Change the Wallpaper of Windows 7 Starter
How do you change the wallpaper (or even the theme) of your Windows 7 Starter OS? Read on below.
When I was having my usual haircut at a salon near our house, my hairstylist (well, he just cuts my hair and I guess he doesn’t want to be called a barber), asked me for help on a problem in his laptop. I momentarily glanced at his table and there I saw his newly purchased gadget. I was quite surprised that there was already a problem when it was obviously brand new. He told me he’s been trying to change the wallpaper of his laptop for days and he couldn’t change it.
Now right after my haircut, I checked his laptop and saw that it was in Windows 7. When I checked what version/edition – voila! It was Windows 7 Starter.
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| Windows 7 Starter Default Wallpaper |
I immediately told him that Windows 7 Starter doesn’t allow the user to change the wallpaper. When I saw the long look of his face when I told him that, I knew I had to help this guy.
Windows 7 Starter: How to Change the Wallpaper
I know of two ways to change the wallpaper in Windows 7. Both methods require that you at least install a program to do it. Make sure you only install one.
1. Stardock MyColors
Stardock MyColors is a program which allows you not only to change the wallpaper but also the overall look of Windows. Stardock MyColors primarily changes the standard Windows 7 Aero theme to another theme.
You need to download and install Stardock MyColors (download it from Stardock MyColors official website)
After successful installation, just launch the application and go to My Themes. By default, there would only be 2 kinds of themes – Windows 7 Aero and Think Green. Choose the Think Green theme.
Now you can download several other themes from the Stardock website itself but the Think Green theme is the only additional theme in the default installation. This step (of choosing a theme other than Windows 7 aero) is important because if you have the Windows 7 Aero theme selected, you won’t be able to change the wallpaper.
After this just go to the Wallpapers tab, and choose any wallpaper which is in your Pictures folder.
Note that Stardock MyColors does not allow you to choose how to layout your wallpaper. By default, it would stretch your picture to fit the screen. So be sure to choose high resolution pictures so that it would not look pixelized in your screen.
2. Starter Background Changer
There are already several programs out there made by helpful people, which can change the background or wallpaper of Windows 7 Starter. Out of these programs, I have a favorite which is the Starter Background Changer by Renaud Gerson which he made available for download in his website renaudgerson.fr. His website and the actual installer are in French so I’ll help you on how to make it work. Once you’ve installed it, it would be in English so don’t worry about it.
You can download it at his official website renaudgerson.fr (just scroll down and click on the image saying Download), or you can use the download link I’ve provided below:
What’s good about this program is that you don’t have to change the overall theme and you can just change the wallpaper. What’s better is you can choose from a set of different layouts like stretch, tile, center, etc. (unlike Stardock MyColors which has the stretch layout only).
To install, just follow the screenshots below. “Suivant” means “Next”, and “Demarrer” means “To Start”.
Just choose “Suivant” on the following prompts.
Choose “Yes”.
Then choose “Demarrer”.
Now once you’ve installed the program, just right click on your desktop and select “Personalize”. Notice that it’s not in French. It actually defaults to your language.
A new window would pop-up where you can change the wallpaper. It would have banner ads or advertisements at the bottom but it’s not that bothersome.
Note: If you’re going to upgrade to another version of Windows (i.e. Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, etc.) be sure to uninstall these programs.
There you have it! I hope I’ve helped you change your Windows 7 Starter wallpaper.
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Excellent Good Great Help Thanks a Ton…
Thank you for saving me further frustration and money.
Worked like a champ thank you for sharing this information.
thanks a million ! it worked !!!, i was sad about this issue, but now im very happy…
once again, thank you and thank you,
Thanks Ige! I have been brooding over it for days and your advice works like a miracle.
Thanks for that! Appreciate it lots!
Regards,
Hock Chye
nice work helped
Many thanx… it really helped me a lot.
Thaaaaaaanks!!!! The second option works perfectly
thanks!
Thanks, man. Thanks a lot
Thank you sooooo much. I was really sick of looking at the default wallpaper.
thanks man I really appreciated your help
thanks very much!!!
when I chose my wallpaper, how can I get it on my desktop.? It’s just not there…
Hey, thanks so much! I tried Oceanis and Stardock and they didn´t work on my Spanish Windows 7 Starter, but this one did.
uuuuh oh my god i just boought a laptop and i was shocked with this problem when i was trying to change the wallpaper.. i was about to cry … my smiled dissapeared ..thank you is not enough
THANK YOU for bringing my smile again ..
be safe
Thank you. So much. Ever since Windows 95 desktop changes have been standard. Can’t believe they changed it in Windows 7. But seriously, as aggravating as it was, it is not worth the $200 upgrade just to change my desktop photo. LOL. Who were the geniuses in marketing who came up with that one?
Thank you so much for posting this! I thought I was going to be stuck with the boring default wallpaper forever.
thanks.. so much u save my day
Thank you kindly. It works perfectly.
thanks alot…this help!!
(i used the second one)
Very helpful, thank you so much!
thanks bro…it realy works i am boored of defult wallpaper…i am very very very thankful 2 u….God Bless U….thanks dude…
thanks,it works!!Go bless
wow!!… thanks a lot…. now i already change my wallpaper.. and my taskbar…. thank you so much…. god bless you
this is the bomb i couldn’t believe my eyes when it worked.thanks in a million times wish i can see u and appreciate.
thanks dude for the information..it really works! i love my new wallpaper now.. thanks much!
men the website that you give is nothing its like this..(We’re sorry, the page you requested is unavailable.
Please use your browser’s BACK button, or you may wish to choose from the links below for information about Stardock products and services.)
thanx………… i am desperately needed this………….wonderful………….
Its really amazing….. u help a lot.. God bless
Thanks for this! =)
Works awesome! Thx! Windows stinks! %-)
YAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! GREAT!!!
LOVE YOU!
This is so fantastic and am loving it so so MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much….great great thanks