screen saver run when user logged off in domain environment?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
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Guest

Hello,

I would like to know if it is possible to set a custom screen saver to run
when users are logged out in a domain environment. This is for open computer
labs...I want to employ a windows default screen saver that is custom
tailored for our organization (ie, the 3D flying objects, in which you can
put a .bmp of a logo). So I want this screen saver to appear at the
ctrl-alt-delete screen. Right now the machine shows a Windows screen saver if
left at this stage for X amount of time, and not the custom saver that I set
up while logged in as local admin.

Thanks inn advance for any advice.

-Chris
 
The following article from Microsoft is describing the way to change the
Default Screen Saver and Time Out at Welcome Screen:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314493

You can look into your Windows\System32 for Screen Saver's file names. Like
ss3dfo is for 3D flying Object.

Hope this help, let us know!
 
Hi RajKohli,

Yes, this worked without a problem. Thank you for your prompt assistance!

-Chris
 
Hello again RajKohli,

I think I spoke too soon when I said that your suggestion fixed my
situation. In fact, I found a problem when trying to run the ss3df0.scr
screen saver before login. Let me explain: I tested the process on my machine
by modifying the registry to run the 'my pics picture show' screen saver
before login - this is the same SS that runs on my machine when I am logged
in. This worked fine - when I logged off, my 'my pics' screen saver ran just
fine.

However when I tried to set up one of the public machines with the
ss3df0.scr, it would not display <my custom texture .bmp file>. I selected
this file when logged in as the local admin on the machine using the Display
Properties section where one typically configures the screen saver. I found
that the custom texture would run when I was logged in, but once I logged
off, the screen saver would display only the Windows logo, (which is the
default texture) and not the custom texture I had selected when logged in.

Do you know how I can correct this? I'm thinking there must be a location
where Windows stores the default texture, and perhaps I can permanently
replace it with my custom texture.

It is odd that the 'my pics slideshow' SS will retain its settings when I
log off, but the 3D objects SS will not...

Thanks again!

-Chris
 
This is where the current user's screensaver is set:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
This is where it is set for when no one is logged in:
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop
(you seem to have found these already)

The setings for the 3D flying objects screen saver are here:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.3DFlyingObj
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Screen Saver.3DFlyingObj
(there are also others near there for ones like 3D pipes, etc).
Look in the one for current user to find the settings that you have set
while you are logged in, then copy them to the default user settings
 
Hello RajKohli,



Actually my “HKCU\Control Panel\Screen Saver.3DflyingObj” is completely empty apart form “(Default)”

I found my settings here,
“HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Screensavers\Flying Objects”

I too am having trouble setting ss3dfo.scr for, before and after log on.

My only way so far is with Domain Policies settings, however I can not set “Texture”, “Type”, “Size” or “Speed”


Any help will be appreciated.
 
Thank you, z1z1z1, but this is not correct (on my machine).

When I looked at the settings for 333df0 in the place you mentioned
(HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Screen Saver.3DFlyingObj and
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Screen Saver.3DFlyingObj) there is nothing
there except for a string value called 'default' of the type REG_SZ. The
values within it are blank. This string value appears this way even after I
set the correct texture in the screen saver options in Display Properties. I
also tried restarting the machine to see if that would imprint settings in
the place you mentioned, but that didn't change the registry. Finally, I
tried putting the path to my file texture in this string value, but that
didn't make any change.

Do you have any other recommendations?

Thanks,
-Chris
 
Okay, try looking here:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Screensavers\Flying Objects

You will probably have to create this one under the .default user profile
 
I did it by replacing the logon.scr with ss3dfo.scr leaving the same name "logon.scr", configuring the screensaver with my own texture. The screensaver of the default user lack parameters in the registry. Then, you should export key branch HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Screensavers\Flying Objects, change the name of the node to HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Screensavers\Flying Objects, and merge this into the registry. Now, it should work properly.
 
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