Screen Launcher lets you choose any program to run as a screensaver. You could start a Powerpoint, a movie or any EXE or associated file. To install, simply unzip, right-click and click Install on the context menu. You can then use Screen Launcher just like any other screensaver. To open files such as Powerpoint presentations, you must execute the powerpoint program and type the path to your ppt as a parameter. An example for displaying an image would be c:\winnt\system32\mspaint.exe c:\picture.bmp. Download today to take advantage of any media as a screensaver.
2. RunSaver (don't confuse with RunScreenSaver by the same author).
Screensaver that runs a command.
I'm sure there are many more such screensavers that will allow you to launch arbitrary programs/scripts. But what if you'd like to continue using your current screensaver? If so, see below for the solution (tested on Win7, should work fine on Vista+).
3. Using no 3rd party tools
Event ID 4802 corresponds to The screen saver was invoked, but it is not logged by default and thus we need to enable logging for this event first. So open the Local Group Policy Editor (Start / Run / gpedit.msc), navigate to:
Computer Configuration / Windows Settings / Security Settings / Advanced Audit Policy Configuration / System Audit Policies - Local Group Policy Object / Logon/Logoff / Audit Other Logon/Logoff Events
and enable the checkboxes for Success and Failure:
If you wait for your screensaver to be launched, you'll now see event logs similar to the following in Event Viewer:
Now it's easy to use Task Scheduler to create a task that will be launched when Event 4802 occurs. Just ensure that the Triggers tab of the task's Properties dialog looks like the following:
I ran through this tutorial last year an made a nice one for our company using a logo and a background flash. Not too difficult if your proficient at image editing and have a basic level of coding knowledge. I ended up writing my own because the commercially available screensaver tools I found were abysmal.
We run the screensaver for 15 minutes, at which point the monitors go to sleep.
Best Answer
1. Screen Launcher
[Alternate download link since official site seems to be dead.]
2. RunSaver (don't confuse with RunScreenSaver by the same author).
I'm sure there are many more such screensavers that will allow you to launch arbitrary programs/scripts. But what if you'd like to continue using your current screensaver? If so, see below for the solution (tested on Win7, should work fine on Vista+).
3. Using no 3rd party tools
Event ID 4802 corresponds to The screen saver was invoked, but it is not logged by default and thus we need to enable logging for this event first. So open the Local Group Policy Editor (
Start / Run / gpedit.msc), navigate to:Computer Configuration / Windows Settings / Security Settings / Advanced Audit Policy Configuration / System Audit Policies - Local Group Policy Object / Logon/Logoff / Audit Other Logon/Logoff Eventsand enable the checkboxes for Success and Failure:
If you wait for your screensaver to be launched, you'll now see event logs similar to the following in Event Viewer:
Now it's easy to use Task Scheduler to create a task that will be launched when Event 4802 occurs. Just ensure that the Triggers tab of the task's Properties dialog looks like the following: