Screen Saver prevents monitor from turning off

  • Thread starter Thread starter D.P. Roberts
  • Start date Start date
D

D.P. Roberts

I recently got a new computer running Windows Vista and everything is
working great except the monitor won't turn off automatically like it
should. My Screen Saver starts fine after 3 minutes of inactivity - I'm
using the built-in My Pictures Slideshow that shows personal pictures &
video clips. But the monitor never turns off even though I have it
configured to auto-power off after 30 minutes of inactivity - it just stays
on all day running my screen saver. If I change the screen saver to a
different one the monitor turns off after 30 minutes like it should. The
problem seems limited to the My Pictures Slideshow screen saver. This is
troubling because this same configuration worked fine with Windows XP (the
only difference was that XP's My Pictures Slideshow did not include videos -
it only showed pictures). Is this just a bug in Vista or is there something
I can do to resolve the problem?

Thanks for any suggestions out there!
 
Well, after further testing last night I think I know what is happening but
I have no idea how to fix it. When using the "Photos" screensaver in Vista,
it displays 50 pictures and then does some kind of 'reset' that makes the
monitor think user input has occurred, thus preventing the monitor from
turning off like you expect. This 'reset' is visibly noticeable because
after the 50th picture has been displayed, it fades away slowly to a black
screen, pauses a moment, and then continues displaying the next 50 pictures
seamlessly with no breaks. This pattern continues in the same manner
indefinitely. This bug only seems to happen when using the "Photos"
screensaver.

Now, the Photos screensaver lets you choose between 3 speeds - Slow, Medium,
and Fast, and the speeds take 7, 5, and 3 minutes respectively to reach 50
pictures and do the reset. SO, if you're using the Slow speed and configure
your monitor to turn off after 5 minutes or less, it will turn off as
expected. But if you configure your monitor to turn off after 10 minutes or
more, it will not work - the monitor will stay on all day because the
'reset' happens every 7 minutes. I like to have the screensaver start after
2 minutes and the monitor turn off after 30 minutes. This worked fine in XP
but not in Vista for the reasons pointed out above.

So here's the big question: Anyone know how to prevent the 'reset' from
happening after every 50 pictures are displayed in the "Photos" screensaver?
 
Are there 50 pictures in the directory? It might be reaching the
end of the directory and going back to the beginning.

You might be able to work it by choosing shuffle.
 
No, there are more than 1,000 pictures in the directory, including several
subdirectories of photos as well. The screensaver displays pictures from any
of these subdirectories. I've tried with and without shuflling and the
problem happens either way.
 
Then it might be a memory error.

That's a lot of pictures to load. If superfetch
is trying to load them. I can't say.

Have you checked the error logs?
 
I don't think it's trying to load all the pictures - the same problem
happens if I point the screensaver to a folder containing less than 100
photos. Yes, I checked the event logs but didn't see anything suspicious.
Can anyone try duplicating this behavior? I'm curious if it is a general
vista bug or an isolated case.

Thanks for the responses...
 
I just tested it on another machine running a different version of Vista and
the same problem happens, so this is likely a general Vista bug that affects
everyone (the 2 versions I've tried this with are Vista Business and Vista
Enterprise). For those just joining this thread, here's a summary of the
bug:

If you configure your Vista screen saver to use the "Photos" option and
point it to a directory containing more than 50 pictures, the following
behavior occurs:

*When the screen saver runs, the screen fades to black and pauses for a
moment after every 50 pictures are displayed.
*This pause causes a 'reset' on the internal timer used by the monitor's
auto-power-off (Turn Off Display) setting.
*The end result is that your monitor will never auto-power-off when using
this screen saver, unless you set the auto-power-off to 2 or 3 minutes (so
it happens before the screen saver gets to the 50th picture).
*This problem happens regarldess of which speed you select (Slow, Medium, or
Fast), and it happens whether Shuffle is used or not.
*If your picture directory has 50 or fewer pictures, this problem does not
occur.
 
This sounds cool- gonna test

D.P. Roberts said:
I just tested it on another machine running a different version of Vista
and the same problem happens, so this is likely a general Vista bug that
affects everyone (the 2 versions I've tried this with are Vista Business
and Vista Enterprise). For those just joining this thread, here's a summary
of the bug:

If you configure your Vista screen saver to use the "Photos" option and
point it to a directory containing more than 50 pictures, the following
behavior occurs:

*When the screen saver runs, the screen fades to black and pauses for a
moment after every 50 pictures are displayed.
*This pause causes a 'reset' on the internal timer used by the monitor's
auto-power-off (Turn Off Display) setting.
*The end result is that your monitor will never auto-power-off when using
this screen saver, unless you set the auto-power-off to 2 or 3 minutes (so
it happens before the screen saver gets to the 50th picture).
*This problem happens regarldess of which speed you select (Slow, Medium,
or Fast), and it happens whether Shuffle is used or not.
*If your picture directory has 50 or fewer pictures, this problem does not
occur.
Click to expand...
 
sorry nope, my Dell monitor quite happily went to sleep. (amber indicator)

I did see the fade-to-black, then 11 more pictures appeared, then my monitor
turned off.
over 3000 pics in the folder, screensaver set to run at 1 minute, power off
at 5 min.
 
