How-To Geek
How To Customize Wallpaper in Windows 7 Starter Edition
If you have the Starter Edition of Windows 7 installed on your netbook you may be sick of looking at the default wallpaper. With Starter Background Changer you can access other customization options with ease.
Before
There is not a lot that you can say about the singular default wallpaper included with the Starter Edition…it just kind of sits there all boring like.
Installing Starter Background Changer
Since the installer part of the program is in French we have the entire set of install windows shown here with the appropriate buttons highlighted to get you through the whole process without any problems.
Using Starter Background Changer
Once the installation process has finished you will simply see a quiet screen with no desktop icons or Start Menu entries visible. Now if you are wondering at this point “Did the program finish installing or did it install at all?” the answer is yes. Right click on your desktop and you will notice a new entry on the Context Menu…the same one that is included in the other editions but not Starter. Time to have some fun…
The Personalization Window will open maximized but we have reduced it here for our screenshots. You have four regular categories to choose from in the lower part of the window: Wallpaper, Colors, Sounds, & Screensavers.
The first category that we chose for our example was Wallpaper. As you can see here the main display area (My Collection) has no wallpapers showing at the moment. You can use the drop-down menu to access your My Pictures Folder or browse for a different location. Notice that you can choose how the image fills the screen and set up a timed wallpaper slideshow at the bottom.
Any picture (or pictures) selected will be added to the My Collection display for easy access the next time you open the window. Once you choose a picture click on Validate the modification to set the wallpaper for your desktop and return to the main window.
When you return to the main window you will see a preview for your selection. At this point you can simply close the window or make further adjustments in the other categories.
Starter Background Changer provides easy one-stop access to other customization areas. We started off with Colors…
Followed by Sounds…
And finally Screensavers.
Before you do close the main window you can take a quick look at the Options if desired. We did set Optimization of the images to High on our system.
Quick and easy wallpaper satisfaction.
We did pin the Program Window to our Taskbar…nice if you prefer this method as opposed to the Desktop Context Menu.
Conclusion
If you have been longing for a way to change the wallpaper in Windows 7 Starter Edition then you will definitely want to give this program a try. Goodbye boring default wallpaper!
For more wonderful ways to customize your Windows 7 Starter Edition be sure to read our article here.
Links
Got Feedback? Join the discussion at discuss.howtogeek.com
Comments (168)
Akemi Iwaya (Asian Angel) is our very own Firefox Fangirl who enjoys working with multiple browsers and loves 'old school' role-playing games. Visit her on Twitter and Google+.
- Published 05/6/10
Well, well, well… about time…
Haven’t tried it yet, but by the looks, it sure looks promising!
Thanks How-To-Geek… you surprise me every time I pay a visit!
@Maqsoud – It really is a nice bit of software and makes changing the background, etc. very easy to do. ^__^
This looks interesting. I currently have one of the eeePC range of netbooks and use the utility (called Update Utility) from Asus to change the wallpaper. This works fine – does anybody know if Starter Background changer offers any advantages?
has anyone tried installing this? thnks
I downloaded this program and followed the onscreen instructions here. Unfortunately, It did nothing to change the default wallpaper on my wife’s Acer AspireONE with 7 Starter Edition. Anyone else with this brand netbook tried this program and had success? Chime in and lets see if it’s just this one.
I hav the EeePC with windows 7 starter and i tried to change the wallpaper using this program. Easy to do but the wallpaper has not changed. I see it on my system when i turn it of but is not visible. thanks
works like a magic,thanks :)
@ jojoh, right click ur mouse and then click personalized, then you select the picture you want to be u desktop background.
fantastic! just changed the wallpaper on my Acer netbook with W7 Starter. thank you!
Thanks this works awesome!
Thank you so much…I made it..Thanks for a this clear instruction..
Works perfectly on our Samsung N220 – thanks guys…..
Installed at Aspire one D260………TNX 100X
Thank you soooooo much!! Works perfectly:)
It works perfect! :D I’m so happy I don’t have the boring wallpaper anymore, woohoo!
My toshiba nb305-350 burped pack up and i had to factory reinstall os and drivers
wow it’z d best one i tried…..worked d 1st time….thankz infinity for sharing it ..:)
i tried it for my toshiba netbook. it did not work. it won’t let me go past choosing images for my collection. has anybody had this problem?
tweaked it and it worked! thanks!
