Custom default Wallpaper for new users after installation

The wallpaper new local users will see when their accounts are created and they sign in first time will most definitely be the one set in Audit Mode if the COPYPROFILE component in answer file is set to TRUE.

This also applies to those Microsoft account users who have disabled theme sync. MS account users with theme sync enabled will always see their own synced wallpaper when account is first time signed in.

All MS account synced settings replace any customizations made to the default profile.

If your local users will not see the company wallpaper, you have done something wrong.

Kari

OK.

Have you tried the workaround described in this article: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/977944 (scroll down until you find title Workaround).

I am quite sure this would work, although it involves a bit more work. If you give it a go, please realize you do it at your own risk. I would test it first on a technician machine. The procedure is based on the fact that you can sysprep an existing Windows installation.

• Boot to Audit Mode with command %windir%\system32\sysprep\sysprep /audit /reboot in an elevated Command Prompt
• Customize the default user profile as you wish (theme, background, screensaver, File Explorer view settings, icon settings and spacing and so on)
• Create a simple answer file to copy customizations to the default user profile:

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<settings pass="specialize">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile>
</component>
</settings>
<cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:X:/sources/install.wim#Windows 10 Pro" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

Change the following details if needed (see the parts in red in above code):

• The value of variable ProcessorArchitecture must be "amd64" if you are installing a 64 bit Windows regardless of if you have an Intel or AMD processor, and "x86" if you are installing a 32 bit Windows
• The value in CopyProfile tags must be True if you want the customizations to be copied to default user profile
• On the last line of code, change the location of Windows 10 install media. In this example the media is on drive X:
• Following the install media location, separated with #, see that you have the Windows version correctly (Windows 10 HOME, PRO, EDUCATION or ENTERPRISE)

Save the answer file to C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep folder naming it unattend.xml. Now sysprep with command %windir%\system32\sysprep\sysprep /generalize /oobe /reboot in an elevated Command Prompt.

From here on, all new user accounts will get the customized defaults. Notice that this will not affect already existing user accounts!

Seems complicated and involves some time and effort but it should work.

Kari