Group policy can be used to assign screensaver configurations where desired. However, if you want to implement a custom slideshow, i.e. dictate the images to be used for the screensaver, a bit of extra work and a reference computer is needed to accomplish the task.
The tasks involved are:
The following is assumed:
PolicyPak Script Manager can be used to copy the images from a network share to the user’s computer. Although they can be accessed by the screen saver on a network share, thereby eliminating the need for this script, they would not be accessible if the computer were away from the network.
In this example the source directory is \\dccore\share\SSImages\* and the destination is %userprofile%\Pictures\SSImages\.
Add a new Collection, giving it a descriptive name (e.g. Screensaver scripts or Houston Screensaver…) and click OK
Note: If rolling out different images for different sets of users, ILT may be set on collection to specified different groups of users or computers.
Click on "Add New Policy" and NEXT on first page
On the "On apply action" screen, either click File -> Open and browse for a preconfigured script or click down-arrow by "(None)", select the appropriate type of script and either paste or type in the script to copy the image files.
Sample script using powershell that will 1; check for the existence of the destination, 2; Create the destination if it does not exist and 3; copy the files over.
if (!(Test-Path -Path $env:userprofile\pictures\SSImages\))
{
New-item -path $env:userprofile\pictures\ -Name SSImages -Itemtype directory
}
Copy-Item \\dccore\share\SSImages\* -Destination $env:userprofile\pictures\SSImages
Ensure "Always" is selected and click NEXT
The path to the image location is saved in the Registry as an encrypted value. Use the steps below to create the path, export the value, and make it usable.
On your reference computer, set the screensaver to use "Photos", click on Settings and Browse to the location of the Screensaver images
Open the .REG file in text editor (I recommend something like Notepad++ that has a larger maximum line size) and edit the following:
Once the prep-work is completed, we can create the Group Policy Object to 1; Import the .REG settings and 2; set the Screensaver configuration options as per your requirements.
Here we are configuring the Screensaver options to your requirements.
Expand Computer Configuration -> PolicyPak and click on Administrative Templates Manager
Add a new Collection, giving it a descriptive name (e.g. Screensaver scripts or Houston Screensaver…) and click OK
Note: If rolling out different images for different sets of users, ILT may be set on collection to specified different groups of users or computers.
Add new policy
Set the Scope Filter to "User Policy" or "All Policy"
Create required policies – Screensaver Policies are kept under Users -> Admin Templates -> Control Panel -> Personalization.
Setting Policies in PolicyPak land is the same as Group Policy
OK to close
The following are the minimum policies required
Select "Apply this policy to all users who log on to the computer (switched Mode)" and click NEXT
Select "Batch script" from the drop-down menu and either type in or copy the script below to import the .REG file, replacing the /D value (LongEncryptedText…) with the very long encrypted path value from the exported .REG key.
Command to import the registry data using REG.EXE:
reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows Photo Viewer\Slideshow\Screensaver /v EncryptedPIDL /t REG_SZ /D LongEncryptedText…
Select "Run Script as user" and "With elevated rights" and click NEXT
NEXT again
Select "Once" and click NEXT
Give it a descriptive name (e.g. "Screensaver Path"), ensure it is enabled and click FINISH