Default Windows 7 logon account picture for all users?

Question

I'm trying to figure out how to set a default Windows 7 logon account picture (the box just above the username field - looks like a picture frame) for all users. The environment is a computer lab, with all computers on a domain - I'd like all users to see the same default jpeg or bitmap at the login screen. I sure would have thought this would be an easy thing to do, but my google fu is failing me bigtime. Any ideas?

Answer 1

I'm not at my Windows 7 machine right now, so I can't test this.

The default account images on Windows 7 are stored in X:\ProgramData\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures where X:\ is the system drive. You ought to be able to move all of the images from that directory and replace them with a single image file. Your image file should be 128x128 pixels.

Answer 2

You can use the MMC (Start--> MMC in the run line) then add the Group Policy Object Editor via File--> Add/Remove Snap In and select it, choose local and follow it along. Then open it to Local Computer Policy, then Computer Configuration, then Administrative Templates, Control Panel, then Users Accounts and you should see the "Apply the default user logon picture to all users". Double click it and then simply set it to Enabled and hit OK.

Now if you want to use a picture different than the Windows 7 default: Place the pic you want to use here %programdata%\Microsoft\UserAccountPictures\user.bmp * I am pretty sure there are rules to the size of this image but you are gunna have to look those up yourself I am too lazy :)