Using pictures as a desktop background.

[Fareastdriver]

I've got W7 starter on my netbook. I am trying to use an item from my pictures gallery as a desktop background. There is no problem getting one from the internet but I cannot find a way of doing it internally.

With XP3 it was simple; can anybody tell me how to do it on W7.

[Cabin Safety]

Just open the Pictures folder, Right-Click on the picture and select the second choice: SET AS DESKTOP BACKGROUND

[le Pingouin]

That's one of the features that's unavailable with Win7 Starter. However, Google is your friend. Try: win 7 starter changing background

[Cabin Safety]

Hmmmm...how about visiting the Control Panel and selecting: Appearance- Change Desktop Background?

[unclenelli]

Try Googling for "TWEAKUI"

This was a windows customiser created originally for W95, upgraded for W98, XP & S2003.
A Vista version was written but never released.

There is a W7 version available, but no longer produced by MS.
Details can be found here (http://www.thewindowsclub.com/ultimate-windows-tweaker-v2-a-tweak-ui-for-windows-7-vista)

[goldfrog]

For all the above who suggested "Change Desktop Background" this is not available in W7 Starter Edition. There are work arounds if you Google it.

ForExample (http://www.instructables.com/id/Windows-7-Starter-Easy-way-to-change-wallpaper/)

[Ancient Observer]

You could download "Webshots".

I've used it for years. It will manage whatever photos you want as screensavers and backgrounds, and as long as you stay away from the Professional stuff it is completely free.

[Fareastdriver]

A strange thing happened this morning in relation to this.

My Samsung netbook was bought for me in Feb 2010. After a week or so I paid £70 to download and upgrade it from Starter to Home Premium and everything was working fine.

About a month ago I had a glitch that started off with me losing my Google Toolbar. Things got worse and for some reason there were no Windows Restore points so I had to use the Samsung Restore programme. This brought it back to the basic Windows Starter.

I tried to find a means of reloading MY upgrade on the Microsoft websites without success and I ended up in a 30 minute phone conversation with a Microsoft adviser. I watched them search my computer for the problem and eventually they suggested an online fix which would cost £70 or £105 with a year's guarantee. I told them I was not going to pay that even when they dropped it to £50 as the netbook was over two years old with Windows 8 just around the corner.

I carried on with Windows Starter and one day by accident, searching for a file, the search box came up with Windows Anytime Upgrade. I started this off and used the product verification code from my original invoice. It accepted this and started the upgrade programme. After a few minutes it stopped with the advice that the upgrade was unsuccessful. I tried again with the same result and gave up; that was a couple of weeks ago.

I left it at that until yesterday just after I had posted the query about wallpaper. I decided to email Microsoft in Ireland from whom I had purchased the upgrade in the first place asking them how I could download the upgrade using the Anytime Upgrade program.

This morning when I switched it on it it went into the upgrade immediately after boot up and then switched itself off and restarted with Windows Home Premium installed.

I didn't initiate it; it hadn't even got to the user password stage when it upgraded so could Microsoft have initiated it in responce to my email? It is the only thing that it out of the ordinary. I am on Window automatic updates so could they have fed that in at the same time. When they accessed my computer they might have been able to trace it, can they?

However, I now have a nice picture of the World as wallpaper.

Edited to add. Curious and curiouser. I have received a message to say that my email was unable to be delivered to Microsoft so now I have no idea what started the upgrade.

[ExSp33db1rd]

I blame Bill Gates

( for almost everything, Worlds' Gone Mad since computers took over)

[skwinty]

Right click the desktop background and select personalize.

At the bottom of the dialog is Desktop back ground.

Click and select the image you want and set your preference for display.

[onetrack]

As previous posters have stated, Windows 7 Starter has no ability to change desktop backgrounds (wallpapers) or themes.
The only way to do so, is to pay for a Windows Anytime Upgrade. It looks like Fareastdriver got lucky, someone in MS must have smiled on him.

Windows 7 Starter (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-AU/windows/shop/windows-7/starter)