Using Paint Program and Active Desktop, Users Can Override Wallpaper Set by System Policy (288157)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
This article was previously published under Q288157
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you use system policies to apply wallpaper settings, a user who is running Active Desktop (which is available with Internet Explorer 4.0) can use Microsoft Paint to override the settings. The user can open a bitmap image, and then click Set As Wallpaper (tiled or centered) on the File menu. The wallpaper does not revert to the policy-applied settings, even when the user logs off or restarts the computer.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur because Active Desktop uses a different registry location to store its wallpaper settings.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, force the Active Desktop to reset the wallpaper to the policy-applied settings:

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.


  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe), and then locate the following key in the registry:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components\

  2. Double-click the GeneralFlags value, and then type 1 in the Value data box.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

This key is enumerated when the user logs on. The value 1 is invalid for this key. During logon, the system detects this invalid state. The components key and other values relating to the wallpaper are generated, and by default they use the standard wallpaper that is set by the policy.

You can use a system policy or a .reg file in a logon script to avoid having to reset the GeneralFlags value at every logon.


Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/11/2002
Keywords:kbprb KB288157
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.