Can I link from desktop wallpaper?

December 17, 2008 7:37 AM

Is there any way I can create desktop wallpaper that has a link to a specific web site?

Our company is launching a new human resources online system. We're going to push new wallpaper with a logo and tag line about the new system to all our Windows XP desktops. I was asked if we can include a link to the HR system login page. I've never seen this done within desktop wallpaper, but I don't want to just say "no" without checking. I do the graphics for all our corporate desktop wallpapers, but I'm not a programmer.

posted by Joleta to computers & internet (5 comments total)

You can do this with Active Desktop, which essentially displays an html page on your desktop instead of a plain wallpaper. However, every user would have to turn on Active Desktop and set it to display your file.
posted by Krrrlson at 7:46 AM on December 17, 2008

This is quite a bit of work so I would make sure they realize it's not as easy as simple as waving a wand and the link appears. You could probably push the Active Desktop settings via Group Policy and get it all straight, but a much easier route is pushing a desktop shortcut to the HR system to all users. It would be a lot more intuitive, a lot less work, you could even reference the shortcut from the wallpaper or something if need be.
posted by genial at 7:49 AM on December 17, 2008

Active Desktop stopped with XP and can have memory issues with much older machines.

I'd say no.
posted by mandal at 8:40 AM on December 17, 2008

Seconding the desktop shortcut. Simple to do, but not to use is to type the URL into the image. It won't be clickable, or selectable, but hey.

(Without looking I guessed that this is something that an HR department would want.)
posted by unixrat at 10:06 AM on December 17, 2008

Thanks, genial. I'm exploring the desktop shortcut option with our IT department. A desktop shortcut would be there long after the HR project wallpaper has reverted to our company logo wallpaper.
posted by Joleta at 12:40 PM on December 17, 2008