Vista Screensaver Won't Kick In When WinDVD is on Taskbar

[jsaffer]

I'd really appreciate it if other WinDVD version 8 folks who have any version of Vista on their desktop or laptop, could try and replicate this symptom I'm having. And, if anyone knows a fix, I'd really appreciate hearing about it.

When WinDVD 8, either Gold or Platinum version, is running on either my laptop or desktop system, the Windows Vista screensaver is not kicking in and blanking out the screen the way it's set up to do after one minute. The WinDVD open screen is minimized on the taskbar. When I exit WinDVD, the screensaver starts after one minute as it's supposed to. My desktop system has Vista Ultimate, my laptop had Vista Home Premium.

I have replicated this same symptom multiple times on both computer systems.

I really need to be able to have the Vista screensaver kick in after one minute since I have my systems set up in an office. I know I can manually start the screensaver, but I'm hoping WinDVD can be fixed or some workaround available. And, I'd like to know if others can replicate this symptom so we can verify it for Intervideo.

Thanks for the help.

Jason

[heinz-oz]

I'm sure you would appreciate the Vista screensaver to kick in just when it gets interesting watching a movie

Maybe Vista doesn't know you are not doing anything with it

[htchien]

Hi,

To disable screen saver when WinDVD 8 is running is by design in WinDVD. The reason is like what Heinz said, not to let the screen saver to kick-in when you are watching a movie.

To change that default behavior, you could do the followings (Warning: you should do the following steps carefully. If you modify a wrong value in Windows Registry, your system might not work properly so do it on your own risk).

1. Select Start->Programs->Accessories->Command Prompt on Windows Task Bar. (You might see a security warning if you did not turn the UAC setting off on Vista, just click on Yes on that warning message to continue)

2. On the Command Prompt window, type regedit and press enter. (click on Yes if you see the security warning).

3. In the Registry Editor, search for the following folder:

My Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\InterVideo\WinDVD8

then try to modify the PMALWAYSON setting on the right window from 1 to 0.

If that does not work.....Well, you need to contact InterVideo Tech Support.

Hope this helps.

H.T.

[jsaffer]

Thanks for these responses. I'll try the registry fix.

However, I wanted to say that I've been using WinDVD version 6.0 on my XP system for a long time -- with this version, the screensaver does not kick in at all when I'm watching a movie, AND the screensaver will kick in when I just have WinDVD minimized on the TaskBar (in other words, when I'm not watching a movie). So that for me was the ideal arrangement. I had assumed that a new version would keep the same type of thing going, but it apparently has not. That's not an upgrade, it's more of a downgrade, at least in this respect.

Any thoughts or how to regain the versatility of version 6.0 while using version 8 in Vista?

Thanks again.

Jason

[htchien]

Hi Jason,

However, I wanted to say that I've been using WinDVD version 6.0 on my XP system for a long time -- with this version, the screensaver does not kick in at all when I'm watching a movie, AND the screensaver will kick in when I just have WinDVD minimized on the TaskBar (in other words, when I'm not watching a movie). So that for me was the ideal arrangement. I had assumed that a new version would keep the same type of thing going, but it apparently has not. That's not an upgrade, it's more of a downgrade, at least in this respect.

There is something changed in Vista so WinDVD also changed the behavior in version 8. I'm sorry if you get disappointed by that.

Any thoughts or how to regain the versatility of version 6.0 while using version 8 in Vista?

Well, if the registry fix works then WinDVD 8 will work like WinDVD 6 on Power Management / Screen Saver. However I would not suggest to do that on Vista due to the changes in the Power Management subsystem of Vista.

Regards,
H.T.

[jsaffer]

Changing the registry value did the trick -- WinDVD 8 now works the same as WinDVD 6 did, which I like.

However, you did say in your post that "However I would not suggest to do that on Vista due to the changes in the Power Management subsystem of Vista." Can you tell me what kinds of problem I might run into or what symptoms might result?

Also, how do quote your remarks to me when I do a reply. That's a nifty feature and I couldn't figure out how to set that up.

Thanks.

Jason

[sjj1805]

Changing the registry value did the trick -- WinDVD 8 now works the same as WinDVD 6 did, which I like.

However, you did say in your post that "However I would not suggest to do that on Vista due to the changes in the Power Management subsystem of Vista." Can you tell me what kinds of problem I might run into or what symptoms might result?

Also, how do quote your remarks to me when I do a reply. That's a nifty feature and I couldn't figure out how to set that up.

Thanks.

Jason

It is unlikely anyone else would want to do this for the reasons outlined by Heinz i.e. your watching a movie, just get to the good bit and the screensaver kicks in.

Editing the Registry is only something that should be attempted by a person who is competent and can reverse any changes made.
Incorrect editing of registry values can render your computer unusable and may result in having to re-install the operating system.

[heinz-oz]

....
Also, how do quote your remarks to me when I do a reply. That's a nifty feature and I couldn't figure out how to set that up.

Thanks.

Jason

Just click on the "Quote" icon in the the right hand top corner of the post you are reading. The contents of that post will appear in a new post in between quote tags. write your comments underneath or above and edit the quoted post if you wish, post your reply, that's it