Typically in a Windows domain, you’d have domain group policies set that would customize a user’s login and active desktop background.

In a situation where you are not on a domain and would need to ensure all Windows XP users have the same desktop wallpaper, you would have to set the local policies as directed here:

Click the START button and RUN. Type MMC to pull up the Microsoft Management Console.

Then click File-Add/Remove Snap-in. Click Add. Under Add Standalone Snap-in, select GROUP POLICY OBJECT EDITOR, click finish under Select group policy object, click close, and then click ok under Add/Remove snap-in.

Expand the hierarchy on the left column as such: Local Computer policy-User Configuration-Administrative Templates-Desktop-Active Desktop. Then on the right hand column, double-click Active Desktop Wallpaper.

*Make sure you save the new .jpg that you want to use as your default desktop wallpaper in the following location: C:\windows\web\wallpaper\NewDesktop.jpg

Then back to the Active Desktop Wallpaper Properties dialog box.

Click enabled. Next to the Wallpaper name, type in the location of the new image you plan on using [C:\windows\web\wallpaper\NewDesktop.jpg]

Choose stretch for the Wallpaper style to ensure the new image takes up the whole screen.

Then click apply and ok. Once the user logs off and back on, the change takes place immediately.

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