Brilliant! Worked a treat on my Sony Vaio Netbook VPCW12 – I’d been using Stardock MyColours until now and was getting sick of the sight of Green! Thank you for the translation too.
C:\Users\user\Downloads\StarterBackgroundChanger_V08.exe is not a valid Win32 application.
Tried 2 different downloads & got the same error from each. I am logged in as an administrator.
This worked perfectly on my Samsung N150 Plus. Thank you! :-)
thaaaaaaaaaaaaaanks alot
i ws sick n tired of dat boring wallpaper,, now i can easly change it
thnk u so much
HOLY SHIT THIS WORKS!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
I am using an acer aspire one and it worked on the first try!!!!! THANKS!!!!
excellent instructions btw
It worked on me. Redfox w1103i. Lovely
WOW! it’s really works on my Samsung N150 Corby. Thanx a lot! U’re Rock Bro!
I have EeePC and it doesent work =/
Worked on my Toshiba. The changing of the wallpaper every xxx seconds is a cool feature too. Thanks.
i bought a ASPIRE One happy today and it work!!!!!! thanks so much kiss
Worked GREAT on my Dell Inspiron mini. Thanks alot guys!
I just tried to download this on my new Acer One Aspire Netbook. While it was downloading, a Fatal Error message popped up saying “Unable to install this program. Please uninstall it.” I did NOT click the OK box on that error message, but I did click the top right X to get rid of it. Meanwhile, the Starter Background Changer continued to download, seemingly without a glitch. But, when it finished, and I right-clicked on my windows screen, then clicked on the new Personalization option that came up at the bottom of the menu…. nothing happened. AT ALL.
I’m going to uninstall, then try reinstalling. Has anyone else had this happen? Any ideas? I currently have the black screen only, because a few days ago I tried changing my wallpaper by following an instructable I found online, which sent me into the computer’s windows/web/wallpaper file, where the stupid boring ugly img0.jpg was located. Per the instructable, I set myself as the administrator of that file, then renamed the image that was in there, pasted my desired background image into the file, and then changed its name to img0.jpg…….. I’ve had the black nothing background ever since, which I actually find preferable to the ugly starter wallpaper, but not by much.
Here’s the weird thing: every time I shut down my computer, I see my chosen wallpaper image for about 3 seconds before the computer turns off. Can anybody tell me what to do here? I REALLY don’t like not being able to choose my own wallpaper… and the harder microsucks makes it for me to simply change my own wallpaper on my own computer, the more they TICK ME OFF and make me NEVER want to give them another penny, for anything, ever again! I mean…. BYTE ME! My husband and I are retired and living on Social Security and a small pension; we can’t afford to be nickled and dimed to death by these greedy theivery tactics. I had to settle for a little inexpensive netbook due to financial constraints… we have 8 grandkids to buy Christmas gifts for, I can’t be spending another $119 to get the full Windows 7. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
OK~ I went to the control panel and tried the Repair option first, before doing an Uninstall/Reinstall. While the Repair was running I got the following error messages:
Fatal error
Impossible to continue the installation of this software. Please, uninstall it.
———————————–
Microsoft .NET Framework
Unhandled exception has occurred in your application. If you click Continue, the application will ignore this error and attempt to continue. If you click Quit, the application will close immediately.
Value of ’109′ is not valid for ‘Value’. ‘Value’ should be between ‘minimum’ and ‘maximum’
Parameter name: Value.
————————————-
At this point in the “Repair,” without my clicking on anything, the Starter Background Changer vanished off my list of programs, and when I tried right-clicking on my windows screen, the newly-added “Personalization” option was gone. I am afraid to try to reinstall this on my Acer Aspire One. Help? Please?
@LyndaRS – Based on your two comments, my first guess would be that the previous hack instructable that you tried a few days beforehand might be part of the problem. It would be a good idea to undo what you did with that hack then try installing Starter Background Changer again.
