A logon screen background image can be set in one of two ways - through the registry or in a local group policy (Windows 7) / network group policy (Windows 8). The preferred method is via the registry as then there isn't extra group policy processing required. Both methods require local administrator rights.
Registry method:
- Start regedit
- Navigate to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\Background
- Create a DWORD value, name it OEMBackground and set it to 1
- Close the registry editor
n.b. - changing the theme in Windows may set this back to 0
Local group policy method:
- Start gpedit.msc
- Navigate to Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Logon
- Set Always use custom login background to enabled
- Click OK
- Close the group policy editor
Set the file to use (common to both methods):
- Images used for the background exist in this location: c:\windows\system32\oobe\info\backgrounds - you'll probably need to create info and backgrounds
- Copy the image(s) you wish to use into the backgrounds directory
- The names for these files must follow this convention and must be 256KB or less:
backgroundDefault.jpg
background800x600.jpg
background1024x768.jpg
background1280x1024.jpg
background1600x900.jpg
background1600x1200.jpg
background1920x1080.jpg
background1920x1200.jpg
...etc.
- Windows will pick the one that matches the screen resolution first, backgroundDefault.jpg (stretched, if necessary) if it can't find one for the correct resolution and the system default background if it can't find any other image to use.
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