This article contains procedure to configure a theme and wallpaper for hosted Desktops. 

If Desktops as a Service (DaaS)is delivered using XenApp 6 (on Windows Server 2008 R2) and if a theme and wallpaper for these desktops need to be specified, the following must be verified.

For example, the Windows Desktop experience is enabled and uses the Win7 Basic theme and you want to provide different default wallpaper, such as MyWallPaper.jpg. To specify different wallpaper, the Wallpaper setting in the Basic theme file (located at C:\Windows\resources\Ease of Access Themes) must be edited.

Note: This must be done as part of your image/server preparation process.

The following are the two categories of users:

• Restricted Users: These users have the default Win7 Basic theme desktop and MyWallPaper.jpg background, and they are not allowed to change the default settings. These users are members of an Active Directory group account, RestrictedDesktopUsers.

• Users Allowed to Personalize: These users have the default Win7 Basic theme desktop and MyWallPaper.jpg background similar to the Restricted users, however these users are allowed to change the default settings. These users are members of an Active Directory group account, PersonalizableDesktopUsers.

Note: You must configure a roaming profile solution to ensure the personalization done by a user persists across sessions.

Instructions

Complete the following steps to configure a theme and wallpaper for hosted Desktops:

1. Configure settings for users that get a restricted desktop

2. Configure settings for users allowed to personalize their desktop

3. Assign GPOs to the users

Configure settings for users that get a restricted desktop

Create a GPO with the following policies:

• Load a specific theme (under User Configuration > Policies\Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization).

• Prevent changing theme (under User Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization).

• Desktop Wallpaper (under User Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Desktop > Desktop).

Following is a PowerShell function to create such a GPO:

Configure settings for users allowed to personalize their desktop

Create a GPO with the following policy:

Load a specific theme (under User Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization)

The other policies to prevent the user from changing the theme or to enforce specific wallpaper are not needed because the user is allowed to change these settings.
Following is a PowerShell function to create such a GPO:

Assign GPOs to the users

This involves assigning the GPOs to the OU containing the user accounts. Additionally, the Security Filtering options must be set so that the right GPO is applied to a specific group of users.
Following is a PowerShell function to assign the GPO:

Now, all the functions are ready, the following code-snippet can be used to create the GPOs and apply them to the users.

When the wallpaper policy does not take effect, refer to Microsoft KB977944 to obtain a hotfix.