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Windows help: How to change your screensaver
How do I change my Windows screen saver?
To change your screensaver in Microsoft Windows follow these steps:
- On and empty area of your desktop click with your right mouse button
- On the small menu that pops up, select Properties. The Display Properties window will appear
- Select the Screen Saver tab to view the screensaver settings
From the screen saver settings page you can select a different screen saver, adjust the settings of the current screensaver and set the time required before your screensaver will activate. You also have the option of requiring a password to be entered before you can use the computer after the screensaver has been activated.
You can also adjust your computer screen power settings by pressing the Power button.
After choosing a screensaver, and pressing the settings button to make adjustments to the screensaver you can preview how it will look by pressing the Screensaver Preview button.
When you are happy with the screen saver settings you've selected, press OK to save your settings.
Don't confuse your screensaver with your wallpaper
The screensaver is what comes on when your computer is idle for a predetermined amount of time. Screen savers were originally designed to prevent 'burn in' on old style computer screens by having the same image showing for hours at a time. Today, a whole industry has grown around screensavers, even though with today's modern LCD screens, they aren't even necessary!
Windows Wallpaper
The Windows Wallpaper is the image that is displayed in the background, on your desktop. If you have a new computer, the Windows wallpaper may show the manufacturers logo, or it may simply be the default Windows wallpaper.
How to change your Windows XP Wallpaper
- On an unused area of your screen, click with the right mouse button
- On the small menu that pops up, click Properties
- On the Display Properties window, click the Desktop tab
From the Desktop Properties window, scroll through the Background list until you find a image you like, and press OK.
How to set your Windows desktop wallpaper background to a picture on the internet
Follow these steps to set your Windows background wallpaper to an image from the internet.
- When you find the image you want as your Windows wallpaper on the internet while using Microsoft Internet Explorer or Firefox, click on the image with your right mouse button.
- From the small menu that pops up, select Set as desktop background
Warning about free screensavers
So-called Free screensavers you find on the internet very often have spyware or adware hidden within them. You should never download or install any free screensavers or free cursors from the internet unless you are absolutly certain that they are spyware and virus free. Because it is usually impossible to determine if free Windows screen savers or free cursors contain spyware or adware until after you install them on your PC, you should never install them. If you want screensavers that are safe to install on your PC, you may have to spend a few dollars.
For more information on how to preventing spyware and adware see our how to prevent spyware page.
Fri, 05/11/2012 - 4:57am
#1
Re: Windows help: How to change wallpaper
HI,
On My PC screen genuine microsoft windows image is coming on at the corner and may be because of this whatever wallpaper i set it comes back to none after 2 or 3 minutes.....Please tell me what to do ?
Top
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 5:51pm
#2
Re: Windows help: How to change your screensaver
I want to make my business card my screensaver. Maybe even have it moving on the screen. I have the card set as my desktop currently. How do I get it on my screensaver?
Mon, 01/30/2012 - 5:59pm
#3
Re: Windows help: How to change your screensaver
In some versions of Windows you can select a screen saver that lets you specify an image and it will move it on the screen, etc. On my old work XP computer, there was a "my pictures" screensaver that you could point at folder of pictures (or, single picture). if your particular version does not have that particular screen saver, you can purchase a third-party screen save to do it.
Mac's have a great built-in screensaver that you can set to specific events or photos from iPhoto..
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 1:45pm
#4
Re: Windows help: How to change your screensaver
Okay,I'm using the 3D text set to spin as a screensaver. What I have been trying to figure out is if I can change the background on it. The background is just a plain black...nothing else,and I'd like to put something behind the spinning text, even a plain color would be better than nothing....Anyone got any ideas? I would really like to put the spinning 3D text over an animated background like flames.
Thu, 04/07/2011 - 2:37am
#5
Screen saver change
I have changed my screen save to test and put personal text and ive been told this can cause a virus is this rubbish or true?
Thu, 04/07/2011 - 8:49am
#6
Re: Screen saver change
as long is it is the built-in Windows text screensaver, then no, there is no way it can "cause" a virus. If, however, you download a new text screensaver, there is a good chance that it can contain a virus. Never download anything unless you know that the source is safe and trusted.
