Utility to temporarily change the ScreenSaver

I've set the Screensaver time to a low value which suits me most of the
time.

Sometimes, I spend a long period working on the computer and want to
change this screensaver kick-in to a high value, eg 1 hour.

Is there a utility that can do that ? Thanks.

On 4 Jan 2006 22:19:25 -0800, dingdongdingding@yahoo.com wrote:

>I've set the Screensaver time to a low value which suits me most of the
>time.
>
>Sometimes, I spend a long period working on the computer and want to
>change this screensaver kick-in to a high value, eg 1 hour.
>
>Is there a utility that can do that ? Thanks.

The time set is the amount of time that passes without any activity.
Every time you click the mouse or hit a key, it resets the timer. If you're spending long
periods working at the computer, the screensaver should never activate.

Understand.. I may be working on a hardcopy document and cross
referencing with the computer. I don't want to keep hitting the ALT
key.

Is there such a utility to temporarily change the Screensaver timeout
value ? Thanks.

> The time set is the amount of time that passes without any activity.
> Every time you click the mouse or hit a key, it resets the timer. If you're spending long
> periods working at the computer, the screensaver should never activate.

ScreenSaveTimeOut:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d...ntry/34634.asp

Create two separate REG files, one with 60 seconds timeout, and the other
with 3600 seconds timeout value.

How to add, modify, or delete registry subkeys and values by using a
registration entries (.reg) file:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310516

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


<dingdongdingding@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1136443448.523382.27970@z14g2000cwz.googlegro ups.com...
Understand.. I may be working on a hardcopy document and cross
referencing with the computer. I don't want to keep hitting the ALT
key.

Is there such a utility to temporarily change the Screensaver timeout
value ? Thanks.

> The time set is the amount of time that passes without any activity.
> Every time you click the mouse or hit a key, it resets the timer. If
> you're spending long
> periods working at the computer, the screensaver should never activate.

FYI: After the registry modification, the system needs a reboot for the
change to be applied.

Alternately, here is a programmatic way to set the screensaver timeout using
an API call. (SPI_SETSCREENSAVETIMEOUT)

Here is a Visual Basic Code that can help you (if you're know programming).
The code needs to be customized to your needs, and then compiled to an exe.

Retrieve and Set the Screen Saver Timeout Value:
http://www.freevbcode.com/ShowCode.Asp?ID=504

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"Ramesh, MS-MVP" <ramesh@XOX.mvps.org> wrote in message
news:%239pDFXcEGHA.3920@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
ScreenSaveTimeOut:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d...ntry/34634.asp

Create two separate REG files, one with 60 seconds timeout, and the other
with 3600 seconds timeout value.

How to add, modify, or delete registry subkeys and values by using a
registration entries (.reg) file:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310516

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


<dingdongdingding@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1136443448.523382.27970@z14g2000cwz.googlegro ups.com...
Understand.. I may be working on a hardcopy document and cross
referencing with the computer. I don't want to keep hitting the ALT
key.

Is there such a utility to temporarily change the Screensaver timeout
value ? Thanks.

> The time set is the amount of time that passes without any activity.
> Every time you click the mouse or hit a key, it resets the timer. If
> you're spending long
> periods working at the computer, the screensaver should never activate.

On 4 Jan 2006 22:44:08 -0800, dingdongdingding@yahoo.com wrote:

>Understand.. I may be working on a hardcopy document and cross
>referencing with the computer. I don't want to keep hitting the ALT
>key.
>
>Is there such a utility to temporarily change the Screensaver timeout
>value ? Thanks.
>
>> The time set is the amount of time that passes without any activity.
>> Every time you click the mouse or hit a key, it resets the timer. If you're spending long
>> periods working at the computer, the screensaver should never activate.

You COULD create a reg file on the desktop to change the time limit....

Create a new text document on the desktop, and 'copy and paste' the following into it:
(Copy from the "W" in Windows and include a blank line after the "28800")

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"ScreenSaveTimeOut"="28800"


Save, and rename the file to "480.reg". Double-clicking it will give you 480 minutes.

For the sake of argument, lets say your original time limit is 10 minutes....

Copy & paste the 480.reg file, then rename it to "10.reg".
Edit it, and change "ScreenSaveTimeOut"="28800" to "ScreenSaveTimeOut"="600"
Double-clicking it will give you back the 10 minute delay.

(You multiply the time limit minutes by 60 to get the timeout delay.)

I don't understand... if I use the GUI to change the timeout, it works
without a reboot. WHy this case, I need to reboot ?


Ramesh, MS-MVP wrote:
> FYI: After the registry modification, the system needs a reboot for the
> change to be applied.

Using the GUI means it communicates the changes to the system immediately,
using API call. REG files don't do that. That's the reason you need a
program to accomplish the task, using SystemParametersInfo API.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


<dingdongdingding@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1136449938.752050.90720@g49g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
I don't understand... if I use the GUI to change the timeout, it works
without a reboot. WHy this case, I need to reboot ?


Ramesh, MS-MVP wrote:
> FYI: After the registry modification, the system needs a reboot for the
> change to be applied.

I've uploaded a small program to my site, that can change the Screensaver
timeout automatically. Download
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/utils/SetScrTimeout.exe
Save the file to a folder of your choice. (C:\Tools)

Usage
=====

To set the screensaver timeout value to 60 seconds, use this command:

C:\Tools\SetScrTimeout.exe 60

So, create two shortcuts as per your requirement. One with 60 second
timeout, and the other with 3600 seconds ( 1 hour).

Shortcut Target and command-line would be:

"C:\Tools\SetScrTimeout.exe" <timeout value in seconds>

Example:
"C:\Tools\SetScrTimeout.exe" 3600

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"Ramesh, MS-MVP" <ramesh@XOX.mvps.org> wrote in message
news:%23soIcNdEGHA.3856@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
Using the GUI means it communicates the changes to the system immediately,
using API call. REG files don't do that. That's the reason you need a
program to accomplish the task, using SystemParametersInfo API.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


<dingdongdingding@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1136449938.752050.90720@g49g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
I don't understand... if I use the GUI to change the timeout, it works
without a reboot. WHy this case, I need to reboot ?


Ramesh, MS-MVP wrote:
> FYI: After the registry modification, the system needs a reboot for the
> change to be applied.