Screensaver doesn’t go on

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Somewhere around four or five hours, or even less, after I turn on or reboot my computer, the screensaver stops working. Of course, it will start to work again once I reboot again, but that’s not the greatest of the options. Can anyone tell me what might be causing this and how to fix it?

Thanks,
Ellen

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Can anyone tell me what might be causing this and how to fix it?

“db” ,
Check your Control Panel>Power Options>Edit Plan Settings…and if necessary “Change advanced power settings”:cheers: Regards Fred

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Thanks, but that is not the problem. The monitor turns off when I have it set to turn off, even when the screensaver fails to go on.

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Thanks, but that is not the problem. The monitor turns off when I have it set to turn off, even when the screensaver fails to go on.

“db” Hello… Just another thought…. check your Registry entries against my settings for my XP OS.

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What screensaver are you using?

Joe

--Joe

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Just a screensaver that comes with XP.

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Have you checked the event logs to see if errors are being logged?

If you are using a screensaver to display pictures make sure that there are only pictures in the folder(s) being used.

Joe

--Joe

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There don’t seem to be any errors associated with this issue. Thanks, though.

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Do it make any difference which screensaver you use?

Joe

--Joe

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No, there’s no difference. And there’s no difference if I use a screensaver that didn’t come with XP.

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Do you start some program that simulates keystrokes to keep a connection active?

What processes are running when this happens that were not running when the system was booted?

Joe

--Joe

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>Do you start some program that simulates keystrokes to keep a connection active?What processes are running when this happens that were not running when the system was booted?<

On a typical day, I start up all the programs that I run all day in the morning.

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Fred,

How do I navigate to screensaver in the registry?

thanks

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Fred,

How do I navigate to screensaver in the registry?

thanks

“db”

Hello… If you look at the bottom part of my screen shot , you can see the “path” …Regards Fred

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That doesn’t work for me; mine is slightly different. I need to see the top.

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db,
I replaced the original screen shot with one with the “Top” view. What version of XP are you using?…Regards Fred

PS: See this MS KB

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I have a wireless mouse, and I noticed that my screensaver stopped activating when I installed the mouse. I haven’t unplugged the USB receiver to check, but I’d guess that the computer is still active, so the screensaver is never activated.

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I have a wireless mouse, and I noticed that my screensaver stopped activating when I installed the mouse. I haven’t unplugged the USB receiver to check, but I’d guess that the computer is still active, so the screensaver is never activated.

You can fix that with an update / download. I did it on the laptop that had a wireless mouse and it fixed it. In my case the wireless mouse also stopped the laptop going to sleep. Will try to remember where the web page was for you.

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Hi Fred,

OK, no problems with the screensaver in the registry, as I suspected, since it does work some of the time.

Just to see what happens, I disabled the HID, even though I am running my own computer as the administrator.

Ellen

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db
One other thought are you running a MS wireless Keyboard Mouse? Also what version of XP?…Regards Fred

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>One other thought are you running a MS wireless Keyboard Mouse? Also what version of XP?<

Home Edition 2002, SP2.

Just like when you go to get something like your car repaired, and when the mechanic looks at it, it's not doing whatever it was doing that caused you to bring it into the shop for the first place, I have not had the problem with my screensaver today, so I can't say if the disabling of the HID has had any effect.

Ellen

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db,
You might check that your “HID” device is up to date “Driver wise” also ( I can’t believe that I’m saying this) you might after doing a full OS image..Update to SP-3… and see what shakes out …. No harm done if you have the “Image”, as you can always go back. Recommend 3rd party Macrium Reflect Free V 5’s They work and can Image with “Compression”…. Also you can mount the Image and verify it as well.

PS: Macrium Reflect Free Version 5 Just make sure you “Burn” a “Recovery disk”

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Hi Fred,

>Also you can mount the Image and verify it as well.<

I am using Acronis, but I've never been able to get these terms explained to me to my satisfaction. Can you explain precisely what mounting an image means?