Second, there is a technical support contact for the software here:
http://renaudgerson.fr/StarterBackgroundChanger/en/technical-support/
They may have a very good idea of what is going on with the .NET Framework error that you mentioned above. Hope that this helps! ^_^
Thanks, Asian Angel. I’m not very tec savvy, my husband and I are more Geezer than Geek… but I’ll try your suggestions and see what happens. The only way I know to undo my original changes is to go back to an earlier setpoint. If that doesn’t work, then I’ll try the support contact. I’m saving that option for my if-all-else-fails, because of the duo language barriers: French, and Tech. ;D
THANK U SOOO MUCH…^^,)
I installed it on my ASUS 1015PEM…and it worked perfectly!! Thanks very much..no more blue wallpaper!!
I Have a question. I have a Acer Aspire One and I changed my backround using a program called Starter Backround Changer and a few days later I wennt black (the wallpaper was) . I tried using the program u used and checked the registry. Does anyone know how to fix this?
I have a Windows 7 Starter 32bit
Ottimo risultato ottenuto con facilità! Mille grazie
thanks…it works!!!!!!
work awesome on Acer aspire 4741Z …Thanks :)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !!!
Hi, it works really well on my HP mini when I installed it. Unfortunately, after I shut down my system and put it back on, the wallpaper I fixed is still there but I can access the right click ”PERSONALISE” option again, Keeps giving me an error message
Please, any ideas on what could be the problem?
Thanks
@Vic – My suggestion would be to contact their technical support to see their recommendations:
http://renaudgerson.fr/StarterBackgroundChanger/en/technical-support/
Krishan_Science Geek & josh – I would try uninstalling, then reinstalling Starter Background Changer to see if that helps. If that does not you can ask the developer for help here:
http://renaudgerson.fr/StarterBackgroundChanger/en/technical-support/
Thanks..works great on my Toshiba NB305
My little net book was a piece of crap, it leaked fuel all over the place.
Now I can at least look at a nice picture while I fumble my way through the net, cheers guys and gals,
BTW: I’m using a Toshiba NB250, if you are thinking about it don’t get one, if you already got one, yes this programme works great and makes the other drawbacks with my netbook a little bit more bearable..
Oddball
works perfectly on my toshiba NB 305
thank you!!!!!!
thank u so much.. no i wouldnt be mad anytime i saw that boring blue windows 7 Starter wallpaper.. :)
Dawww~~~I love you!!!
I recently buy Dell Inspiron Mini,and almost jerked my tear for stucking with boring wallpaper,so this software is real win.
Thanks so much! It worked perfectly on my Asus “Eee PC” Netbook! :)
Works like a charm..! Hats off to you..! on my Dell Netbook.
Works great on my Acer Aspire One note book, Thank you!
very nice i use it now and happy to see the change, i purcahsed acer aspire one recently and now happy to see customized wallpaper.
thankx for this post
hey, does anyone know if your desktop shortcuts come back up. im actually realy scared they wont, please help.
@daisy – This should have no effect on your desktop shortcuts. ^_^
Hey it doesn’t work for me for some reason. I have the eeePC and i see it has worked for other people with this but when i click download at the link it comes up with boxes, squares, and some symbols. Can anybody help me!!?!?!?!!
@Riley – It sounds like your computer does not recognize the French language format when you go to download it at the website. What you could do is set up a portable version of Iron or Chrome browser quickly and use that since they will offer to translate the webpage for you. ^_^
The file itself will have an English language formatted name. Once you have it downloaded use the screenshots above to go through the set/install process. ^_^
tQ….i am very surprise…tq..
It’s is very great help alot, i have netbook.. i worried on how i can put background in my netbook now i have found the great sulotion…:)
HOLY SHIT THIS WORKS!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
I am using an acer aspire one d255 and it worked on the first try!!!!! THANKS!!!!
Works like a dream
Okay so I have an Acer Aspire one 533, this didn’t work at first and the background came out black. Pictures saved as PNG files didn’t work, but JPEG files did, if you are experiencing the black background, try this!
This totally worked like a charm the first time, and I am not tech savvy. Super easy! I can’t tell you how much I lug my little Acer Aspire One with me wherever I go, whether it be lectures or nursing clinicals. Finally I can glance at a picture on my desktop background of our last vacation, and dream I’m there during my 10+ hr labs/clinicals…. :) Thank you for sharing!
