Solved Screensaver has suddenly stopped working

[wither 3]

I suggested the Task Scheduler because the concern is with the screensaver not running at the time it should. I don't know if the screensaver timing is associated with the Task Scheduler or not. Out of curiousity, do you get the same problem if you change the timing to maybe 5 minutes?

I found this article which talks about activating the screen saver- Activate Screen Saver. However, if you have a screensaver enabled in Control Panel\Personalization\Display, then I don't know why the screensaver isn't working.


By the way, I didn't say if I am a girl or a boy.:D

 

[Fiery]

I suggested the Task Scheduler because the concern is with the screensaver not running at the time it should. I don't know if the screensaver timing is associated with the Task Scheduler or not. Out of curiousity, do you get the same problem if you change the timing to maybe 5 minutes?

I found this article which talks about activating the screen saver- Activate Screen Saver. However, if you have a screensaver enabled in Control Panel\Personalization\Display, then I don't know why the screensaver isn't working.


By the way, I didn't say if I am a girl or a boy.:D

lol your a bloke ( i will remain a lady and keep my mouth shut as to the reasons why)

Okay went and had a read of Activate Screen Saver, as a last resort. Because yes I did have a working screensaver, I always have had.

I followed what the site said about activating it in gpedit.msc, and still no joy .

As i said the odd thing about this is I can use preview and it works. In fact even the preloaded windows screen savers all work in preview, just will not kick in at the allotted time. And it is peeing me off .

 

[wither 3]

I confess- I'm one of the two.

Have you ever looked at the event viewer to see if there is a related error and what the cause is?

I assume you're not using majicjack.

Do a clean boot-

run msconfig.exe. In the services tab, check the box "hide all Microsoft services". Then disable all services. In the Startup tab, check the box to "disable" all startup items. Reboot. Does the screen saver work? If it does, go back to msconfig.exe, restart the Services. Reboot. Does the screen saver work. If it does, go back to msconfig.exe, and start enabling Startup items in small groups until the screen saver doesn't work. Then narrow it down further.
In any case, run msconfig.exe and restore all the original settings as soon as possible and reboot.

 

[Fiery]

I confess- I'm one of the two.

Have you ever looked at the event viewer to see if there is a related error and what the cause is?

I assume you're not using majicjack.

Do a clean boot-

run msconfig.exe. In the services tab, check the box "hide all Microsoft services". Then disable all services. In the Startup tab, check the box to "disable" all startup items. Reboot. Does the screen saver work? If it does, go back to msconfig.exe, restart the Services. Reboot. Does the screen saver work. If it does, go back to msconfig.exe, and start enabling Startup items in small groups until the screen saver doesn't work. Then narrow it down further.
In any case, run msconfig.exe and restore all the original settings as soon as possible and reboot.

Always check in the Event Viewer
Critical = 0
Error = There is a few, but none I haven't seen before.
Warning = Less than the errors
Information = Same as the errors, nothing I haven't seen before.

 

[townsbg]

I confess- I'm one of the two.

You mean that you aren't a***ual??? lmao

I assume you're not using majicjack.

What????

Do a clean boot-

run msconfig.exe. In the services tab, check the box "hide all Microsoft services". Then disable all services. In the Startup tab, check the box to "disable" all startup items. Reboot. Does the screen saver work? If it does, go back to msconfig.exe, restart the Services. Reboot. Does the screen saver work. If it does, go back to msconfig.exe, and start enabling Startup items in small groups until the screen saver doesn't work. Then narrow it down further.
In any case, run msconfig.exe and restore all the original settings as soon as possible and reboot.

I agree with that and the event viewer.

Always check in the Event Viewer
Critical = 0
Error = There is a few, but none I haven't seen before.
Warning = Less than the errors
Information = Same as the errors, nothing I haven't seen before.

Can you give us more details because this isn't giving us anything to work with. Please don't assume that that these errors aren't significant enough to share.

 

[Fiery]

I was just going through my registry for any hints as to why my screensaver has suddenly stopped, while running a couple of online virus scans (I do have ESET Nod32 Security Suite installed), but no anti virus is impervious.

Anyway back to my registry findings View attachment 27723 this is my registry.

Here is my partners who is also running Vista Ultimate 32 bit and whose screensaver is working registry
View attachment 27724

Looking at the two registry's side by side, I do believe mine is corrupted. The thing that confuses me though if the registry is corrupted, how am I able to keep on booting into Windows, and use all of installed software?

Is this link a possible viable solution instead of an OS reinstall?

I have also run MBAM

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.46
Malwarebytes : Free anti-malware download

Database version: 4052

Windows 6.0.6002 Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer 9.0.8112.16421

5/03/2013 8:56:07 PM
mbam-log-2013-03-05 (20-56-07).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 138362
Time elapsed: 25 minute(s), 24 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 1

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
C:\END (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

 

[Fiery]

I was just going through my registry for any hints as to why my screensaver has suddenly stopped, while running a couple of online virus scans (I do have ESET Nod32 Security Suite installed), but no anti virus is impervious.

Anyway back to my registry findings

this is my registry.

Here is my partners who is also running Vista Ultimate 32 bit and whose screensaver is working registry

Looking at the two registry's side by side, I do believe mine is corrupted. The thing that confuses me though if the registry is corrupted, how am I able to keep on booting into Windows, and use all of installed software?

Is this link a possible viable solution instead of an OS reinstall?

