Stuck Screen Saver
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Law
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What you're seeing is the screensaver password protect feature of Windows XP. To disable this, you need to get into the Display Properties screen. There are (at least) two ways to get there. Right click on an open area of your desktop and click Properties, or go into Control Panel and double click Display.
Go to the Screen Saver tab, and uncheck the "On resume, password protect" box (you'll see it circled in the screenshot below). To leave the password protection but extend the time before a password is required, increase the minutes in the "Wait" box on that tab and leave the password protect box checked.
Before disabling it, be mindful of the potential consequences. Under certain circumstances the security provided by this inconvenience should be considered benefit enough to cope with it. This prevents anyone from walking up to your computer and having access to all of your data. If this is a home PC, that might not be of any concern. In small business environments where data is shared amongst everyone anyway, it's also probably not of much concern other than for certain staff that have access to data like payroll that is confidential.
Another thing to keep in mind is if this is a computer in a business with a server, chances are pretty good it's in a Microsoft Active Directory domain. At a very basic level, Active Directory puts all computers at a business within an organizational structure that centralizes resources and authentication (verifying your username and password), affording greater security, flexibility and control. One feature of Active Directory is the use of Group Policies which allow
administrators to define what users can and cannot do with their machines, including mandatory configuration settings.
It's possible to configure Group Policies so users cannot modify screen saver settings, including the time to wait before activating the screensaver and if users can disable password protection. Under these circumstances, even if you can disable the password protection it may get enabled again, and there isn't anything you can do about it (unless you're the server administrator). Also in a business environment, be mindful of any company policies that require password protected screen savers, even if it's not mandated through Group
Policy or similar technical controls.
Go to the Screen Saver tab, and uncheck the "On resume, password protect" box (you'll see it circled in the screenshot below). To leave the password protection but extend the time before a password is required, increase the minutes in the "Wait" box on that tab and leave the password protect box checked.
Before disabling it, be mindful of the potential consequences. Under certain circumstances the security provided by this inconvenience should be considered benefit enough to cope with it. This prevents anyone from walking up to your computer and having access to all of your data. If this is a home PC, that might not be of any concern. In small business environments where data is shared amongst everyone anyway, it's also probably not of much concern other than for certain staff that have access to data like payroll that is confidential.
Another thing to keep in mind is if this is a computer in a business with a server, chances are pretty good it's in a Microsoft Active Directory domain. At a very basic level, Active Directory puts all computers at a business within an organizational structure that centralizes resources and authentication (verifying your username and password), affording greater security, flexibility and control. One feature of Active Directory is the use of Group Policies which allow
administrators to define what users can and cannot do with their machines, including mandatory configuration settings.
It's possible to configure Group Policies so users cannot modify screen saver settings, including the time to wait before activating the screensaver and if users can disable password protection. Under these circumstances, even if you can disable the password protection it may get enabled again, and there isn't anything you can do about it (unless you're the server administrator). Also in a business environment, be mindful of any company policies that require password protected screen savers, even if it's not mandated through Group
Policy or similar technical controls.
Thanks, but this has nothing to do with XP, (i have 98SE). I installed this screen saver myself off a website & it consists of revolving panels showing different scenes....
Here it is: (Scenes from St Meinrad):
http://www.saintmeinrad.edu/monastery_ScreenSavers.aspx
Here it is: (Scenes from St Meinrad):
http://www.saintmeinrad.edu/monastery_ScreenSavers.aspx
I have Windows 98 Second Edition too!
Are you prepared to give up the screensaver?
If so, then right click on any blank area of your desktop. From the list, click on "Properties".
You should then see a small window pop up. It would display your current wallpaper settings. Ignore these for the moment.
The buttons above the preview monitor are called "tabs". Click on the tab that says "Screensaver".
You should be presented with a similar set of options as before. There should be a drop-down box. Click on the drop-down box.
It should display the available screensavers to choose from. Including the one that you want to disable. Choose a new screensaver from the list.
Once you have chosen your ideal screensaver, click on the button that says "Apply".
Your settings have now been applied. The screensaver should be disabled, and replaced with a different screensaver.
Are you prepared to give up the screensaver?
If so, then right click on any blank area of your desktop. From the list, click on "Properties".
You should then see a small window pop up. It would display your current wallpaper settings. Ignore these for the moment.
The buttons above the preview monitor are called "tabs". Click on the tab that says "Screensaver".
You should be presented with a similar set of options as before. There should be a drop-down box. Click on the drop-down box.
It should display the available screensavers to choose from. Including the one that you want to disable. Choose a new screensaver from the list.
Once you have chosen your ideal screensaver, click on the button that says "Apply".
Your settings have now been applied. The screensaver should be disabled, and replaced with a different screensaver.
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