Screen Savers don't work

[Guest]

Running WinXP another program has taken over control of .scr files. My
screensavers will no longer initialize. When I go to a hot spot notepad tries
to open the .scr file.
How can I put Windows back in control of the .scr files? I already tried
uninstalling the other program, which didnt help at all.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Windows® XP File Association Fixes
Copyright 2003 - Doug Knox
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

Read the instructions. Then get...

SCR File Association Fix (Restore default associations for SCR files)

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Richard Urban]

Installing AutoCAD will do this. It takes over the .scr extension for use
with it's own program for scripting purposes. If you indeed have AutoCAD
installed, you must decide which you "need" more, screensavers or AutoCAD
scripting services.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Guest]

Wes,
Thanks, that helped.
My screensaver's hotspot now launches the screensaver, however, my
screensavers still won't auto launch. I can preview and activate via a
hotspot.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

What other program did you uninstall?

What is a hotspot? Do you mean double clicking a .scr file? That is the
equivalent of a Test or Preview.

Are your *.scr files in the C:\WINDOWS\system32 folder or %windir%\system32?

Is there a Group Policy set for screen savers?

Have you done this?

To set or change a screen saver
1. Open Display in Control Panel. Or right click the Desktop, select
Properties and click the Screen Saver tab.
2. On the Screen Saver tab, under Screen saver, click a screen saver in the
list.

Notes
* To open Display, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and
then double-click Display.
* After you select a screen saver, it will automatically start when your
computer is idle for the number of minutes specified in Wait.
* To clear the screen saver after it has started, move your mouse or press
any key.
* To view possible setting options for a particular screen saver, click
Settings on the Screen Saver tab.
* Click Preview to see how the selected screen saver will appear on your
monitor. Move your mouse or press any key to end the preview.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[DP]

I believe a hot spot, in this context, is a place on the screen where, if
you place your cursor (and perhaps do another action) your screensaver will
start.

I remember that from the early days of the flying toaster screensaver
(Berkely?); though I'd completely forgotten about it until now.

I don't think the built-in windows screen savers have hot spots, though I
could be wrong.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Thanks for that info, I never knew that.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

Wes,

The offending program was AutoCad. Your previous tip did put windows back in
charge of .scr files and so far it has stayed that way.
I also uninstalled an aquarium sreen saver around the same time this problem
started. I used the uninstall program that came with the screen saver.

I have a couple screen savers that have a 'hotspot' fuction. I leave the
cursor in a particular spot for a few seconds and the screen saver launches.
That now works fine.

I can also launch any screen saver via the right-click on the desktop, or by
double-clicking the .scr

Most of my .scr files are in the c:\windows\system32, a few are also in the
c:\windows directory. They can all be launched through double-click or
desktop properties.
I suspect that the uninstalled screen saver took something else out with it.

 

[David Candy]

You are aware that a dbl clicked scr file isn't a screensaver but a pretty drawing program. When a screensaver (as opposed to a pretty drawing program) starts it gets it's own logon desktop to run on.