In Windows you can change desktop wallpaper, screen saver, themes and other appearance settings by right-click on Desktop and select "Properties".
When you enter Windows XP desktop properties, it looks as following:
And Windows Vista desktop properties looks as following:
Sometimes you might want to disable all or a few options in Desktop Properties to restrict users or you might want to enable those options in case they are disabled by your system administrator or a virus infection.
Following tutorial will help you in enabling or disabling all or a particular option in Desktop Properties:
NOTE: This tutorial will work for almost all Windows versions.
Open regedit and goto:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer
If "Explorer" key is not present, then create it. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoThemesTab and set its value to 1 to disable it.
Open regedit and goto:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ System
If "System" key is not present, then create it. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoDispBackgroundPage and set its value to 1 to disable it.
Open regedit and goto:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ System
If "System" key is not present, then create it. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoDispScrSavPage and set its value to 1 to disable it.
D. Disable both Themes and Appearance Tabs in Desktop Properties:
Open regedit and goto:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ System
If "System" key is not present, then create it. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoDispAppearancePage and set its value to 1 to disable it.
Open regedit and goto:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ System
If "System" key is not present, then create it. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoDispSettingsPage and set its value to 1 to disable it.
NOTE: When you'll disable all above mentioned tabs in Desktop Properties. You'll get a similar Desktop Properties window as shown in following screenshots:
Windows XP Desktop Properties Window with all Restrictions Enabled:
Windows Vista Desktop Properties Window with all Restrictions Enabled:
BONUS TIP: In case you want to enable a restricted tab in Desktop Properties, just delete the required DWORD value as mentioned above or change its value to 0 instead of 1.
Complete list of AskVG articlesThis article was posted in Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.
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carol
when I try to run regedit I get a message Regristry Editing has been disabled by your administrator
VG
^^ Please check the FAQ topic.
dhezna
that's really great article....
sysprip install
Hi this hanumat lodha
kindly suggest me how to gain more knowladge of windows server 2003 and with exchange server configuretion in domian group.
Thanks
H. S. Lodha
Bayron
Awesome site. Thanks a ton
dao
I followed the steps for enabling my desktop so I can browse for pic. but it didn't for me why?!!
Riya
ur technique to prevent users from changing wallpapers is possible only when the wallpaper is from ur hard disk, but once u set the background directly from internet, the wallpaper changes even if the restrictions are made in regedit.....so any way u can prevent this too?