http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Personalize-your-computer

In the Starter version of Windows 7 (the version that comes with netbooks and low-end PCs), YOU CAN NOT CHANGE YOUR [censored] BACKGROUND!

It's one of the most basic things about every computer; the ability to change the picture you'll see every day.

Who made that decision?

Why are they still allowed to work at microsoft?

Are they stupid, or just trying to force us to upgrade so they can have more money?

Does anyone have a good reason? The most I've heard from microsoft is "HUR DUR IT MAKES TEH COMPUTAR RUN FASTAR!"

Is there a way I can work around it?

It works fine for me, though I'm running the 64bit version of W7 that came with my computer, not sure which version it is honestly but I'm pretty sure it's "Home" or whatever it's called. Anyway, I can change my background just fine.

Yes I got this at work. One of my coworkers who bought a laptop for her company wanted to change the background with her company's logo. When I checked out the help file on how to change it, it basicly said to buy the full version to be able to change the background... or something like that. That was pretty ridiculous.

Is the background picture a file stored in the harddrive? I wonder if making a copy of the picture you want as a desktop, giving it the name the Windows background has, then placing it in the right folder would work.

What do you expect? It is Microsoft. They just want your money, they don't care about people. The world today values money over life.

/sarcasm.

That's how it is. I don't understand why one would get a starter pack of W7 anyway...

:lmao:

:hehe:

Welcome to the world of tiered services.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/47294-desktop-background-change-windows-7-starter.html

Yes, because a company who's main function is to make money really should just dismiss that and be super nice to everyone.

As for Raithen, yeah as I said, I don't know which version that comes with your computer. I have no idea, I'm just saying that I got W7 with my laptop and it works for me. I can probably find out which version I have if that helps.

Will go back and add /sarcasm. I think I should stop being sarcastic over the internet.

That's nothing to laugh about, desktop background is a question of life and death :hehe:

If you don't buy the full version, you don't get the full functionality. What else is new?

Another option.

http://cid-e2e0fbb97504d64e.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/Starter%20Wallpaper%20Changer.exe?wa=wsignin1.0&sa=609331419

Just click the thumbnail.

The Starter version of Windows is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions#Comparison_chart, and should be avoided.

Yikes that is seriously crippled.

Wow that's just [censored]... :blink:

LOL it doesn't even have a desktop window manager? :rofl:

If the person that made this decision should be fired, what does it say about the person who bought it without reading the feature list?

That said, disabling something like changing a desktop picture is a clear example why Marketing should not be allowed to make product decisions.

Who buys netbooks anyways? Everything they can do I can pretty much do on my smartphone. If I wanted a computer that was portable, I'd spend the extra money and just buy a normal laptop with a proper Windows version.

Problem solved, thanks.Time to close the thread.