Thanks,
Ellen

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Hi Fred,

>Also you can mount the Image and verify it as well.<

I am using Acronis, but I've never been able to get these terms explained to me to my satisfaction. Can you explain precisely what mounting an image means?

"db"
Yes.. When you make an "Image" With Acronis or Macrium it will store the Image in a form that you can look at ….Just like looking at your OS (My Computer) or an individual folder file. You do this by "Mounting the Image " With Acronis you just double click on the Image file and keep double clicking each screen,to drill down until your at the point you want to see. (whole OS or an individual folder file). With Macrium you double click on the Image and you will be presented a popup to assign a drive letter …once you select it …the Image appears as another Drive in My Computer… with Macrium when your finished looking, or copying folders files out you then "Un-Mount" the image …Right click and then choose Un-Mount Macrium Image. Windows Backup is not so easy to look at things … If you click on one of the several folders created …Your first response is Wha!…What is this??…It's a mess in my opinion …One of the reasons i don't use or recommend Windows Backup ….Its both "Clunky and "Clumsy"… must have been written by someones "son-in-law" in MS:lol: Hope this helps … if not post back and I'll give it another try…Regards Fred

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Fred,

With Acronis TI, double-clicking will show me any file as if it were a file on my C: drive, but it doesn’t act like a duplicate of the operating system. The right-click menu offers the option of mounting the image, but I haven’t tried it, because I’m not sure what the consequences might be. If you haven’t figured out by now, I’m very cautious in trying anything, an approach that has worked for me, as I haven’t had any disasters with my nearly 10-year-old computer so far.

Ellen

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Fred,

With Acronis TI, double-clicking will show me any file as if it were a file on my C: drive, but it doesn’t act like a duplicate of the operating system.

db,
Acronis TI will only show you (Double Clicking) on the Image a “duplicate” of your OS ( Root)…Only if you have made a Full Image Backup of your whole OS ( HD or Partition). Then when you do this …it will look just as the original Hard Drive or partition…Like when you click on “My Computer”. If you only backed up Files Folders …that’s all it will show. As i only backup whole partitions (with OS’s on them) that’s what i see with Acronis Images. Remember you can’t boot from the Image …Until you recover it to where the Image was taken from….It’s like a “Snapshot”:cheers: Regards Fred

PS: With Acronis you get to choose what kind of “Backup ” you want to perform….

PPS: If you select “Mount” Acronis will show another screen to let you select a Drive Letter. Similar to Macrium Reflect.

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If you’re having any power management conflicts, including screen saver probles, go into your BIOS at powering on, and make sure it is set so that Windows, not the BIOS, is doing your power management. If the two are in conflict, this could be causing your problem.

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Somewhere around four or five hours, or even less, after I turn on or reboot my computer, the screensaver stops working. Of course, it will start to work again once I reboot again, but that’s not the greatest of the options. Can anyone tell me what might be causing this and how to fix it?

Thanks,
Ellen

not 100% sure but i have had that problem with both xp and 98se.
it seems to be related to what program was running at the time.
perhaps also with interactions of other ones too.
but may also be caused by race conditions that occasionally causes win to fail to work right.

usually stopping what is running [or starting another program that is active on the screen] and making similar changes wakes up the screen saver for me.

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Speedball is most correct. Programs running at the kernel level may keep the OS in an “active state”. Take note of what programs are running when the screensaver fails to intitiate compared to when it starts correctly. Also note if having a program running full screen makes a difference.

Where’s Ted?

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As far as I can tell, it makes no difference what I run or when or how. The screensaver works intermittently. Yesterday it stopped working almost right away, and today it worked all day, and I didn’t do anything differently today than I did yesterday that I can think of. {: /

Ellen

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Found it. This MS support page “The screen saver does not start after you install a wireless pointing device” at
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/913405

has several suggestions. For us the Optional Hardware Update “Microsoft HID Non-User Input Data Filter” was the solution. Installed that, rebooted and the screensaver kicks in and it goes to sleep all by itself.

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