IT Services Circle

Oct 15, 2025 · Fundamentals

The Untold Story Behind Windows XP’s Iconic “Bliss” Wallpaper

This article recounts how a 1996 photograph of a Napa Valley hillside, taken by Charles O'Rear, became the world’s most viewed image after Microsoft bought its rights and used it as the default wallpaper for Windows XP, shaping the OS’s legacy.