Hey guys, Yea I first installed this one last year, perhaps October 2010., It worked very well and i could change the wallpaper. Didnt touch it for a long time and my background was the same which i had chosen.
NOW, as i try to click Personalize in the right-click context menu it just goes NOT RESPONDING and it tries to look for the solution online. It just doesnt work anymore for me.
AFAIK, this is the best program to change background in win 7starter, but It has stopped working for me.
Mr. Renaud Gerson, the developer., do you have any solution for this.? I use 32-bit windows 7 starter.
@hardik – Just out of curiosity…I assume that you have updated with Service Pack 1 and this is the first time trying to access it since then?
One thing that you may try that will help is to uninstall the app, then reinstall it to see if that will kickstart it to working again. I just get a “feeling” that a Windows update (service pack or previous update) of some sort down the line is behind the problem…
Worked PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I own a Samsung NC210 and this worked a charm! Very happy now!
Worked for my toshiba netbook! Thank you! Finally no boring background! :)
Worked perfect on my PB DOT-S, took all of 2mins to do. Cheers fella!
THANKS A LOOOOT!!! it works on my vaio VPCYB15AG….
I called acer and they said , you cant change it.:(
so thanks to you, my hero hehehe..
omg this is amazing! thank youu! works perfectly on the packard bell dot s netbook. Was dissapointed when i thought my netbook couldnt change the backgound, but soo happy now!!
O-M-F-G!!!!! it worked!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!! yey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3
I downloaded this on my new HP and can’t get it to work- I haven’t touched the original boring wallpaper file. I installed the program, ran it- chose the picture I wanted, and nothing happened (it stayed the same boring blue). Restarted my computer to check if the wallpaper would change then, but nothing! So I tried a few different things (not much- just changed the photo’s I wanted as wallpapers to .jpeg, and picked 3 of them to change every 15 secs) and after that the wallpaper changed to black. When I restart my computer I can see the wallpaper that I want for a few seconds, but when it comes back on it’s just stuck on black.
Does anyone have any advice? I’ve contacted the technical support but haven’t heard back yet :(
dude i am a really big fan of u THIS IS AWSOMEE I AM REALLY REALLY HAPPY pls keep making excellent softwares like this thaxxx
While reading netbook reviews i read that the fact that you cant change the background helps with performance and speed, those that have downloaded did it effect the speed at all? and also does it take up a lot of space?
any help would be much appreciated! xxx
I just brought a Dell Inspiron mini, I really want to try out this trick however will it change my warrantee on my Dell?
this software doesn’t work propely
@mimi – This is only altering the background picture and should have no effect on your warranty at all. ^_^ This is just like installing other software such as additional browsers, etc. ^_^
Awesome!! Perfecton ToshibaNB550D … Just a tip… if my pic had 300dpi the desktop didnt change. Making them 150dpi resulted in instant success!
Cheers!
Bob
Works great, thank you!! :)
I just installed this on my Toshiba NB 250 and i was pee’d off because it didn’t change the wallpaper at first. But you need to make sure that the image you wish to use is a JPEG and not PNG and if so, convert them to JPEG and voilà, it will display them and i have my daughter and wife on the screen now and not that blue wallpaper that windows inflicted on us all!!!!!
thanks a lot!!!!!:)) it works
i have a problem with this start edition win 7 cause
thanks the software worked for me I can now change the pictures of the desktop of my NB250
hey this is great and very easy…
Brilliant, made even easier as my daughter knows french.
Thank you
this application is not working in my netbook../how can i solve this problrm?
IT WORKED !!!
easy to follow instructions thank you so much
srew microsoft for being so dang greedy!!!!
Awesome thanks alot
thanks guys for this mod.
worked a treat and has finaly given my little netbook a bit of life..
Thank you! I did it on my Acer aspire One and it worked the very first time. I didn’t even need to restart for the effect to take place.
I downloaded the latest Starter Background Changer version V081. The install was slightly different from the pictures above, but just as easy to follow, and worked immediately, no problems on my HP netbook.
Thanks a lot :)) It worked totally fine in my Lenovo G475.
FORGET THIS IT DOES NOT WORK- this did not work for me because after I installed it it did NOTHING AT ALL. I could not even uninstall it in the uninstall a program menu. As it was not listed there. So the only way I could remove it. Was to go into programs on C drive and delete the program file myself to get it off of my computer. But OCEANIS Windows 7 Starter wallpaper changer does work, as I have installed that now. So forget this and get Oceanis instead. Andrea Borman.
thanks! It works with my ASUS Eee PC…
Worked brilliantly on my Packard Bell Dot SE-410! Would have gone mad without this program. Thanks!
It worked like a charm Thank You so much!!!
thank u so much, friend ..:D
love yaaaa
why i cant see the OK or cancel in the SCREENSAVER!!
my netbook is NEO !!
ineed help!!!!
Just installed on my Toshiba NB505; works great!!!
Will try to leave a donation via PayPal.
Fantastic !
Hi, i havent downloaded this yet, but i just want to know if its safe? Is there any virus or bugs, or does it harm the computer? thanks!
Thanks, it works well!!!!
It really works. Many thanks!!!
Just installed on my brand new hp mini. seems to work fine. Does not seem to have any virus.
Thank you…that boring blue background was starting to get to me.
OMG i f***ing love you so much i’m sooo soooo happy now thank you
Thank you so much for this quick and easy fix. I was disappointed to have the background option taken away, then a little nervous to try a freeware program. But it worked beautifully!
At last, my desktop now have a new look. Thanks
Hi! Thanks for this GENIUS application :) Thank you for making our BLUE days over!
RwB- It worked like a charm on my AspireOne Acer Netbook, straight out of the box.
Thank you a million times over how-to-geek for the only fix that’s worked for me!
oh My god!!! I love you soo much!!!! you’ve made my day!!! If I had you in front of me I would kiss you and hug you!!!
I purchased a ACER Aspire Happy today and downloaded the Starter Background changer, and it worked… Yay!
thanks it really works
i tried on my emachine, it was successfully installed on my laptop..it worked the first time, i can see my prefered pics but whne i tried to change the wallpaper, the screen went black ..i think this is what;’s usually happening according to replies of the people who tried it already..restarted my computer still got the black screen..help i want to get rid of it , dont want it black, i’d rather use the default screen..
This worked on my Toshiba NB 305 netbook. Only one picture has worked as a wallpaper however after trying like six pics i got off google. For the majority of pics it just turns my screen black. not sure if the resolution of the images is too great or small or what. But oh well, I’ve changed it to at least one image i’m happy with so all is well! I HATED that damn default screen.
OMG thanks so much I’ve tried almost everything and I was sooo surprised when this worked you are awesome!
WORKED WELL FOR 3 WEEKS, BUT AFTER THAT..
IT SAYS: STARTER BACKGROUND CHANGER STOPPED WORKING.
AND THE BACKGROUND WON’T CHANGE AND I CANT OPEN THE “Personalize” THINGY
WHEN I CLICK IT.
I HOPE SOMEONE WOULD TELL ME HOW TO SOLVE THIS.
I TRIED MANY MANY TIMES TO UNINSTALL IT. BUT IT WOULD AGAIN SAY,
“STARTER BACKGROUND CHANGER STOPPED WORKING” :((
I love it! it work for my Acer.. Thank you very Much
awesome!!..thank you very much!
hi i just downloaded it on my aspire one netbook and it works like a charm! finally my netbook doesn’t seem so dull!
Just downloaded this for my Eee PC Notebook and YOU ROCK!!! IT WORKS!!!! LOVE IT!!! Didn’t want to have to take my laptop back for a refund…lol….works amazing!!! You guys are the best!!! Definitely going to recommend, tired of doing searches, now I know where to come ;)
thank u very much for giving this information ………………………………… you rocks
I have emachines windows 7 Starter .When I press Right-Click , there is no personalize button to press !
But Thanks anyways. Please Reply
Ohhh,sorry just realized I had to download something :P.
Thank you thank you thank you thank YOU!
Finally I’m not gonna look at that stupid default again!
where will i find the french instolation?????????????
pls answer fast i nee to change my backroun nowwwwwwwww!!!!!!!:))))))))):)))))))))
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ignore my first comment ok it works i really shout very loud it works!!!!!!! many thanks to you:))))))))))))))):)))))))))))))))
Thank you – it was well written & easy to follow; and it really works!!!!
