Screensaver Time Out resets to value of 1 after each Startup

[MAK 39]

Running Windows XP SP3 on DELL Inspiron 6400/E1505 w/IE8

Just recently my ScreenSaver (I am currently using Google Photos) has not
been retaining my user choice of Wait Time minutes (my case 10 mins) beyond
the current session. This is the case for ANY ScreenSaver I choose. As soon
as I 'Turn Off' and 'Start' or 'ReStart' - my previous ScreenSaver Wait Time
choice reverts to a value of 1.

I have read in another forum that the 1 is actually 1 second and that
Windows displays it as 1 on the Screen Saver Tab of Control Panel - Desktop
(which implies it to be 1 minute) however since it is really 1 second,
Windows interprets that as a value of 0 and therefore decides DO NOT INVOKE
SCREENSAVER AT ALL. This is what I am seeing. Unless I manually re-up the
"1" - in this case to my desired value of 10 - I do not get a ScreenSaver to
come on at all. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Swifty]

I have read in another forum that the 1 is actually 1 second and that
Windows displays it as 1 on the Screen Saver Tab of Control Panel - Desktop
(which implies it to be 1 minute) however since it is really 1 second,
Windows interprets that as a value of 0 and therefore decides DO NOT INVOKE
SCREENSAVER AT ALL. This is what I am seeing. Unless I manually re-up the
"1" - in this case to my desired value of 10 - I do not get a ScreenSaver to
come on at all. Any help would be appreciated.

My delay cannot be set to zero. When it is set to 1, my screen locks
after one minute of inactivity.

I get to this from the "Properties" option from mouse button 2 on the
desktop. It sounds like you are using something different, and which is
actually setting the value to zero.

 

[Tim Meddick]

The registry value for the ScreenSaver timeout period is :

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"ScreenSaveTimeOut"="300"

The value, as an example, here is 300 which, as you quite rightly point out is in
seconds.

This means the 300 equates to 5 minutes of wait time (600 for your desired 10
minutes).

If you open "regedit.exe" at this key and then change the time in the "Wait" box
under "Screensaver Properties" (right-click on your desktop and choose 'Properties'
and then look under the 'ScreenSaver' tab).

You will see the "ScreenSaveTimeOut" value change in RegEdit (on pressing F5 -
refresh).

*****

If you are the Administrator you could alter the "Permissions" for the parent key :
"Desktop" to exclude changes made by the system.

Right-click on the "Desktop" key and choose "Permissions", then click on the
"Advanced" button and "Uncheck" the box marked "Inherit from parent the permission
entries that apply...", then press on the "copy" button when asked.

Then edit the permissions for System (highlight "System" and click on the "Edit"
button) - just check the box "Set Value" in the "deny" column.

This will automatically "Uncheck" the same value in the "Allow" and "Full" columns.

Press [ok] and [ok] to exit the boxes...

The value should now NOT change after YOU have set it.

*****

*Note - Please exercise care when editing the registry, always create a backup and /
or create a 'System Restore' point first.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.