diff --git a/src/ci_orchestrator/winimage/assets/post-install.win.ps1.tmpl b/src/ci_orchestrator/winimage/assets/post-install.win.ps1.tmpl
index 3485b10..e403d7d 100644
--- a/src/ci_orchestrator/winimage/assets/post-install.win.ps1.tmpl
+++ b/src/ci_orchestrator/winimage/assets/post-install.win.ps1.tmpl
@@ -263,6 +263,12 @@ reg add 'HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced' /v Hi
 reg add 'HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced' /v LaunchTo    /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f | Out-Null
 L 'Explorer UX tweaks applied (HKCU)'
 
+# ── No desktop wallpaper — solid black background (headless CI VM) ────────
+reg add 'HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop' /v Wallpaper      /t REG_SZ /d ''      /f | Out-Null
+reg add 'HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop' /v WallpaperStyle /t REG_SZ /d 0       /f | Out-Null
+reg add 'HKCU\Control Panel\Colors'  /v Background      /t REG_SZ /d '0 0 0' /f | Out-Null
+L 'Wallpaper removed (black background, HKCU)'
+
 # ── Taskbar / terminal UX tweaks ─────────────────────────────────────────
 # SearchboxTaskbarMode=0   hide search bar
 # ShowTaskViewButton=0     hide Task View button
@@ -278,8 +284,12 @@ reg add 'HKU\DefaultUser2\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search'
 reg add 'HKU\DefaultUser2\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced' /v ShowTaskViewButton    /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f | Out-Null
 reg add 'HKU\DefaultUser2\Console\%Startup' /v DelegationConsole  /t REG_SZ /d '{E12CFF52-A866-4C77-9A90-F570A7AA2C6B}' /f | Out-Null
 reg add 'HKU\DefaultUser2\Console\%Startup' /v DelegationTerminal /t REG_SZ /d '{E12CFF52-A866-4C77-9A90-F570A7AA2C6B}' /f | Out-Null
+# No wallpaper / black background as the default for any future profile.
+reg add 'HKU\DefaultUser2\Control Panel\Desktop' /v Wallpaper      /t REG_SZ /d ''      /f | Out-Null
+reg add 'HKU\DefaultUser2\Control Panel\Desktop' /v WallpaperStyle /t REG_SZ /d 0       /f | Out-Null
+reg add 'HKU\DefaultUser2\Control Panel\Colors'  /v Background      /t REG_SZ /d '0 0 0' /f | Out-Null
 reg unload HKU\DefaultUser2 2>&1 | Out-Null
-L 'Taskbar: search hidden, task view hidden, WT default terminal'
+L 'Taskbar: search hidden, task view hidden, WT default terminal, no wallpaper'
 
 # ── Wait for VMware Tools install to settle (kicked off at top) ──────────
 # Wrapper returned immediately while msiexec runs async. Poll until: