How to Troubleshoot an XP Screen Saver That Is Not Working

You can fix your screen saver without the help of a programmer.

Screen savers were used as a way to prevent burn-in on CRT computer monitors. However, since the creation of LCD monitors, screen savers have become a way to inhibit prying eyes or show something pretty on the screen while it's not in use. When your screen saver isn't working properly, there are several things you can do before calling a computer technician.

Instructions

1. Begin by right-clicking your computer's desktop. Choose the "Preferences" tab on the menu that appears.

2. Click "Screen Saver" on the menu and wait for an options menu to appear.

3. Make sure that the screen saver is set to run. Click to select the small check box at the bottom of the window to turn the screen saver on.

4. Edit the "Wait Time" setting in the bar next to "Screen Saver" to get the screen saver operating sooner.

5. Click the "Apply" button at the bottom of the window. If you don't click the "Apply" button, the changes will not take effect.

6. Check the computer to make sure that the Human Interface Device Access, or HIDA, service is running. If the computer's administrator logs on first, and and then the screen saver starts, the screen saver will not work if a nonadministrator logs on to the computer. Upgrade your service pack to solve this.

7. Make sure no driver conflicts exist in your system. Driver conflicts could arise from third-party hardware like a mouse or a keyboard. Restart your system and uninstall the hardware to fix your screen saver.

References

• Microsoft Support: Screen Saver Won't Start
• Microsoft Support: Screen Saver Problems