Screen Saver Tab Missing – Display Properties
June 18, 2007 26 Comments
Windows XP Screen Saver tab is missing from the Display Properties. 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 Hide Screen Saver tab will cause the Screen Saver tab to be removed from 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, the Screen Saver tab can be restricted (removed) by enforcing Group Policies but malware on your computer is usually the culprit. If you are a home user and the Screen Saver tab is missing from the Display Properties and looks like the pictures below then there is a good chance the computer you were using is 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.
- Click Start and then Run.
- Type gpedit.mscin the Run dialog box.
- Press ENTER on your keyboard.
- In the Group Policy Editor navigate to:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Display
- Double-click Hide Screen Saver tab.
- Select Not Configured.
NOTE
If the Screen Saver tab is missing 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
- Click Start and then Run.
- Type regedit.exein the Run dialog box.
- Press ENTER on your keyboard.
- Navigate to:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
- Right-click NoDispScrSavPage to select Modify.
- Change the value to 0.
- Navigate to:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
- Right-click NoDispScrSavPage to select Modify.
- Change the value to 0.
- 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 ADD
- Open a Command Window.
- Type:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /v NoDispScrSavPage /t REG_DWORD /d 0
- Press ENTER on your keyboard.
- Type:
REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /v NoDispScrSavPage /t REG_DWORD /d 0
- Press ENTER on your keyboard.
- 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
- Download ScrnSvrTb.Show.regto a folder on your hard drive.
- Right-click ScrnSvrTb.Show.reg to select Merge.
- Now the registration entries are added for you.
NOTES
The ScrnSvrTb.Show.reg file is from my web server (http://lprf.homeserver.com). You can view the contents of the ScrnSvrTb.Show.reg file by right-clicking the file to select 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
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Version 3.3
Edited: May 12, 2012
Great information indeed thank you. This is required for removing the message Warning:spyware detected on your Computer.
thanks for the info. this helped me to get the desktop and screen saver tab back by using the Registry Edit. I lost those tabs due to spyware attack.
Thanks for your hard work in making this information available.
Thanks for making this info available. I fixed more than one tab display problem with this. God bless.
Finally someone who knows what they are talking about, thank you so much for this information, helped me fix my PC, after an infected wall pager, my advice if you want a new wallpaper, always check it with an antivirus software or make your own, Thanks again. :0)
Thanks a lot for the 2 programs-Dsktptb.show.reg&SCrnSvrTb.show.reg with which I could regain the Desktop & Screensaver tabs in the Display Properties, but after that, on double-clicking the Desktop icons(short-cut of .scr from System 32) of my Screensavers, they show only the \’settings windows\’ and do not open the screensaver. I can open it only from Display Properties >Screensavertab>Preview.Will be grateful to have some light on to regain opening of scr on double-clicking its desktop icon.
@ "Will be grateful to have some light on to regain opening of scr on double-clicking its desktop icon."
Could you take a look at the following registry key located at:
HKLM\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon\\Notify\\SensLogn
Verify if the following values are present:
SensStartScreenSaverEvent
SensStopScreenSaverEvent
If these values are not present or you still need help then could you email at:
bcrawfordjr (at) hotmail (DOT) com
Thanks,BillJr
Another satisfied customer…. Thanks Bill.
OMG you saved me so muuuuch trouble. ive tried so many things, but this worked, and all i had to do was click 3 times and it was fixed. you also helped me with the desktop tab also. THANKS SOOOO MUCH!
Thanks ever so much, a life saver for a rookie. you made me feel i could do something……your instructions were right on…..again thank you. takeanumber
Thank you so much for taking the time to write and share this information. The fix suddenly is simple when
you know what direction to take in applying the correct solution! It certainly saved guessing and perhaps creating further problems by applying an incorrect solution. Thanks so much this was greatly appreciated!
Thanks a lot for this advice. It worked wonderfully. Too bad MS documentation does not say a word about that.
Good work and generous heart.
Andrew
Thank you for your help!!!
Works Thanks
works great. thanks. but everytime i restart it disappears and i have run the command again to enable screensaver tab. any solution for this!!! thanks in adv
@Narayan BharadwajI would say your computer is still infected with malware, you need to clean up your computer before removing the Screen Saver tab Restriction.
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Thank you for the detailed info. Great Work !!