Screen Saver Insanity

[Guest]

So, I recently got a new Dell Inspiron E1505 Notebook, Windows Vista, but I
was so upset because the screen saver wouldn't work even though it worked on
the preview! And I really wanted it because it was these cute little bubbly
things that floated around and bumped into each other. So, I tell this nice
Indian dude at Dell, and he installs ATI CATALYST (R) Control Center and some
random updates, and - viola! - it worked like a charm after 2 hours of
installation. Then today, I had to call tech support again, and the guy
installs the BIOS hardware update & printer driver to get my printer to work,
and now my screen saver won't work again! So I lost my beautiful bubbles
and if anyone has any suggestions as to how to get them working again, I'd
appreciate it cause I'm sorta tired of calling Dell.

 

[HB]

Elaine, I just got my screensaver problem resolved a few minutes ago. The
problem was my wireless mouse. I had to install the Microsoft HID Non-User
Input Data Filter. You can find it in Windows Update. My screensaver works
like a charm.

Hope this helps.
HB

 

[Guest]

Thank you, yes, that's a great suggestion since I do have a wireless mouse,
but it's been installed for quite some time now and my bubbles still don't
work. : (

 

[dean-dean]

Make sure your mouse's wireless receiver is plugged in and active (this is
important). Go to Control Panel (Classic View) > Windows Update. Click on
Check for Updates. Choose to install the Optional Hardware Update called
"Microsoft HID Non-User Input Data Filter". Your screensaver, with a
wireless mouse, should now work.

 

[Guest]

Ok, so I took my laptop completely out of the docking station and unplugged
it, meaning the wireless mouse no longer may interfere, yet still the
screensaver not working.

 

[dean-dean]

No. Just leave your wireless mouse, docking station, etc. as you normally
use it. You need an update for the wireless mouse driver, but you won't be
offered the update unless Window Update can "see" that you are using a
wireless mouse. So it must be up and running. Go to Control Panel (Classic
View) > Windows Update. Click on Check for Updates. Choose to install the
Optional Hardware Update called "Microsoft HID Non-User Input Data Filter".
Your screensaver, after this update, should work (the old driver interfered
with the screensavers ability to function correctly).

Ok, so I took my laptop completely out of the docking station and
unplugged
it, meaning the wireless mouse no longer may interfere, yet still the
screensaver not working.

 

[Guest]

Yeah, that's what the Dell guy did the first time, and he got it working.
But now, after the 2nd time when the Dell people installed the printer driver
and BIOS update, it no longer works. Perhaps the printer driver installation
interfers with the screen saver?

 

[dean-dean]

In other words, the Optional Hardware Update called "Microsoft HID Non-User
Input Data Filter" isn't offered using Windows Update? Check to see if it's
offered again. Something may have gotten reset to the wrong driver file
when your printer driver was installed, since your printer may be a USB
item, like your mouse.

If the above doesn't work, since you are running a Dell, right-click your
Taskbar and choose Task Manager. On the Processes tab, right-click
pcmservice.exe, and choose End Process. Does your screensaver work after
doing that?

 

[Guest]

Yeah, it's not offered and I've checked at least 5 times, lol. I tried your
second suggestion, but pcmservice.exe isn't offered in the Task Manager.

 

[dean-dean]

On the Processes tab, you may have to put a check next to "Show processes
from all users", in order to see it.

You could try this. Go to the main Windows Update window and click on
"Installed Updates" (on the left-hand side of the window, at the bottom),
and then remove "Microsoft HID Non-User Input Data Filter" (only). Reboot.
Go back to Windows Update, and reinstall the same update.

 

[Guest]

That's a great idea! But how do I know which one it is? All the updates are
listed by a bunch of numbers and letters, not by the name.

 

[Guest]

Ok, so I figured out how to end process for pcmservice.exe. Still no
bubbles. *tear*

 

[dean-dean]

Well, try going to Windows Update, and choose View Update History, on the
main page. Does it list "Microsoft HID Non-User Input Data Filter"? or
*possibly* KB911895? If you double-click on an entry, it will give a little
more information about the update. If you find it, go to Installed Updates,
to remove it. If it's not there (don't guess at it), go to Control
Panel\Programs and Features, and see if it's listed there. If it's not
there, go to Control Panel (Classic View), and click on Device Manager.
Expand the "Mice and other pointing devices" entry, or "Mouse" entry.
Double-click "HID-compliant mouse". On the Driver tab of the window that
pops up, click on Roll Back Driver, if it's not grayed out. Reboot if it
asks you to. Then try Windows Update again, to reinstall.

 

[Guest]

Unfortunately, I can't figure out how to uninstall it. It doesn't seem to be
listed in the installed updates at all, and on the View Update History, has
no numbers next to it.

At this point, should I run a repair on Windows? Someone suggested I do
this, but I am somewhat ignorant when it comes to this.

 

[Ian Betts]

In other words, the Optional Hardware Update called "Microsoft HID
Non-User
Input Data Filter" isn't offered using Windows Update? Check to see if
it's
offered again. Something may have gotten reset to the wrong driver file
when your printer driver was installed, since your printer may be a USB
item, like your mouse.

If the above doesn't work, since you are running a Dell, right-click your
Taskbar and choose Task Manager. On the Processes tab, right-click
pcmservice.exe, and choose End Process. Does your screensaver work after
doing that?

 

[Ian Betts]

Unfortunately, I can't figure out how to uninstall it. It doesn't seem to
be
listed in the installed updates at all, and on the View Update History,
has
no numbers next to it.

At this point, should I run a repair on Windows? Someone suggested I do
this, but I am somewhat ignorant when it comes to this.

Elaine and dean-Dean

If the mouse dock plugs into the USB and the Printer plugs into a USB it
could just be a conflict.

Suggest you up plug the printer and see if mouse a Screen Saver work. Then
plug the printer into a different USB port.

 

[vikrant]

some useful links for the job

http://www.rtsoftwares.com/screensaver-not-working.html

Ok, so I took my laptop completely out of the docking station and unplugged
it, meaning the wireless mouse no longer may interfere, yet still the
screensaver not working.