you are doing this with an unattended answer file wouldn't it be easier to change that way? If you are on a domain, just push down a group policy. Last option would be to change the registry settings with a batch file. That would be a lot easier then running on the commands you are using. – Fledgling

We have tried with xml as well still no luck. So I just want to run a batch file in the task sequence if possible – Denouement

is powershell an option? If so, there is a script for this – Manlike

Yes of course that might be better – Denouement

Answer 1

Use Powershell to change the wallpaper. First, create a function like this:

Function Set-WallPaper($Value)
 {
    Set-ItemProperty -path 'HKCU:\Control Panel\Desktop\' -name wallpaper -value $value
    rundll32.exe user32.dll, UpdatePerUserSystemParameters
 }

Now call the function:

Set-WallPaper -value "path to wallpaper"

Manlike

@Denouement like I said in my first comment. You could have done the same registry tweak with a batch file. – Fledgling

Is there a way to make this change for any user that logs into the computer for the first time? – Denouement

Does not update on my Windows 10 (10.0.17134.0 - 1803 (Redstone 4) "April 2018 Update"). – Mesquite

@TNT, my wallpaper did not change until I logged out and back in. – Phonemics

Answer 2

I know this has already been answered, but if someone wants to do this in a batch file the icacls lines need to use /reset instead of the /grant... something like:

takeown /f c:\windows\WEB\wallpaper\Windows\img0.jpg
icacls c:\windows\WEB\wallpaper\Windows\img0.jpg /reset
copy %~dp0img0.jpg c:\windows\WEB\wallpaper\Windows\img0.jpg
copy %~dp04k\*.* C:\Windows\Web\4K\Wallpaper\Windows

should work (as long as it is being run by an Administrative account).

Maynardmayne

I have seen the takeown command on other websites as a solution, but that icacls is critical and this is the only answer which worked for me! – Colan

Answer 3

set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
    WshShell.SendKeys("^ ")
    WshShell.SendKeys("+{F10}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("N")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{ENTER}")

Coomb

Well, it's just an automation, could be faulty or sometimes dangerous. – Vegetate