screen saver in vista ignoring computer settings

M

Mark

Running Vista Home Premium, when I select my pictures as the screen saver
it ignores the settings for the screen to go blank and then eventually sleep
mode. Why when I use my pictures for the screen saver does it ignore the
comptuers settings and continue to scroll pictures. I have noticed this on
more than one vista os machine.

Thanks for any help.
 
H

H Brown

Mark, you posted this question in a post to this same newsgroup on 3/25/2009
at 9:43 AM. Subject: screen saver/power settings. Today 3/30/2009 I replied.
Multi-posting is not going to help.
Anyway this should get you started so you can make the correct setting. Also
go back and read your other post. You now have two post here and this is a
repeat of the first.
Hi Mark
Most of the information you will need comes from Vista Help and Support.
Your question seems to really be about two issues. 1. Using pictures as your
screen saver. 2. Power setting adjustments. Open Help and support and in
the search box type something like *screen saver picture* this will give you
a numbered list of links to at least 30 or more subject heading. Number 3
on the list it turned up for me was 3. "Use pictures as your screen saver" I
clicked that link and read the following:

Use pictures as your screen saver
You can create a personalized screen saver by displaying selected pictures
and videos as a slide show when you are not actively using your computer.

Click to open Screen Saver Settings.
1.. Click the Screen saver list, and then click Photos.

2.. If you want to specify a location for the pictures you want to use in
your screen saver, modify the slide show speed, or configure any other
screen saver settings, click Settings. After you make your changes, click
Save.

3.. Click OK.

While your on this page in Help and Support be sure and read all the
information in the other links that open more info you can use, they are
"Customize your screen saver"
"Improve your screen saver's visuals"
"See your pictures as a slide show"
Now start a new search in the Help and Support window, type "Power Settings"
you will get a numbered list of links, read the first five and you should be
able to adjust your power settings to your liking. They are as follows:
1. What's new in managing power settings
2. Change power management settings
3. Change the function of the Power button on a mobile PC
4. Troubleshoot power problems
5. Power plans: frequently asked questions

There is a drop down list at the bottom right of Help and Support windows
and I recommend you select Help Settings and make sure "Include Windows
Online Help and Support when you search for help" is checked. If you have a
dial up connection to the Internet Microsoft has an optional update you
should have if you don't already, info at this link.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/937286
Mark, the above information is not all that is in your help files on the
subject of this posting. Help and Support is a good starting place for the
type things most people need to do. The only problem seems to come for
people being in to big of a hurry and not slowing down so they fully
comprehend the instructions or directions.

H Brown
 
M

Mark

Although I appreciate your help the problem exists that when there is more
than 50 pictures to scroll through the power settings are ignored. If you
select a folder that has less then 50 pictures in it then the power settings
work. To clarify the power settings work. Where the problem exists is when
you use the screen saver to display pictures that are on the machine.
 
H

H Brown

Remove any video files from the folder you are using for the Photos Screen
Saver.
H Brown
 
M

Mark

Okay thanks, so if I select a picture folder that has 100 images in (no
video) it should not override the power settings because it seems from
personal and web surfing that if there are 50 or more images in a folder the
power settings do not work.
 
H

H Brown

I have seen one or two other reports of this activity a year or so ago.
But I do have some thoughts that may give you some food for thought. Then,
to it opens up questions about your about timing.
If 50 pictures, how long does it take to shuffle 1-50? Do you get to view
all 50 before Display will turn off at specified amount of time? Have you
varied the time setting on the rotation of pictures, High, med ,low,5sec.
etc. What is your power setting to turn off the Display? What is you power
setting to power down your Hdd after being idle for x amount of time. Try
increasing the amount of time at least proportionately to the number of
pictures before the display is to turn off. Try two folders of images of
only one file type such as .gif and put 50 in one and 51 or more in the
other and see if your results are the same as now. Do the same for like
file types for different extensions. Play with different settings for
Display and hard drive in order to see if anything will cause a different
action. Start with a folder of 50 and make your power setting from what
they are now to 4x and see if the same thing happens. Then add (one) or a
few more pictures to that folder and see if the results vary. I do think
having only image type files in a folder will make a difference and also the
type images can cause different result. The power of your video graphics
card could come into play as well. I feel if you had a folder with .bmp
file type or .jpg may vary the 50/51. Perhaps its not the number of files
but the total size of the files in the folder that makes the difference and
of course the processing required for those files.
You may have setting e.g. asking you Antivirus program to do its indexing
only when your screen saver is running or even other scheduled task that
also maybe running. Id would think as long as the hard drive is Not idle
could cause different results from time to time. Take a look at your event
logs.
It could be the file types your wanting your video to render. There will be
a good deal of processing going on depending on what and where.
51 images or more - Display will never turn off at specified amount of time
50 images or less - Display will turn off at specified amount of time
Anyway play with these thoughts and you may be able prove or disprove 50/51.

H Brown
 
M

Mark

Thanks for your help. I understand that Vista is different from XP but in
XP it didn't show video but it would keep showing pictures ( even if there
were 1000 in the folder) until the power settings would kick in ( blank
screen after 15 minutes - sleep/hibernate after 45 as an example) but with
Vista it seems like it does not cooperate as smoothly.
 
H

H Brown

Please review your help and support. In help and support search "Use
pictures as your screen saver" you will see a link list. Find the heading
""Use pictures as your screen saver". On this page you will see a heading
"Customize your screen saver." I do not know what or where the folders your
using are stored on your computer. Windows Photo Gallery should be on the
same partition as your operating system, your fastest drive. I feel that if
you would set these pictures or videos up using Windows Photo Gallery you
may like that operation better. The main thing is to go to Screen Saver
Settings from the drop down chose Photos. Then click the settings button and
from the dialog that opens select "Use all pictures and videos from Photo
Gallery". You can add a folder to the Gallery folder and/or create new
folders in the Glllery folders subfolders. All that can be done in the
folder pane of WPG.
H Brown
 

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