Screensaver not working

[JohnBoyII]

The screensaver has always been set to kick in after 5 minutes, but now it seems to be permanently turned off. Even after an hour it doesn't come on. I've checked the Display control panel and its the same as before.

Have I pressed something somewhere by mistake?

 

[Rider]

What operating system is it? Did it happen for no reason, or was it after installing software/hardware?

 

[JohnBoyII]

Its Windows XP. I haven't installed any hardware, the only change is that there were some automatic Windows updates during the night.

I did a search in Google and theres a lot of people with the same problem, it seems to occur a lot after wireless keyboard/mouse installation, but I don't have that.

I had a look in Task Manager and theres a lot of processes running, it might be due to one of them, but I don't know which.

 

[Rider]

I don't think it would be anything to do with other processes. Does the screen still go blank after a certain number of minutes and is the screensaver set to kick in a number of minutes before that happens?

For example, screensaver starts after 5 minutes and power down (or monitor off) after 10 minutes ...and not the other way around.

 

[JohnBoyII]

The screen doesn't go blank at all, it just displays whatever is there. Current setting is the screensaver starts after 5 minutes and power down after 10 minutes.

 

[Rider]

No experience of the problem personally but perhaps you could follow up on the fact that the power settings aren't working, rather than researching reasons for the screensaver not cutting in. If you use the search term 'power settings xp not working', some results come up that could be worth looking into.

 

[Chris2001]

This maybe a bit of a shot in the dark here John. But I have had similar issues a long time ago and it came down to a cheap/faulty laser mouse.

From what I know I think that laser mice kind of go into a sleep mode when left for a little while and wake up the moment you move them. It happens that the faulty/cheap laser mouse was going to sleep on my system, but waking itself backup with nobody in the room. Which was enough for windows to think you are using the mouse and stop any energy settings/screen saver kicking in.

 

[JohnBoyII]

I've seen the posts about the wireless and laser mouse problems. Sadly I've only got an old-fashion wired, rollerball mouse.

The power setting route sounds promising. There's a lot of posts about it too but no solution yet. It seems theres different programs causing the problem. Guess I'll just have to keep looking.

 

[Chris2001]

Well the next steps I would take would be these John:

1. Run windows in safe mode and see if the problem still occurs,
Shut down your PC, wait 30 secs and restart and Press F8 for the startup menu to appear - Choose Safe mode. Restart your PC to exit Safe Mode when done.

2. Run System File Checker to check for missing/corrupt/incorrect file versions of windows system files,
You will need the XP disc for this - Not sure if a Restore disc will work with this method! Slip the CD in the drive, now click Start, pick Run and in the box type: cmd (enter) A new black window appears with a flashing cursor.

Now type this: sfc /scannow (enter)

SFC will now check for errors, this may take some time! If it finds any issues fix them and once finished shutdown and restart to see if this fixes your problem.

3. As a final step i'd backup my important docs and then either hit a restore point or last known good configuation to see if this fixes the issue.

 

[simonpolly]

The screensaver has always been set to kick in after 5 minutes, but now it seems to be permanently turned off. Even after an hour it doesn't come on. I've checked the Display control panel and its the same as before.

Have I pressed something somewhere by mistake?

Me too i`ve had it for a couple of years now,i`m using xp also,i`ve tried allsorts of things to cure it,is not a virus or trojan and still did it with a normal mouse and keyboard(non wireless),i just live with it now,having said that ocassionally the screensaver will work