Confusing? Actually we are talking about "Windows 7 Starter Edition" here which should be better called "Windows 7 Restricted Edition".
Why? As we all know previous Windows Starter Editions didn't allow users to open more than 3 programs simultaneously and the same restrictions is found in recently leaked Windows 7 Starter Edition Build 7068.
But the most irritating and surprising thing in Windows 7 Starter Edition is the restriction over changing Desktop Wallpaper.
Windows 7 Starter Edition contains a grayed-out version of default Windows 7 beta wallpaper showing the fish on Desktop.
And the worst thing is, users are not allowed to change the wallpaper. There is no "Personalize" option in Desktop context menu:
Also no other ways to change wallpaper works like changing wallpaper using Windows Photo Gallery, web browser, etc. That's really strange and hard to understand why Microsoft restricted such a basic feature even free Linux distros allow to change wallpapers.
Also there are no extra wallpapers in Starter Edition.
Thanks to "Paul Thurrott" @ SuperSite who installed the recently leaked Windows 7 Build 7068 and tested all different editions like Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate and found this interesting restriction in Starter Edition.
Also "Rafael" @ WithinWindows describes how this restriction works in Windows 7 Starter Edition. He posts:
In Windows 7, a new licensing bit was introduced – ChangeDesktopBackground-Enabled. On Starter Edition SKUs, this bit is set to 0, disabling background setting capabilities in Windows Photo Viewer and the Display/Theme Control Panel applets. The infection goes deeper into system files shell32.dll and themeui.dll too, hard-coding the wallpaper to %windir%\web\wallpaper\windows\img0.jpg.
He also posts a workaround for it:
1. As an Administrator, reset the permissions on img0.jpg, and overwrite file with any other picture
2. Use third-party software (note: changes will likely not persist, untested)
So what would you like to call it: Windows 7 Starter Edition or Windows 7 Restricted Edition?
PS: I can find only one reason behind it. Since Starter Edition is form OEMs, they might put their own customized wallpaper and lock it so that users can't change it and OEMs can have their branded wallpaper on all machines.
This article was posted in Windows 7.
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APL
hi just thought id get my 2 cent in this is'nt anything new vista also had this Edition as many people have alreddy mention it is made for low spec pcs and places like internet caffes that oni need to run a few app at a time with vista you could'nt buy it outside te us and even then it was very hard to cum accross.
Dragon
You Could Always Buy A Pirate Windows 7 Ultimate Or Home Basic.
David
I have uploaded my own replica of that wallpaper. Download link : http://rapidshare.com/files/247671117/Windows_7_Starter.jpg.html
VG
^^ Very nice.
David
Thanks..