Screen Saver Restricted (Greyed) Part 2 – Display Properties

June 17, 2007 7 Comments

Windows XP Screen saver drop down box located in the Display Properties under the Screen Saver tab is restricted/disabled (greyed out). The most likely cause of this is malware utilizing Group Policy Objects which enforces policies for system settings and/or user account(s) settings. The Group Policy for Screen Saver executable name will cause the Screen saver drop down box to be restricted/disabled (greyed out) in Display Properties when enabled.

Group Policies are typically applied at businesses to control access to programs, system properties, and user account settings. For Home users, Screen saver drop down box can be restricted/disabled (greyed out) by these Group Policies but usually malware is the culprit. If you are a home user and the Screen saver drop down box is restricted/disabled (greyed out) from the Display Properties and looks like the pictures below then there is a good chance you are infected with malware.

NOTE

Ensure your computer is malware free before applying the following solutions.

CAUTION

Before making any changes to the Windows XP Registry, please backup your Windows XP Registry using the direction from "Using ERUNT to back up the Windows XP Registry".

Manual Steps Using Group Policy Editor

NOTE

The Group Policy Editor requires Administrative privileges and is only available for Windows XP Professional Edition. Windows XP Home users can use the Windows XP Registry method to remove the Group Policy restriction.

  1. Click Start and then Run.
  2. Type gpedit.msc in the Run dialog box.
  3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  4. In the Group Policy Editor navigate to:

    User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Display

  5. Double-click Screen Saver executable name.
  6. Select Not Configured.

NOTE

If the Screen saver drop down box is restricted/disabled (greyed out) on a per User account basis then the above method will not work, you will need to use the Registry Editor to remove the Group Policy.

Manual Steps Using Windows XP Registry

  1. Click Start and then Run.
  2. Type regedit.exe in the Run dialog box.
  3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  4. Navigate to:

    HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop

  5. Right-click SCRNSAVE.EXE to select Delete.
  6. Navigate to:

    HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop

  7. Right-click SCRNSAVE.EXE to select Delete.
  8. Quit the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).

NOTE

You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Manual Steps Using REG DELETE

  1. Open a Command Window.
  2. Type:

    REG DELETE "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop" /v SCRNSAVE.EXE /f

  3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  4. Type:

    REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop" /v SCRNSAVE.EXE /f

  5. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  6. Type EXIT and press ENTER on your keyboard.

NOTE

You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Automated Fix Using an Registration File

  1. Download ScrnSvr.Prt2.Allow.reg to a folder on your hard drive.
  2. Right-click ScrnSvr.Prt2.Allow.reg to select Merge.
  3. Now the registration entries are removed for you.

NOTES

The ScrnSvr.Prt2.Allow.reg file is from my web server (http://lprf.homeserver.com).  You also can view the contents of the ScrnSvr.Prt2.Allow.reg file by right-clicking the file and selecting Edit. You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Platforms Tested

  • Microsoft Windows XP Editions
Related Articles

Version 2.2
Edited: May 7, 2012

Filed under Windows XP, Windows XP Fixes Tagged with , , , , ,

Screen Saver Restricted (Greyed) Part 1 – Display Properties

June 17, 2007 5 Comments

Windows XP Screen saver area located in the Display Properties under the Screen Saver tab is restricted/disabled (greyed out). The most likely cause of this is malware utilizing Group Policy Objects which enforces policies for system settings and/or user account(s) settings. The Group Policy for Screen Saver will cause the Screen saver area to be restricted/disabled (greyed out) in Display Properties when enabled.

Group Policies are typically applied at businesses to control access to programs, system properties, and user account settings. For Home users, Screen saver area can be restricted/disabled (greyed out) by these Group Policies but usually malware is the culprit. If you are a home user and the Screen saver area is restricted/disabled (greyed out) from the Display Properties and looks like the pictures below then there is a good chance you are infected with malware.

NOTE

Ensure your computer is malware free before applying the following solutions.

CAUTION

Before making any changes to the Windows XP Registry, please backup your Windows XP Registry using the direction from "Using ERUNT to back up the Windows XP Registry".

Manual Steps Using Group Policy Editor

NOTE

The Group Policy Editor requires Administrative privileges and is only available for Windows XP Professional Edition. Windows XP Home users can use the Windows XP Registry method to remove the Group Policy restriction.

  1. Click Start and then Run.
  2. Type gpedit.msc in the Run dialog box.
  3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  4. In the Group Policy Editor navigate to:

    User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Display

  5. Double-click Screen Saver.
  6. Select Not Configured.

NOTE

If the Screen saver area is restricted/disabled (greyed out) on a per User account basis then the above method will not work, you will need to use the Registry Editor to remove the Group Policy.

Manual Steps Using Windows XP Registry

  1. Click Start and then Run.
  2. Type regedit.exe in the Run dialog box.
  3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  4. Navigate to:

    HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop

  5. Right-click ScreenSaverActive to select Delete.
  6. Navigate to:

    HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop

  7. Right-click ScreenSaverIsActive to select Delete.
  8. Quit the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).

NOTE

You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Manual Steps Using REG DELETE

  1. Open a Command Window.
  2. Type:

    REG DELETE "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop" /v ScreenSaverIsActive /f

  3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  4. Type:

    REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop" /v ScreenSaverIsActive /f

  5. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  6. Type EXIT and press ENTER on your keyboard.

NOTE

You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Automated Fix Using an Registration File

  1. Download ScrnSvr.Prt1.Allow.reg to a folder on your hard drive.
  2. Right-click ScrnSvr.Prt1.Allow.reg to select Merge.
  3. Now the registration entries are removed for you.

NOTES

The ScrnSvr.Prt1.Allow.reg file is from my web server (http://lprf.homeserver.com).  You also can view the contents of the ScrnSvr.Prt1.Allow.reg file by right-clicking the file and selecting Edit. You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Platforms Tested

  • Microsoft Windows XP Editions
Related Articles

Version 2.3
Edited: May 12, 2012

Filed under Windows XP, Windows XP Fixes Tagged with , , , , ,