Do not display the lock screen

This policy setting controls whether the lock screen appears for users. If you enable this policy setting users that are not required to press CTRL + ALT + DEL before signing in will see their selected tile after locking their PC. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting users that are not required to press CTRL + ALT + DEL before signing in will see a lock screen after locking their PC. They must dismiss the lock screen using touch the keyboard or by dragging it with the mouse.

Force a specific visual style file or force Windows Classic

This setting allows you to force a specific visual style file by entering the path (location) of the visual style file. This can be a local computer visual style (aero. msstyles) or a file located on a remote server using a UNC path ( -> -> Server -> Share -> aero. msstyles). If you enable this setting the visual style file that you specify will be used. Also a user may not apply a different visual style when changing themes. If you disable or do not configure this setting the users can select the visual style that they want to use by changing themes (if the Personalization Control Panel is available). Note: If this setting is enabled and the file is not available at user logon the default visual style is loaded. Note: When running Windows XP you can select the Luna visual style by typing %windir% -> resources -> Themes -> Luna -> Luna. msstylesNote: To select the Windows Classic visual style leave the box blank beside “Path to Visual Style:” and enable this setting. When running Windows 8 or Windows RT you cannot apply the Windows Classic visual style.

Prevent changing visual style for windows and buttons

Prevents users or applications from changing the visual style of the windows and buttons displayed on their screens. When enabled on Windows XP this setting disables the “Windows and buttons” drop-down list on the Appearance tab in Display Properties. When enabled on Windows XP and later systems this setting prevents users and applications from changing the visual style through the command line. Also a user may not apply a different visual style when changing themes.

Load a specific theme

Specifies which theme file is applied to the computer the first time a user logs on. If you enable this setting the theme that you specify will be applied when a new user logs on for the first time. This policy does not prevent the user from changing the theme or any of the theme elements such as the desktop background color sounds or screen saver after the first logon. If you disable or do not configure this setting the default theme will be applied at the first logon.

Prevent changing theme

This setting disables the theme gallery in the Personalization Control Panel. If you enable this setting users cannot change or save a theme. Elements of a theme such as the desktop background color sounds and screen saver can still be changed (unless policies are set to turn them off). If you disable or do not configure this setting there is no effect. Note: If you enable this setting but do not specify a theme using the “load a specific theme” setting the theme defaults to whatever the user previously set or the system default.