Windows 7 - Screen Saver - Enable or Disable

Brink

How to Enable or Disable Screen Savers in Windows 7 and Vista

Information

This will show you how to enable or disable desktop screen savers from being able to run for all users on the computer.

You will need to be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this tutorial.

Note

By default the Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic editions do not include the Personalization features such as change desktop background, Desktop Slideshow, and Windows Color and Appearance.

This Screen Saver shortcut will allow you to change the Screen Saver Settings in the Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic editions even though they do not include the Desktop context menu Personalize item included.

EXAMPLE: Screen Savers Enabled and Disabled
NOTE: When disabled, the Screen Saver Settings window is grayed out.

OPTION ONE

Using a REG File Download

1. To Enable Screen Savers
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Enable_Screen_Savers.reg

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Disable Screen Savers
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Disable_Screen_Savers.reg

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Yes (Windows 7) or Continue (Vista), Yes, and OK when prompted.

6. If open, close and reopen the Screen Saver Settings window to apply.

7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

OPTION TWO

Through the Local Group Policy Editor

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane, click on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, and Personalization. (see screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, right click on Enable screen saver and click on Edit. (see screenshot above)

4. To Enable Screen Saver
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Enabled. (see screenshot below step 6)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Disable Changing Screen Saver
A) Select (dot) Disabled. (see screenshot below step 6)

6. Click on OK. (see screenshot below)

7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.

8. If open, close and reopen the Screen Saver Settings window to apply.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

smacky · 06-28-2011

My HP 6930p doesn't activate the screensaver ever. I put it to sleep. I've adjusted the power saving features, changed the screensaver selection but it never activates. The local group policy says it should but it doesn't work.

The "Wait XX Minutes and check On resume, display logon screen" part of the Screensaver dialog is grey and I can't change it.

Where can I enable this?

Brink · 06-28-2011

Hello Smacky, and welcome to Seven Formus.

You might be able to using Option Two or Option Three in the tutorial below. If these options are not set to the default setting, then they prevent users from being able to change the "Wait" time.

Screen Saver Timeout Period - Set or Change

Hope this helps,
Shawn

smacky · 06-28-2011

Used option 2 to enable the time option. Its no longer grey'ed out but setting it doesn't do anything.

I set the time to 1 minute, waited 90 seconds, nothing happened, then set to 2 minutes, waited 150 seconds, nothing happened.

Removed the powersave password prompt in regedit - no change. Powersave options don't trigger anything, dimming screen, putting it to sleep. I can manually put it to sleep with the Func F3 (sleep key), manually lock it with CTRL-ALT-DEL Enter. But can't get it to auto lock or sleep.

Brink · 06-28-2011

Did you also select a screen saver other than (None)?

Could you also post a screenshot of your Screen Saver Settings window to see if something may standout?

smacky · 06-28-2011

Here's a screen shot attached, thanks for the help.

Brink · 06-28-2011

If you waited and let the computer be idle for that amount of time, then you might see if running a sfc /scannow command may be able to help if it's a bad system file issue.

smacky · 06-28-2011

scannow isn't running but mscorsvw.exe is running using about 50% of CPU. I quit all my apps, still running.

Is this keeping the computer from going idle? Any thoughts on how to kill it?

Brink · 06-28-2011

The solution used at the link below may be able to help in your case as well. It may take a bit for it to finish, and be sure to open a elevated command prompt.

How to disable mscorsvw.exe from startup

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