Tue, 06/22/2010 - 8:54pm
#8
Re: Windows help: How to change your screensaver
The "Display Properties" window on my computer does not have "Themes" "Desktop" "Screensaver" "Appearance" or "Settings" tabs. The only change I can make is to "Themes". Where/how do I find them? I'm using a Lenovo T60 running WinXP SP3. Thanks for your help.
Tue, 06/22/2010 - 9:05pm
#9
Re: Windows help: How to change your screensaver
Is this your personal computer or a company computer? It sounds like there might be a system 'policy' that has removed those tabs..
Tue, 06/22/2010 - 10:01pm
#10
Re: Windows help: How to change your screensaver
This has been a personal computer from the day I bought it new @ Micro Center three years ago.
BG
Tue, 06/22/2010 - 11:09pm
#11
animestrinity
I am new here at GrownUpGeek.Com
from On my own planet... keep off... no visitors.
Re: Windows help: How to change your screensaver
Did a little googling... try this:
Go to Start and select Run
Type: gpedit.msc
Go to: User Configuration > Control Panel > Display > Hide Screen Saver Tab
And change the setting... see if that will give you a screensaver tab in the display properties...
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 3:07pm
#12
Re: Windows help: How to change your screensaver
ok. I went to User Configuration / Administrative Templates / Control Panel / Display /.
All Tabs were in a "not configured" state.
I selected the "Hide Desktop Tab" and chose "Enable" / Apply.
I right clicked on a blank screen area / Properties.
I observed no change to the Display Properties window.
I reselected the "Hide Desktop Tab" and chose "Disable" / Apply.
I right clicked on a blank screen area / Properties.
I observed no change to the Display Properties window.
I repeated this process with the "Hide Apperaence and Themes Tab", "Hide Settings Tab" and "Hide Screen Saver Tab" and observed no change to the Display Properties window each time.
For the sake of completeness I set all tabs to "Enable" / Apply followed by all tabs to "Disable" / Apply.
No change to the Display Properties window in either case.
Is there anything else that could be covering the tabs?
BG
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 3:58pm
#13
animestrinity
I am new here at GrownUpGeek.Com
from On my own planet... keep off... no visitors.
Re: Windows help: How to change your screensaver
K... try this then... carefully.
Start > Run
Type : regedit
on the left sidebar, expand the following: HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Policies > System
Once you've selected the System entry, the main window should have values.... Check for something along the lines of: NoDispScrSavPage
If it has a value of 1, double click the name, and change the value to 0
........Also, we never asked, but have you had any seemingly random errors lately? And have you scanned your computer for spyware/virus/malware??
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 7:32pm
#14
Re: Windows help: How to change your screensaver
Hi,
I ran Regedit as suggested and clicked down through HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Software / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Policies
Under "Policies" I have "ComDig32", "Explorer" and "NonEnum". BUT... I don't have "System"
There have been no random errors. And the computer is scanned irregularly (weekly/monthly) with Adaware and Spybot.
I was poking around on the Display Properties window about 1/8" below the "s" in "Display" and succeeded in changing from "Theme" to "Wallpaper". Is there some way that the tabs could be camouflaged?
BG
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 8:15pm
#15
animestrinity
I am new here at GrownUpGeek.Com
from On my own planet... keep off... no visitors.
Re: Windows help: How to change your screensaver
Anything is possible with computers, but I've not personally heard of camouflaged display properties tabs...
I'm gonna take a moment and go to a clean drawing board for a sec...
1) You said that you bought the computer... does anyone else use it? Are you using the administrator account? Double check to make sure that hasn't been changed for any reason...
2) You said that you run Adaware and Spybot...
a) Have they found anything recently? (I ask because if it found anything bad, it could have changed settings/messed things up before you fixed it)
b) Did you have the tabs in the display properties before (if you can remember)?
If you used to have the option, but no longer do... then chances are that 1) someone's been messing with settings and accidentally/purposely changed something.. and/or 2) at some point a virus/malware/rootkit/evil file has changed the settings in order to cause you problems...
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 9:13pm
#16
Re: Windows help: How to change your screensaver
1) You said that you bought the computer... does anyone else use it? Are you using the administrator account? Double check to make sure that hasn't been changed for any reason...
I've been exclusive user of this laptop since day one.
