Screensaver doesn't show (1 Viewer)

[Bram]

Area: Media Portal Program
MP Version: 2.0 RC4 (SVN of 5th of may)
Skin: PM III
Windows Version: Windows XP Pro SP2 ENG
CPU Type: AMD Sempron 2800+
Memory: 512MB DDR400
Motherboard Chipset: VIA
Video Card: ATI 9250 128MB
Video Card Driver: latest
Video Card Resolution: 800/600
Video Render Type: VMR9
Video Codec Type & Version: Latest K-Lite Mega codec pack
Audio Codec Type & Version: Latest K-Lite Mega codec pack
TV Card: none
TV Card Type: none
TV Card Driver: none

Synopsis:
I'm having problems with my screensaver. With RC2 and RC3 I tried to use G-Force (mediaplayer plugin that also works as a screensaver) as screensaver, but it gave a black screen. I was asuming then that it was becaus of the 3th party software I used i.c.w. TV-out (I only use a TV as display, no CRT or TFT). But now I'm trying to use the default "My Pictures" slideshow screensver, included in XP, to be shown with "enable screensaver" option enabled in the configuration of MP, but it still doesn't work.
The screensaver starts, I think, but all I see is a black screen. Just like before.

I checked if my TV is the 'primairy screen' and have set the energy saving options to 'never'. My television sets itself to standby after while of no activity, but that is not what causes this problem. Is there anyone who can clear this up for me?

 

[Bram]

No one else with the same problem?

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

Bram

A lot of people do not use the screensaver function, and to be honest I do not know whether the screen just goes blank or not.
Hopefully someone will read this that does know and advise you

Best Wishes

 

[Marcusb]

the screensaver option in MP does just that. It blanks the screen.
Does your other screen saver turn on when MP ois closed?

One thing to be aware of is that the screensaver in Windows will activate after the time period is up, whether or not you are in a menu or watching tv or a movie. It can be annoying when the movie i interrupted by the screensaver.

What I would prefer is if the enable screen saver function in MP was tied to the Windows screensaver. This way, when that option was ticked, it would allow the settings of the Windows Screensaver to activate. This way you could specify what you want and the time delay, but the screensaver will not kick in when watching full screen video.

Until something like this is implemented then we just have to accept the black screen...

 

[Bram]

Ok, thank you for the reply. Clears things up.

 

[mogi_dk]

Some while ago I tried modifying the blank screen saver in MP to turn off my LCD monitor. I guess with a some modifications it should be possible to let the MP blank screen saver control the Windows screen saver.

But no one seemed to like the idea of powering down (standby) the TV screen - I like this since it saves money and lifetime of my LCD monitor.

If I have the time I could look into this ?

Would it be useful ?

Best wishes,
Mads.

 

[mogi_dk]

Just checked out the latest SVN version

It seems that powering on/off the monitor is now implemented in MP.... nice. It seems that someone cared after all

Now we just need an impl. for using windows screen saver...

 

[mogi_dk]

Sorry for all these replies...

I have been doing some more digging into the sources of MP.

It seems that if Media Portal has the focus AND
you are not watching a movie nor using slideshow the Windows screen saver will be allowed to run.

My guess is also that if you are letting Windows powering off your monitor (APM) then this will/might not be stopped by MP (thus causing "blank screen"). I need to verify this.

 

[Bram]

It would be nice if the in MP implemented slideshow function could be triggered by the internal screensaver. With customizable photo directory. Doesn't sound to complicated...does it.

 

[Marcusb]

It seems that if Media Portal has the focus AND
you are not watching a movie nor using slideshow the Windows screen saver will be allowed to run.

Excellent. In the earlier versions, the screen saver was allowed to run all the time. The WAF plummeted every time the windows screen saver kicked in during a movie or TV...

Looks like the quiet acheivers have been improving this in the back ground and you were the first one to try again...

Good work