We have Remote Desktop configured on Windows Server 2012 R2 to “start a program on connection” (via Group Policy). It is a “standard” deployment of Remote Desktop Services with session-based connections. Desktop Experience is also installed on the server.
Everything works as expected, however we are unable to set a background color for the desktop behind the program that is started on connection.
In previous versions of remote desktop, we could log on to the console (or to a session that was not locked into the application) and set a background color, and then that color would then be displayed behind the program that is started on connection. With 2012 R2, we cannot change the black screen that is displayed behind the program. We have tried personalizing the desktop, group policy settings for background, registry settings, etc. We can display a background using any of those methods when the user is not locked into the application, but as soon as we apply the “Start a program on connection” setting, the background turns black. Is there a way to make the background some other color when the user is locked into an application? We have tried this with (Group Policy, User Configuration, Policies, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Remote Desktop Services, Remote Desktop Session Host, Remote Session Environment) “Remove remote desktop wallpaper” both “Disabled” and “Not configured”, telling the client to allow “Desktop background” and “Desktop composition”. Our goal is not to bring along a background, but simply to have an option to display something with less contrast that the plain black background screen.
Thanks in advance for your response!