I have also run MBAM

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.46
Malwarebytes : Free anti-malware download

Database version: 4052

Windows 6.0.6002 Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer 9.0.8112.16421

5/03/2013 8:56:07 PM
mbam-log-2013-03-05 (20-56-07).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 138362
Time elapsed: 25 minute(s), 24 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 1

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
C:\END (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

 

[wither 3]

I mentioned majicjack because I found a link that said it could cause this problem and provided a possible solution.

Did you run the clean boot?

Okay, I'm a guy but you knew that.

 

[Fiery]

I mentioned majicjack because I found a link that said it could cause this problem and provided a possible solution.

Did you run the clean boot?

Okay, I'm a guy but you knew that.

A senior too now I will it. I am a redhead dear not a blonde.

No never heard of that majic thing. I can download it and install if you want . hehe

I did find this amongst my hunt for possible solutions (hope you haven't noticed the avoidance of the clean boot question)

Oh I ran two separate online Virus scans, Microsofts, and Housecall's, both came back clean.

How to Restore Registry Hives on Windows 7 | Captain Debugger

 

[wither 3]

The clean boot is only to find out if another program running in the background is affecting the ability of the system to work.

 

[townsbg]

The screenshot of your registry is too small to make out.

 

[Fiery]

The screenshot of your registry is too small to make out.

Use coke bottle bottoms?

Ok will add links.

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab257/Fiery_WA/MyRegistry_zps7427017b.jpg (my registry)

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab257/Fiery_WA/PartnersRegistry_zps8f04d356.jpg (my partner's)

The difference between the two is that his has "Type" mine used to but no more :huh:

That any better?

If you cannot see this one shoot your guide dog

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab257/Fiery_WA/ForPeopleWhoNeedCokeBottles_zps3c4d1366.jpg

 

[wither 3]

I just zoomed with the IE controls. It looks like there's an error in the command. It looks like it's showing "rundl32.exe" instead of "rundll32.exe". Otherwise, it's the same as mine, except yours doesn't show the Type.

 

[Fiery]

I just zoomed with the IE controls. It looks like there's an error in the command. It looks like it's showing "rundl32.exe" instead of "rundll32.exe". Otherwise, it's the same as mine, except yours doesn't show the Type.

I copied this from directly from my registry rundll32.exe desk.cpl,InstallScreenSaver %l

As I said before the only difference between my registry and my partners is that his shows "Type" mine used too but no longer.

Oh poppa you will be pleased to know I FINALLY did the clean boot, and my screensaver never kicked in, even with everything disabled

At this point in time without being able to get to my Paragon Image backups, I am tossing around the idea of
a) Live without the screensaver (but will the perfectionist in me allow me to do that)
b) Buying a new SSD, and do a Re Install of the OS. (I hate doing Re Installs on my own PC)

Why buy a new SSD? Glad you asked, even though everything except the screensaver is working perfectly on my PC, and there are no bad sectors, it is a HD I took from a previously built PC, it's an IDE (I know contain yourself). I am only rating a 5.7 on the Vista rate scale

I have been bitten once by not backing up programs, music etc. So never again. There should be a third My Book (N), but for some reason Vista won't install the drivers for it (but that's a whole different story)

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab257/Fiery_WA/ParanoidMuch_zpse5f48977.jpg

 

[wither 3]

Okay, it shows up as "rundl" in two shots you provided but as "rundll" in the ps3 and your partner's screen shot.

Using 400% zoom doesn't give much resolution.

 

[Fiery]

Okay, it shows up as "rundl" in two shots you provided but as "rundll" in the ps3 and your partner's screen shot.

Using 400% zoom doesn't give much resolution.

Okay so now what? Done the clean boot, made no difference.

 

[wither 3]

Uninstall that third party screensaver.

 

[Fiery]

Uninstall that third party screensaver.

I did that the moment the trouble began

 

[wither 3]

If you do a search on C:\Windows\Winsxs for screen saver, is the third party screen saver still shown?

 

[Fiery]

Okay I have an update good news and bad. I found a 2011 Paragon archive, which I installed over the C:\

The good news is my screensaver came back .

Now for the bad news, as it was such an old 'disk image', there were naturally a lot of critical updates that needed to be done.

Rather than hit my PC with all of them at once, I chose 20 out of 80 odd, and started them. I kept getting odd error messages on the install.

Error: Failure configuring Windows updates. Reverting changes. Do not turn off your computer when you try to install Windows Updates.

Once the system had rebooted, I waited for the screensaver to kick in, and it did for the first two batches of Updates, even though I kept getting Error: Failure configuring Windows updates. Reverting changes. Do not turn off your computer when you try to install Windows Updates.

I ran the MrFixit Tool, it said it had repaired the problem. So time for batch number 3 of Updates, got that odd error message yet again.

BUT this time on the reboot, my screensaver failed to kick in. Here is where I find it odd, my Updates said I only had 27 left to do. So I thought okay before the number was 47, so I will uninstall the last batch, and do them one by one, until I found the one that was causing the problem.

I went to the installed updates, and they all showed as having failed. So why where the number of updates decreasing if they had failed to install.

To be honest, I don't use Vista's restore (It has been disabled).

So at the moment I have done a clean install of Vista, managed to locate a January 2013 Paragon Image, and am sitting waiting for that to complete.

All going well (I am not holding my breath), it will restore itself to it's former glory. I do believe it was one of the Updates that caused it to fail in the first place. My internet connection may have dropped briefly perhaps causing a corrupted update?