How to Install a Screensaver in Vista
What is a Screensaver?
A screensaver is an animated image that is displayed on an inactive personal computer screen once user inactivity has been sensed for a certain period of time. Screensavers were originally supposed to prevent burn-in (i.e. the burning of an image into the phosphor inside the cathode ray tube after hours of the same image being displayed).
Windows Vista comes with its own built-in screensavers that you are able to select from. You can also find many screensavers that you can download from specific sites.
A good screensaver is said to have certain characteristics, including:
-
A dark background – To save on power that is consumed by the display.
- Constantly moving objects or scene – To avoid pixel burning.
- Sensitive – should not prevent you from using the computer
Most screensavers are based on the following platforms:
- Sprite based
- Flash based
- Slideshow based
- Video based
How to Get a Screensaver
If you want to use screensavers other than the ones loaded on to your Vista operating system, then you will have to download it from the Internet or have a friend send you one. Then you have to install it.
There are possibly millions of screensavers you can get on the Internet. Some of them are free and others you have to pay for. There are even some that are called "shareware' in that you can only use them for a short period of time and then you will have to delete it from your computer.
Spyware Cautions
When downloading screensavers off the Internet be careful there are no other third party software embedding in them. These may contain a spyware that will track your Internet usage and collect your "online habits" and either send this information to a centralized server or present some advertisements to you. And in some cases they will not uninstall from your system completely.
Download the Screensaver
Decide which screensaver you want. Locate the "download" option on the website (It may also say "download screensaver") and click it to start the download.
You will then be prompted to choose either of two download options:
- OPEN from the current location, or
- SAVE to disk
Click Save to disk. You then have to choose where you want to save it. You can save it to the Windows folder for easy locating.
How to Install a Screensaver
Make sure the new screensaver is in the Windows folder so that it will appear on the screensaver selection list.
Right click any blank space on your desktop.
- Select Properties
- Go to the Screensavers tab, you should see a drop-down list
- Select the screensaver you downloaded
- Click Apply
- Click Ok
|
|
Comments (3)
Leave a Reply
- How to Turn the Screensaver Off in Windows XP
Monitors that are running screensavers have a tendency to consume the same amount of power as they would if they were running normally. This can be as little as a few watts for small LCD monitors, to as much as several hundred for the much larger plasma displays. The more modern computers have the ability [...]...
- How to Speed Up Vista
When it comes to computer performance, speed is all-important. Vista is the newest and most technologically advanced operating system ever released by Microsoft. Vista is quite streamlined and tuned for performance. However, for those who want the fastest speed possible, there are some tweaks that can be applied. Here are some of the most effective [...]...
- How to Uninstall Windows OneCare in Vista
OneCare is Microsoft's first foray into the computer security arena; it is therefore a product that has some good features with some bugs to filter out. Windows OneCare is an antivirus product that offers a complete security system and it includes a firewall, antispyware, antivirus, backup and restore and a PC tune-up utility. You have [...]...
- How to Install DirectX
To install DirectX, it is recommended that the latest DirectX version is downloaded directly from Microsoft. Go to the DirectX 9.0c End-User Runtime download page using Internet Explorer. Click the Download button. Click the Run button to run dxwebsetup.exe immediately. Click the next Run button. Check the circle next to “I accept the agreement.” Click [...]...
- How to Turn Off Your Computer in Vista
Turning off your computer in Vista can be a bit tricky because Vista doesn't show you a "Turn off computer" button. So when you want to turn off your computer, here are four simple options: Method 1 Start up your computer. Click on the power button in the Start menu. If you see a yellow [...]...
Thanks, it have helped me.
Originally posted by speedy: “Thanks, it have helped me.”
The DigiAquaScr is a new 3d fish screensaver.
I love the realistic movement of the fish and the colors are beautiful.
i installed a screensaver on my computer (vista) but it stays stationary & won’t move. what am i doing wrong??