This method will require you to modify the registry, and if that puts
a knot in your stomach, you should move on to the next section.
Step 1: Open the Windows Start menu and enter
regedit into the search bar.
Step 2: Right click on
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and select
Find.
Step 3: Search for
OEMBackground, which should be in
ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionAuthenticationLogonUIBackground.
If the key does not exist, add a new DWORD value with the name
OEMBackground.
Step 4: Double click on the entry
OEMBackground, and change the value from 0 to 1.
Step 5: Open Windows Explorer and go to the following path:
%windir%system32oobe.
Step 6: Create a new folder named
info, and open it.
Step 7: Create a new folder within
info named
backgrounds.
Step 8: Rename your desired wallpaper as
backgroundDefault.jpg and place it inside the folder backgrounds (images must be less than 245KB in size).
That should do the trick, now just lock your PC, log off or reboot and enjoy.
Third-party software
If you are uncomfortable with manually tinkering with the registry —
or simply have better things to be doing with your time — we understand.
Various third-party applications can change Windows 7′s default logon
wallpaper, but our personal favorite is
Tweak.com’s Logon Changer.
The software is ridiculously easy to use, doesn’t require
installation, and it even has built-in tools to automatically resize and
recompress your images while leaving the original file untouched. The
Logon Changer also lets you quickly change your logon wallpaper back to the Windows 7 default.
Start by
downloading the app here,
and then unzip the executable. Run the program and it should present
you with a preview of your logon screen along with a few
self-explanatory options: “Change Logon Screen” lets you browse to a new
image, “Test” will bring up your logon screen, “Revert to Default Logon
Screen” reapplies Windows 7′s original wallpaper.
