Daily Countdown Wallpaper for Windows

This project provides a PowerShell script (with an optional batch bootstrapper) that automatically downloads a base image, renders a countdown text until a target date, and sets it as the Windows desktop wallpaper.
It also installs a scheduled task so that the wallpaper is updated silently every day and at user logon.

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Features

• Downloads a fresh base image daily from GitHub.
• Draws centered text with shadow and background (e.g., “X days left…”).
• Updates the Windows wallpaper automatically.
• Runs silently in the background (no visible PowerShell window).
• Task Scheduler integration:
  • Daily at a chosen time (default 00:30).
  • At logon.
• Supports fallback if download fails (uses last cached image).

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Files

• script1.ps1
  Main PowerShell script: handles image download, rendering, wallpaper update, and scheduled task creation (with hidden VBScript launcher).

• run_wallpaper_silent.vbs (generated automatically)
  Tiny VBScript used to launch the PowerShell script silently.

• bootstrap.bat
  Batch file that downloads the latest script1.ps1 from GitHub into %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\ and executes it.

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Installation

1. Clone or download this repository, or simply use the provided batch bootstrapper:

   @echo off
   set "psScript=%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\script1.ps1"
   
   echo download...
   powershell -Command "Invoke-WebRequest -Uri https://raw.githubusercontent.com/<username>/<repo>/main/AutoCustomBackgroundDesktop/script1.ps1 -OutFile '%psScript%'"
   
   if exist "%psScript%" (
       echo success
       powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "%psScript%"
   ) else (
       echo error
   )

   Replace <username>/<repo> with this repository path.

2. Run the batch file once.

   • It will download and execute the PowerShell script.
   • The script creates the VBScript launcher and registers the scheduled task.

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Configuration

• Target date is currently set to 2025-05-15 inside script1.ps1:

  $targetDay = Get-Date "2025-05-15"

  Change this line to your desired date.

• Scheduled time defaults to 00:30:

  $dailyTime = "00:30"

  Update this to another time if needed.

• Base image URL can be replaced with your own image source.

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How It Works

1. Download – Grabs the base image daily with cache-busting.
2. Render – Draws countdown text with font, shadow, and semi-transparent background.
3. Set wallpaper – Calls Windows API (SystemParametersInfo) to apply the image.
4. Silent updates – A VBScript launcher is created, and Task Scheduler runs it daily and at logon, hidden from the user.

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Requirements

• Windows 10 / 11
• PowerShell 5+ (or PowerShell 7 with Windows compatibility)
• .NET Framework (for System.Drawing)