Having a screensaver when not using MP? (1 Viewer)

[wtfidiot21]

I was wondering if there was a way to map a button on a remote thru media portal to run a screensaver. I tried dozen's of times to use the My Programs feature to no result. It seems like rocket science? I know you can have a screensaver running when media portal is running but say when watching TV for a long period of time the screensaver pops on. Is there a way to just turn a screensaver on/off from within mediaportal whenever you want. Reason being I got a killer Marine Aquarium screensaver that looks pretty close to a live fish tank. Thanks in advance....

 

[jdiffend]

You could create an autoit script that could be executed that way and it could launch the screensaver. It does require a little programming skill but not much.

http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/

 

[SteveV]

A screensaver is simply an execuable program with the .scr extension. As such, launching the screensaver is quite easy;

c:\windows\system32\logon.scr /s

starts the standard WinXP screensaver.

You can create a batch file using note pad. Copy and paste the path to your favorite screensaver and save your batch file as screensaver.bat or similar.

--Steve

[EDIT] command line was missing the "/s" (start) switch

Also, to get this to work with My Programs, create a File Launcher item in My Programs setup and add the screensaver batch file to this File Launcher entry via the "Files" tab.

 

[wtfidiot21]

Thanks, for your help SteveV. I think I'm getting a hang of this MY Program feature in MP. I was able to launch my screensaver within MP but I can't shut it off without using the mouse or keyboard. I use a Hauppage 45button remote to navigate thru MP. Is there maybe some command I have to include in my batch file to use the remote to shut off the screensaver. Any help is appreciated. Thanks...

It just would be sweet if I could make the most of my remote....

 

[SteveV]

Thanks, for your help SteveV. I think I'm getting a hang of this MY Program feature in MP. I was able to launch my screensaver within MP but I can't shut it off without using the mouse or keyboard. I use a Hauppage 45button remote to navigate thru MP. Is there maybe some command I have to include in my batch file to use the remote to shut off the screensaver. Any help is appreciated. Thanks...

It just would be sweet if I could make the most of my remote....

What are you using for a remote--an MCE remote, or a learning remote?

Steve