Love it.
perfect :)
Thankx a lot for this Tip
THIS DID NOT WORK FOR ME I FOLLOWED ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS 100%. THEN TRIED CHANGING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SETTINGS DOESN’T WORK!!
thanks to this site my backround is interesting thanks alot!!!!! and it worked GREAT!!!
Super happy its awsome!
whoah..what the!!!..it worked for my Eee Pc Notebook..a BIG thanks..im happy,yipee,yehey..: D..a new look for my desktop..
worked like magic :) love it…! thanks so much!!!!!
Great…!!It works..!!Thks…my 2 Princess Pic is now inside thier Acer netbook…thks alots..!!
Thank you guys, very much for this option.
works fantastic. Thanks tons, its been driving me nuts not being able to change the wallpaper.
it’s really work.. thank you,, just follow the instructions.. =)
this worked thank you so much ive spent hours trying to find something that would change that deadbeat background lol this is awesome and ill make sure to let Window 7 Starters know about this site Thanks Again
-Kenz B.
oh also forgot to mention how i love that i can make the picture change every minute cause im such a picy decider when it comes to setting a walpaper
It worked for my ACER computer, thanks so much!!!
Thankz a Ton <3 <3
SupeR Happy to add some Life to my Screen!
x0x0 =)
It work like a magic for me. Am so happy i can now change my wall paper. Love ya software.
Whew! Thanks. I love you sooooo. My golls. This is sooo great. Salamat! Thanks!
its not working in my neo netbook please give me advice about this problem.. thaks
It worked on the Gateway netbook
Awesome thanks! Worked perfectly on an Acer Aspire One (Happy 2) netbook :)
hi. i tried this and i now have the personalize option when i right clicked on the desktop. my problem is i’ve got a black screen before i install this app. when i tried changing my wallpaper it still displays black screen. but on the app it says that my current wallpaper is that “img0″, the default one. please help me. ive been googling about my problem since yesterday. THANK YOU!!!
Ohhh! thankyou :)
this worked so well! thank you!!
OMG I LOVE U HOW TO GEEK THIS CHANGED MINE AND I ABOUT P***** MY PANTX WHEN IT DID, THANK U SO MUCH!!!!
Wohooo! This is GREAT! Thank you soooo much!
Thx!!! This program worked well on my new ASUS EeePc.Glad I do not have to put up with a boring background anymore.
thanks a lot, i get the answers in a few steps in few minutes which i am searching by myself in the system.
ohhhhh mannnnnnnn u guys are awsme……….
Thank u very much,
nice tutorial, it works
thanks very much, it works first time for me on my dell mini.
don’t know why they didn’t make windows starter so we could change the back ground. so lame
Working perfectly on my Acer Aspire One D-255e.
Thank you!
I believe this is the only feature of Windows 7 Pro that I really missed.
Tried it on a Toshiba NB500. It didn’t work. The link led to a site for a download manager with a download process that did not follow the steps above
it is nice
I downloaded it on my Aspire One happy2 notebook and it worked like a dream…it gives you the option to choose multiple images to shuffle between as well….I am super – happy…thanks a lot.
thanks for the info.. you really guys is a big help, specially for those who are new on windows 7 like me.. giving such info can make the user knowledgeable..thanks guys..
i want to change my screen background on my laptop
change my screenbackground
It works perfectly with my toshiba nb305, the only thing that bothers me is its slow preview on the desktop after applying the wallpaper. Nevertheless, this is much easier to use than the other bgchangers. (less hassle) Thanks.
Worked on my Acer Aspire One.. Although, it told me I needed (and created) a “Registry” because apparently I didn’t have one. To be honest, the idea of changing (or adding) something to my actual system without being able to understand it made me kind of nervous, especially after I restarted and it went through loading a bunch of “Registry” items.. But everything seems to be working properly. Be careful when you get into the “Configuration Personalization” menu. For some reason it wouldn’t close after I clicked “OK”.. that was the only glitch I’ve run into. Thanks for the help, though! What an annoying feature not to have, haha. :)
hurrah!……..thank you friend finally i got it………………