Screensaver no longer activating?

NeilF · 8 Feb 2018 at 10:18

For years my PC has been defined with its screensaver to activate after 15 mins and also require logon again afterwards. But I've noticed over the past week or so, that the screensaver is no longer activating.

I've tried resetting everything around this areas, but alas the screensaver will not activate after the specified time.

My next step will be to unplug all USB leads, but any other suggestions?

Note: This is Window 10.

EDIT: Seems to be an NVIDIA Driver Bug or the like!

RavenXXX2 · 8 Feb 2018 at 15:21

Wipe and reinstall the OS.

NeilF · 8 Feb 2018 at 15:53

RavenXXX2 said:
Wipe and reinstall the OS.

Maybe a wiser first step might be to knock down my steet and rebuild all the houses?

RavenXXX2 · 8 Feb 2018 at 16:02

Takes 10 minutes mate.

NeilF · 8 Feb 2018 at 16:06

RavenXXX2 said:
Takes 10 minutes mate.

And every program, setting, app, config etc will remain untouched? Surely they'll be wiped and will need to be re-installed/reset too?

I'm sure there's less invasive first steps. I'll at least remove all the USB devices first, and I think I have some cmds to show possibly what's stopping the "power saving" from starting. ie: What Windows thinks should reset the time - https://superuser.com/questions/387627/any-way-to-detect-what-is-disabling-the-screensaver/827610

UnworthyBean · 8 Feb 2018 at 16:09

RavenXXX2 said:
Takes 10 minutes mate.

Cars got a flat tyre, Just buy a new one mate, only takes 10 minutes.

OP, If you set the display to go to sleep, does that work? Would rule out if something is keeping the PC awake or simply the screensaver not working.

NeilF · 8 Feb 2018 at 16:14

UnworthyBean said:
Cars got a flat tyre, Just buy a new one mate, only takes 10 minutes.

OP, If you set the display to go to sleep, does that work? Would rule out if something is keeping the PC awake or simply the screensaver not working.

Not buying this 10 minute suggestion? Unless there's an option with Windows 10 I'm not aware of, I'd need to re-install all my apps and configs etc which is not something I'd take lightly. And even if there was an option to do this, I'd assume there's a big risk involved, so again, not take it lightly.

For all I know it could be a rogue USB device - hence one of my jobs being to disconnect them and see what happens.

It could also be a rogue driver. eg: An NVidia or Oculus driver? Hence me ideally see a log of what is actually tellign windows the PC is in use so don't countdown to the powersaver.

Note I have a second screen plugged directly into the PC in question, which also is not sleeping (via Windows setting).

My main screen and mouse + keyboard are plugged in via a KVM. The other PC plugged into this KVM, sleeps as expected so that seems to rule out the mouse/keyboard etc.

NeilF · 8 Feb 2018 at 22:08

Interesting. If I run "Idle Clock" from maxoutput.com, on both my PCs...

On one it immediately counts up and resets with any mouse movement etc.

But on the other PC which is NOT showing the screenserver, the idle clock refuses to even go up at all! It just stays at 0!

NeilF · 8 Feb 2018 at 23:12

It's a bug with the NVidia Drivers or something like that.

Turn off the IN-GAME OVERLAY and all's OK. Turn it back on, and the Idle Timer fails to go up, and so no screen saver etc...

NOTE: A full system install would have achieved nothing!