Screen Saver - Add or Remove Option

How to Add or Remove the Screen Saver Option in Vista

information   Information
This will show you how to add or remove the Screen Saver option from the Vista Personalize appearance and sounds window for all users on the computer. By default, the Screen Saver option is added.

EXAMPLE: Screen Saver Option Added
NOTE:
To see this window, right click on a empty space on the desktop and click Personalize.

Before.jpg
EXAMPLE: Screen Saver Option Removed
NOTE:
To see this window, right click on a empty space on the desktop and click Personalize.

After.jpg




METHOD ONE
Through the Local Group Policy Editor

NOTE: This method is only available for the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions. See Method Two or Method Three below for the Vista Home Basic and Home Premium editions.
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 User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, and Display. (See screenshot below)​
Group_Policy.jpg

3. In the right pane, right click on Hide Screen Saver Tab and click on Properties. (See screenshot above)​
4. To Add Screen Saver Option
A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 5A)​
B) Go to step 6.​

5. To Remove Screen Saver Option
A) Select (dot) Enabled and click on OK.​
Properties.jpg

6. Close Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done.​




METHOD TWO
Using a REG File Download

NOTE: This method will work for all Vista versions.
1. To Add Screen Saver Option
A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​
Add_Screen_Saver_Option.reg
download

B) Go to step 3.​

2. To Remove Screen Saver Option
A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​
Remove_Screen_Saver_Option.reg
download

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, Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.​
6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.​
7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​




METHOD THREE
Manually in Registry Editor

NOTE: This method will work for all Vista versions.
1. Open the Start Menu.​
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.​
3. Click on the Continue button in the UAC prompt.​
4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)​
NOTE: If you do not have System, then right click on Policies and click on New and Key. Next, type System and press Enter.​
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\System
Reg1.jpg

5. To Remove Screen Saver Option
A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot above)​
B) Type NoDispScrSavPage and press Enter.​
C) Right click on NoDispScrSavPage and click on Modify. (See screenshot below)​
Reg2.jpg

D) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​
Modify.jpg

E) The registry will now look like this. (See screenshot below)​
Reg3.jpg

F) Go to step 7.​

6. To Add Screen Saver Option
A) In the right pane, right click on NoDispScrSavPage and click on Delete. (See screenshot above)​
B) Click on Yes to confirm deletion.​

7. Close regedit.​
8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.​
That's it,
Shawn


 

Attachments

  • Add_Screen_Saver_Option.reg
    288 bytes · Views: 1,881
  • Remove_Screen_Saver_Option.reg
    314 bytes · Views: 973
  • thumb_Screensaver.png
    thumb_Screensaver.png
    15 KB · Views: 398
Last edited:
Re: Display Settings - Enable or Disable Changing

This worked great!!
I spent hours trying to find the solution to a simular problem.
My screensaver option in "Personalize" was no longer there.
I could not change the screensaver picture or the settings.

The line I had to delete in the registery was...NoDispScrSavPage
I deleted it and rebooted and the screensaver in "Personalize" is
back again.

I guess my question would be how did this reg setting get changed.

I will bookmark this site for future reference.

Thank you
Mary Ann
 

My Computer

Your welcome Mary Ann, and welcome to Vista Forums.

It could have came from some tweak utilty program setting, some malware, or someone who has access to your computer may have changed.

Shawn
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
This kind problem stems from a virus that seems to be linked with trying to watch streaming movies over the internet. Make sure you know and trust the site(s) you use to watch streaming content.

edit... the name of the virus would be something like ZLOB.AR or WMCODEC.EXE or something with the name CODEC in it.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

Hi Brink. Can you pls tell me if you would be able to help me with the same query on Win 7 OS. Screensaver setting are greyed out. Probably disabled by administrator. I'm on a domain. How can I enable it.
 

My Computer

Hello Bruzorro, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Yes, it would have been disabled by the domain administrator. You will need to check with them to see if they want to enable it or not. My guess it was disabled to prevent any 3rd party screen savers from being used presenting a security risk. :(
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Shawn,

I tried your method 2, and it didn't work. I tried your script "Remove Screen Saver Option" and it didn't work and also froze the pointer. I tried "Add Screen Saver Option" and the pointer unfroze. I'm using Vista Home Premium - 32 bit - Service Pack 2. My registry has an entry for HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer with a bunch of stuff in it. It also has HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies with nothing in it. Putting in \System under ...\Policies with the new DWORD in it doesn't help. Putting in \Explorer\System with the new DWORD in it also doesn't help. This whole thing is of interest to me because my daughter keeps removing the screensaver password protection so that she can get on to the computer whenever she wants. Since she is 12, I'd rather disable the capability of removing the password screen saver. Do you have any suggestions? And thanks for all your help for everyone!

Chalima
 

My Computer

Hello Chalima, and welcome to Vista Forums.

After you do the "Remove Screen Saver Option", restart the computer to fully apply to see if it works better for you that way. :)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Brink,

That's the same procedure that I went through last time. BUT, this time it mysteriously worked! (It must have healed overnight...) Thanks a million - you're the best!

Chalima
 

My Computer

You're welcome Chalima. I'm happy that it sorted itself out for you. :)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
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