I posted this here because this seemed the best place (not sure of any better)...anyhow, is there any interest in a screen saver that runs another screen saver for a set time and then shuts down the computer (like if someone walks away from it a while)? I about have it finished for my sake, just was wondering if there was any interest in something like this for posting it here.

this is kinda what im looking for but not exactly. i have 2 PCs on my desk -my new vista machine connected to my monitor via DVI and my old XP machine that has had issues recently with the screensaver not starting.
the problem comes in when Vista activates the screensaver, 15 minutes goes by and powers off the screen. The monitor detects no input on DVI and switches to VGA where it proceeds to attempt to burn the XP desktop into my 24" LCD monitor (please no one tell me LCD burn-in doesn't occur -I have a 19" LCD in my office with a sunflower desktop wallpaper permanently burnt into it that begs to differ) besides the terror of seeing a ghost XP desktop for the rest of this monitors life, i have to access the menu on the monitor to switch it back to DVI when i return to my desk.

If this program could be modified to start the blank screen screensaver after the interval specified, that would prevent the monitor from switching and let me use a screensaver on this machine again (im using 'blank screen' with a modified power profile at the moment)

After I posted this, I had the thought to set an option in it as to what to do (Standby, Hibernate, Log off, maybe even start the blank screen saver like you suggest - in addition to shutting down the computer). It should be easy enough to do once I get the chance to sit down and finish it up.

I'll just go ahead and post it to this thread when I get it to the point I'm happy with it.

My kids are constantly walking away from the computer and leaving it on all day long. This would be a great thing for me. If there is a link to download it from I would like to give it a try.

Thanks.

Here's a 1st release. I haven't run into issues myself, but by all means let me know how things go if you try it, either way.

copy it into the Windows\System32 directory (if XP) or Windows\System (if 98/ME) to install.

Excellent thanks!!

Hi Glenn. Great idea for a screensaver. I just have one small problem with it though.

When I use the screensaver at the logon screen i.e. when there isn't anyone logged onto the computer, I get the error shown below.



These are the settings I use in the registry.


What do you think would cause this problem?

It would seem when no one is logged in (i.e. as a default screen saver), there is no assigned right for a running program to shut down the system. To shut down a system via software, you have to have the assigned rights as a user to be able to do it. The program assigns those rights before it shuts down. But since there is no user right to assign (i.e. no user to assign those rights to), you see the message you are seeing. See the Microsoft Page on this error for more details.

Does it work without problem if you were to set the action to black screen (just to clarify that I'm on the right track)?

(I'll look into fixing this for the next revision)

I've just tried it with the blank screen screensaver (scrnsave.scr) but unfortunately I still get the same error message.

Thanks for looking into this for me. I really appreciate it.

What I was asking was whether it worked for not if you set the "action" in the configuration to "Black Screen" instead of "Shutdown"...

Hopefully I can look into this and a couple of other things very soon.

This could be somewhat useful. But I would like it to have an option to make the monitor go to standby rather than using a screensaver (the screen is still fully powered on with a screensaver).

'Black Screen' as the action doesn't produce the error. Sorry for the confusion, Glenn.

I'm not sure I understand. The idea is more for to do something with the system so the power requirements will be eliminated/reduced if it is left for a certain period of time unattended. I know many people/places where the computer tends to be left on - the screen saver is an ideal enough solution to do whatever it is. I started out with shutdown, and moved to all the other options.

As far as sending the monitor to standby, is that functionality already not in the Power Options? However, this program will send the whole system to standby in the time period if you were to set it. If there is a concern of the screen saver even running, I guess you could always set it to one minute - you would mainly see the countdown screen that aceuk posted.

(and yes I know the Black Screen option does not turn the monitor off, but as you saw in this thread, it was a requested feature)



Not a problem, thank you for checking into it. That confirmed the problem for me.

Putting the monitor in standby is already in the power options yes, but that wasn't what I meant.

What I meant was the option of using standby rather than a screensaver as the first step (Set screensaver to run: Standby), then after the set time the system would perform the action selected by the user.

It seems to me, unless I'm missing something (and I've been known to do that from time to time), that the screen saver would not be possible under WinLogon. The necessary permissions are not in the main super-user account (the NT kernel's version of Root in Linux - SYSTEM), which runs when the system is booted up. It seems I can't find a way to add those permissions, either (programmatically or through registry). The program could probably (again my guess) impersonate a logged on user to do it through the shutdown app, but it would need to prompt for a user account and (if necessary) password for that to happen - not sure that's too wise from a security standpoint.

I can understand the limitations, though, since it is the super-user account and would effectively bypass all authorizations and security if were possible to add privileges (the malware author's dream). But the odd thing about it is this: NT doesn't stop you from setting SCRNSAVE.EXE in this case to whatever you would like that would run. Perhaps the most ludicrous and silly/stupid thing you could do is set it to EXPLORER.EXE and get a fully working login session (with limits of course, most notable being the only thing you could do is "switch user". You can't log off, shutdown, restart the system, etc, etc. - it's effectively an account with no privileges beyond exactly what's required to run MSGINA).

Interesting stuff, anyhow...

Would it perhaps be possible to interact with a program such as PowerOff (which can run as a service) in order to provide the ability to shutdown/reboot etc. when no one is logged on to the computer?

No. the limitations I mentioned apply to all programs run under SYSTEM and not just the screen saver. I can especially confirm it by looking at the source and seeing that this program requires the same access permissions as mine does to perform a shutdown.

I see what you mean, and I could do this. In fact, I already made a screensaver which has this function (turn off the monitor). Integrating it into the main app hopefully won't be too hard.

Here's a new revision of this screen saver...

Changes:
0.2: Fixed defaults for screen saver name for Windows ME - maybe other 9X systems?
0.2: Wrote check so screen saver will not run & warn of problems if someone tries to run it as a logon screen saver. Windows, as far as I'm aware from my testing, does not allow the application permissions necessary to do any of the configured actions beyond "log off" and "black screen". This makes it effectively useless in function under Win Logon.
0.2: Added option to turn off the monitor as a screen saver action.

Hwat?hwyicannotdownload?

Set the wallpaper to ALL WHITE and empty the desktop (display an all white bitmap or something, full screen) and leave it on for 24-36 hours. That might take care of it.
Worth a try.
disclaimer: read this in some Mac forum once. Never tried it.

yeah i had a PSP that had a dead pixel (right at launch too so getting another wasnt an option)

luckily, somebody figured out if you make a movie that quickly switches from contrasting colors every frame, loop it and let it sit for a few hours, you could actually wake the dead pixel.

i was skeptical but desperate so i tried it and i couldnt believe it actually worked. the 19" display with the burnin is long gone now (got gateway to replace it for us )
but i have a 37" LCD TV that has a powerpoint burnt into it that im gonna try the all white trick on. ill let you know how it goes