Windows 8.1 start screen backgrounds file location

08
2014-07
  • Mark

    In Windows 8, the start screen backgrounds used to be in the imageres.dll file, but as of 8.1 they're not. Does anyone know where the start screen backgrounds are housed in Windows 8.1?

    If not, is someone using Windows 8 willing to share a png with me?

    Thanks

    • Answers
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    Related Question

    Windows 8 Start Screen Wallpaper File Location?
  • user

    I was wondering if there is a specific file location for all the Windows 8 start screen backgrounds. I'm not interested in modifying the wallpapers, but I want to make an app with these wallpapers available.

    • Is there an available file location, and where can I find it?
    • Are the images copyrighted so that I cannot use them in my app?
    • If all fails, is there a website for Windows 8 resources?

    Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks!


    • Related Answers
  • nixda

    • Is there an available file location, and where can I find it?

      The Login Screen Wallpaper is stored at (before you log on)
      C:\Windows\System32\oobe\background.bmp

      Desktop Wallpapers are stored at (after you have logged on)
      C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper\

    • Are the images copyrighted so that I cannot use them in my app?
      Yes, they have a copyright. You can't use them in your app even if its a free app.

      These desktop background (wallpaper) images contain the intellectual property of Microsoft and other third parties. They are offered for download solely for your own personal use. Any other use, including the redistribution of the desktop backgrounds, or any other conduct in contravention of the applicable Terms of Use or Microsoft Software License Terms, is prohibited.

    • If all fails, is there a website for Windows 8 resources?
      http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/wallpaper

    Source
    (scroll down for copyright paragraph)

  • Wescrock

    Check C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper\Windows

  • Corporate Geek

    I've done some research and testing on my own and found the correct answer:

    The Start screen patterns/wallpapers are not stored in the location shared in previous answers. They are stored as resources inside one .dll file: C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll.

    For each pattern, there are five versions:

    • The mini preview of the pattern displayed in PC Settings.
    • Background image for devices with low resolutions.
    • Background image for devices with medium-resolutions.
    • Background image for devices with high resolution.
    • Large preview of how the Start screen will look when using the selected pattern, shown in PC Settings.

    To extract these images, you need to use a special tool named Resource Hacker.

    Regarding the copyright - what has been shared previously is correct. You can't use them in your app even if its a free app.

    Complete information, including a step by step guide on how to extract these patterns from the imageres.dll file, can be found here: Where are the Start Screen Patterns Located & How to Extract Them?.