Ralph,
What speed is your "Photos" screen saver set to? At the Slow setting it
takes about 7 minutes to reach 50 pictures so you may need to change the
monitor's auto-power-off to 10 minutes to be sure. You saw the fade to
black, so I'm assuming you're using either the Medium or Fast setting,
right? Also, what version of Vista are you running? Perhaps it's only a
problem with certain versions. I've tried it on two different machines (both
are Dell Optiplex GX620 with Dell monitors) running two different versions
of Vista (Business & Enterprise). Anyway, thanks for the info...
 
D.P. Roberts said:
Ralph,
What speed is your "Photos" screen saver set to? At the Slow setting it
takes about 7 minutes to reach 50 pictures so you may need to change the
monitor's auto-power-off to 10 minutes to be sure. You saw the fade to
black, so I'm assuming you're using either the Medium or Fast setting,
right? Also, what version of Vista are you running? Perhaps it's only a
problem with certain versions. I've tried it on two different machines
(both are Dell Optiplex GX620 with Dell monitors) running two different
versions of Vista (Business & Enterprise). Anyway, thanks for the info...
Click to expand...

Get the same thing under Home Premium as well. Slow setting, with 52
pictures, APO set to 10 mins. No monitor shutdown.
 
DarkSentinel said:
Get the same thing under Home Premium as well. Slow setting, with 52
pictures, APO set to 10 mins. No monitor shutdown.
Click to expand...

Here is an aside that I am currently working on. After setting and testing
this, my monitor won't go to sleep at all now, even after reverting to my
previous SS setup.
 
The ScreenSaver will *Never Stop* because the ScreenSaver creates *ACTIVITY*! As you know even when you Move the *Mouse* it causes *ACTIVITY*.

Thus as long as you have any *ACTIVITY* whatsoever, from your Mouse / ScreenSaver / or Whatever else your Monitor will *NEVER* turn OFF and the PC will *NEVER* go to SLEEP.

-So either do NOT use the ScreenSaver, or you can download this Cool little FIX:
Stop Screen Saver 1.00
http://www.brothersoft.com/stop-screen-saver-99871.html

Kind Regards,
Guy
 
The ScreenSaver will *Never Stop* because the ScreenSaver creates *ACTIVITY*! As you know even when you Move the *Mouse* it causes *ACTIVITY*.

Thus as long as you have any *ACTIVITY* whatsoever, from your Mouse / ScreenSaver / or Whatever else your Monitor will *NEVER* turn OFF and the PC will *NEVER* go to SLEEP.

-So either do NOT use the ScreenSaver, or you can download this Cool little FIX:
Stop Screen Saver 1.00
http://www.brothersoft.com/stop-screen-saver-99871.html

Kind Regards,
Guy
 
Thus as long as you have any *ACTIVITY* whatsoever, from your Mouse /
ScreenSaver / or Whatever else your Monitor will *NEVER* turn OFF and the PC
will *NEVER* go to SLEEP.
<<

Utter drivel. Your assertion is wrong, and you have completely
misunderstood the purpose of the utility.

Please spam somewhere else.

SteveT
 
Richard G. Harper said:
Nonsense. I use a screen saver (Bubbles) and my screen goes blank when
scheduled, my computer goes to sleep when scheduled.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Desktop] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/


The ScreenSaver will *Never Stop* because the ScreenSaver creates
*ACTIVITY*! As you know even when you Move the *Mouse* it causes
*ACTIVITY*.

Thus as long as you have any *ACTIVITY* whatsoever, from your Mouse /
ScreenSaver / or Whatever else your Monitor will *NEVER* turn OFF and the
PC will *NEVER* go to SLEEP.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Richard G. Harper said:
Nonsense. I use a screen saver (Bubbles) and my screen goes blank when
scheduled, my computer goes to sleep when scheduled.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Desktop] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/


The ScreenSaver will *Never Stop* because the ScreenSaver creates
*ACTIVITY*! As you know even when you Move the *Mouse* it causes
*ACTIVITY*.

Thus as long as you have any *ACTIVITY* whatsoever, from your Mouse /
ScreenSaver / or Whatever else your Monitor will *NEVER* turn OFF and the
PC will *NEVER* go to SLEEP.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Richard G. Harper said:
Nonsense. I use a screen saver (Bubbles) and my screen goes blank when
scheduled, my computer goes to sleep when scheduled.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Desktop] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/


The ScreenSaver will *Never Stop* because the ScreenSaver creates
*ACTIVITY*! As you know even when you Move the *Mouse* it causes
*ACTIVITY*.

Thus as long as you have any *ACTIVITY* whatsoever, from your Mouse /
ScreenSaver / or Whatever else your Monitor will *NEVER* turn OFF and the
PC will *NEVER* go to SLEEP.
Click to expand...
Not nonsense. Bubbles lets the monitor turn off but "Pictures" won't allow it due to activity. This seems to be a flaw in Vista. You should try it and then report.
Click to expand...
 
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