Under "Documents and Settings" the following are listed:
Administrator - 5/4/2007 00:18
All Users - 5/29/2010 15:01
Default User* - 5/4/2001 00:59
Evan - 6/23/2010 17:43
LocalService* - 11/29/2009 20:59
NetworkService* - 11/29/2009 21:00
ReleaseEngineer.MACROVISION** - 2/8/2009 01:04
* = Greyed out
** = This is "new". I don't remember this one.
2) You said that you run Adaware and Spybot...
a) Have they found anything recently? (I ask because if it found anything bad, it could have changed settings/messed things up before you fixed it)
As near as I recall they didn't find anything other than the usual tracking cookies and the rare "Trojan"
b) Did you have the tabs in the display properties before (if you can remember)?
The tabs, as I recall, were always hard to see. Often I had to change themes or wallpaper to get the tabs to show at full height
If you used to have the option, but no longer do... then chances are that 1) someone's been messing with settings and accidentally/purposely changed something.. and/or 2) at some point a virus/malware/rootkit/evil file has changed the settings in order to cause you problems...
Again, this machine has never been out of my control. The fingerprint reader is programmed to me alone. My wife has her own laptop and all the kids are out on their own.
BG
Thu, 06/24/2010 - 6:08pm
#17
animestrinity
I am new here at GrownUpGeek.Com
from On my own planet... keep off... no visitors.
Re: Windows help: How to change your screensaver
I'm guessing you use Evan ?? To make sure it has the administrator settings, you would check by going ot Control Panel > Users and then selecting the account (Such as Evan) and checking the settings...
The macrovision one appears to be something that any programs by macrovision sets up... such as a software manager or Azureus (now Vuze)...
A trojan can do more than you may realize... but *I'm* not partuculary convinced that's your problem... since you mentioned previous weirdness with the tabs...
You have Themes, have you changed it lately?? If you change the theme and apply it, do you get your tabs back?? (If you're using themes, try changing it to the original windows xp one)
If that doesn't help anything,
Try checking your display properties in Safe Mode... If you don't know how to do that, just restart your computer, and before it boots up continuously tap the f8 key (there's a chance it's either f10 or f2 but f8 is usually it) until you should get a screen where you can select what mode to start in... using the arrow keys, select safe mode (you can select safemode with networking if you need to connect to the internet from safe mode)... hit enter... let it boot up...
I'm going to say select the Evan account for this particular issue, things will look funny, but it will only run processes that are absolutely necessary... hit OK for the message that pops up... go to your display properties (I can't remember if safemode will let you go via shortcut, so you may have to go to the control panel and select display from there... Why do all this? Well, if you have tabs in safemode but not in regular mode, that means that likely something is running (either actively or hidden [file/process/program]) that has changed the way your tabs show, as opposed to a permanent (albeit changeable) setting.
Sat, 05/22/2010 - 2:07pm
#18
Re: Windows help: How to change your screensaver
I'm wanting to make my screen saver to be a moving GIF image, how would I do that?
Sun, 04/04/2010 - 12:39pm
#20
Re: Windows help: How to change your screensaver
can you make screen saver to change photos in less than 6 sec , that's the shortest time allowed on window xp currently.
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 9:38am
#21
Screensaver won't start
I have done everything that you suggested to activate my screen saver. It will not activate and everytime I go back to the display properties window the dropdown box is back on "none" for a screensaver. I can click apply and ok. I can click just ok. It doesnt matter, it always goes back to "none". Strangely enough the screensaver will preview, and it runs on the little miniature screen in the display properties box. I dont know what else to do. Do you have any suggestions.
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 9:58am
#22
Re: Screensaver won't start
This seems to be a pretty common issue, with no single or easy way to fix (other than a full reformat/re-install). Do the obvious things first: scan for viruses and spyware, and uninstall any unnecessary software. Then check these two posts and try what they recommend:
Tue, 06/06/2006 - 11:57am
#23
background changed when you have no right click, using firerox
Hi im a student wanting to change my background. Though do not have right click or control pannel and want to chanege the wallpaper using firefox.Can you please help me ?????
Tue, 06/06/2006 - 5:40pm
#24
change Windows background
Firefox will not help you at all to change your Windows background.
if your admins have locked-out changes to the background and control panel using Windows network Group Policies, there isn't much you can do other than learn to live with the background you already have.. Dont forget, it's not YOUR computer..
