HOWTO: Install a Screen Saver

HOWTO: Install a Screen Saver

Document ID: IR02012
The information in this article applies to:
  • Setup Factory 6.0

SUMMARY

This article explains how to install a screen saver.

DISCUSSION

In the base case, installing a screen saver is simply including an .scr (screen saver) file in your installation and setting its destination to %SysDir%. This will ensure that the screen saver will appear in the Display Properties dialog. Using actions we can also set our screen saver to be the active screen saver, and make sure that the screen saver option is turned on.

The active screen saver is controlled through different methods on Windows 95/98 and Windows NT/2000/XP therefore we will have to determine which category the end user falls into and then perform the specific actions.

On Windows 95/98 we will have to edit the System.ini file to make our screen saver the active screen saver. Our entry will basically look like this:

[boot]
SCRNSAVE.EXE=%SysDir%\your_filename_here.scr
On Windows NT/2000/XP we will have to edit the "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\SCRNSAVE.EXE" registry value's data to: "%SysDir%\your_filename_here.scr".

Making sure that the screen save is turned on is the same step on all operating systems, the is done by editing the "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\ScreenSaveActive" registry value's data to: "1". (This is an optional step)

Note: When you set the active screen saver using the registry or System.ini the changes will not take effect until the computer reboots.

Example:
In this example we will be installing the screen saver "Cutlets.scr" and making it the default screen saver.

Here is the Setup Factory 6.0 pseudo-code that will accomplish this:

IF (%IsWindows95% OR %IsWindows98%)
	Modify INI File (Set Value:%WinDir%\System.ini)
END IF

IF (%IsWindowsNT% OR %IsWindows2000% OR %IsWindowsXP%)
	Modify Registry (Set Value: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\SCRNSAVE.EXE)
END IF

Modify Registry (Set Value: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\ScreenSaveActive)

Assign Value (%NeedsReboot% = TRUE)
Here are those actions in more detail:

The first Modify INI File Action for Windows 95/98:

INI file Action: Set Value
Filename: %WinDir%\System.ini
Section: boot
Value name: SCRNSAVE.EXE
Value data: %SysDir%\Cutlets.scr
The first Modify Registry Action for Windows NT/2000/XP:

Registry Action: Set Value
Main Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Sub Key: Control Panel\Desktop
Value name: SCRNSAVE.EXE
Value type: REG_SZ
Value data: %SysDir%\Cutlets.scr
The Modify Registry Action for all operating systems that will make sure the screen saver is active:

Registry Action: Set Value
Main Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Sub Key: Control Panel\Desktop
Value name: ScreenSaveActive
Value type: REG_SZ
Value data: 1
The Assign Value action to schedule a reboot:
Variable name: %NeedsReboot%
Value: TRUE
Important Notes: None of the above changes will become active until the user has rebooted their system. %NeedsReboot% simply displays the Needs Reboot screen and lets the user decide if they would like to reboot. Set %DoReboot% to TRUE to force a reboot.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information please see the following topics in the Setup Factory 6.0 Help:

  • Command Reference | Variables | Built-in Variables
  • Command Reference | Actions | Individual Actions | Modify INI File
  • Command Reference | Actions | Individual Actions | Modify Registry
  • Command Reference | Actions | Individual Actions | END IF
  • Command Reference | Actions | Individual Actions | IF
  • Command Reference | Actions | Individual Actions | Assign Value

    • KEYWORDS: Setup Factory, Screen Saver

    Last reviewed: October 8, 2002
    Copyright © 2002 Indigo Rose Corporation. All rights reserved.