Preventing Windows' screen saver from staring w/gamepad?

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Davey
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Preventing Windows' screen saver from staring w/gamepad?

Post by Davey »

Okay, the next time my screen saver pops up in the middle of a game when I'm uncharacteristically kicking ass, I'm just gonna snap.

It just sucks that Windows doesn't consider pad/stick input to be important enough to stop the screen saver from kicking on, and that the only half-assed solutions I know of are hitting the space bar between levels (if I remember) or disabling the screen saver whenever I play a game and renabling it when I'm done.

Anybody have this problem, or better yet, a solution? Seems utterly simple, but I'm stumped.
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it290
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Post by it290 »

I seem to remember there being an 'allow this device to wake the computer from sleep' control somewhere, which presumably has some effect on the screensaver, although I can't remember where it is. Not sure if it can be applied to joysticks tho. One thing you can do is write a batch file to run your program, and have it turn the screensaver off and back on again. First create a file like this:

Code: Select all

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"ScreenSaveActive"="0"
Call it ssoff.reg, make another one with ScreenSaveActive=1 and call it sson.reg, and then do a batch file:

Code: Select all

Regedit /s sson.reg
game.exe
regedit /s ssoff.reg
Not too pretty, but it works. I thought there was some way to import a registry key directly from the command line (maybe using redirection) so you don't have to create those extra files, but I'm too tired to think of it right now.
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iatneH
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Post by iatneH »

Wow, I haven't used a screensaver in ages. I just physically turn off my monitor whenever I leave my computer.

Sorry that doesn't answer your question :\
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benj
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Post by benj »

You could try an app called JoyToKey.
Just assign a nonvital key to a button on your pad to trick Windows into thinking you are constantly typing.
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undamned
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Post by undamned »

I can't keep my screen saver from staring at me either. It makes me feel all uncomfortable.
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FatCobra
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Post by FatCobra »

Why not just turn it off when you're playing a game? Pretty simple solution there. Just turn it on when you are doing playing afterwards.
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