Servers: W2k8 R2 x64
Desktops: Win7 Pro x64

Our current group policy uses a custom ADM file to define certain properties of the desktop (Background Image (centered), Background Color is green (00 74 00)). This policy works for us, but the down-side is that policies defined in our custom ADM are only applied after a GPUpdate /Force is applied. We would like these desktop theme settings to be applied the first time the user logs onto the computer.

I've been working on a new policy that forces the computer to wait for the network when the user logs on to handle folder redirection. The reason for writing the new policy was to resolve the issue that a user needs to run GPupdate /Force the first time they log in, so it doesn't make sense for me to implement the new policy if there is still something that requires GPUpdate /Force to get the user in the state that we want them.

I've moved the setting for background image out into Admin Templates-> Desktop-> Desktop-> "Desktop Wallpaper" so this is now being set properly when the user first logs in.

Now I'm left with a black background until I force a group policy update. I have tried to play around with setting a default "Theme" and had limited success; this was not reliable enough to call a solution.

I suppose I could set the background color with a script? Any thoughts? It feels like I'm missing something obvious, or that this should be much easier than it is.