Need a special screensaver

[John C.]

Anybody know of a screensaver that only darkens the screen a bunch? I
don't want a blackout, I want to still be able to tell what's going on
in the background, but only barely. Adjustability would be nice too.

I've looked in vain, maybe somebody can come up with something.

TIA

--
John C. BS206. No ad, CD, commercial, cripple, demo, nag, pirated,
share, spy, time-limited, trial or web wares for me please. I filter out
posts made from Google Groups and cross-posted (sent to more than one
newsgroup at a time) messages. I recommend you do likewise.

[VanguardLH]

"John C." <r9j...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Anybody know of a screensaver that only darkens the screen a bunch? I
> don't want a blackout, I want to still be able to tell what's going on
> in the background, but only barely. Adjustability would be nice too.

Try using the Bubbles screen saver (already included with Windows, but
you didn't specify the OS, so it could be Linux, Android, iOS, or
something else). In Windows, go to the screen saver settings, and
select the Bubbles screen saver. There is no opacity setting (from
clear to opaque), though.

[p-0''0-h the cat (coder)]

On Wed, 28 Jul 2021 16:03:38 -0700, "John C." <r9j...@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Anybody know of a screensaver that only darkens the screen a bunch? I
>don't want a blackout, I want to still be able to tell what's going on
>in the background, but only barely. Adjustability would be nice too.
>
>I've looked in vain, maybe somebody can come up with something.
>
>TIA

Not a screensaver but maybe

https://justgetflux.com/


Live everyday like you're a cat.

Sent from my iFurryUnderbelly.

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[B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson]

On Wed, 28 Jul 2021 16:03:38 -0700, John C. wrote:

> Anybody know of a screensaver that only darkens the screen a bunch? I
> don't want a blackout, I want to still be able to tell what's going on
> in the background, but only barely. Adjustability would be nice too.

Some mobile PCs support this through energy settings:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/108132-add-remove-dim-display-after-power-options-windows.html
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/108137-add-remove-dimmed-display-brightness-power-options-windows.html

Especially tablets quite often bring their own tools to do such dimming.

BeAr
--
===========================================================================
= What do you mean with: "Perfection is always an illusion"? =
===============================================================--(Oops!)===

[John C.]

VanguardLH wrote:

Sorry, the OS on this computer is Windows 7 SP1.

[John C.]

John C. wrote:
> VanguardLH wrote:
>> John C. wrote:
>>
>>> Anybody know of a screensaver that only darkens the screen a bunch? I
>>> don't want a blackout, I want to still be able to tell what's going on
>>> in the background, but only barely. Adjustability would be nice too.
>>
>> Try using the Bubbles screen saver (already included with Windows, but
>> you didn't specify the OS, so it could be Linux, Android, iOS, or
>> something else). In Windows, go to the screen saver settings, and
>> select the Bubbles screen saver. There is no opacity setting (from
>> clear to opaque), though.
>
> Sorry, the OS on this computer is Windows 7 SP1

The Bubbles screen saver doesn't darken the screen. What I'm wanting is
something that comes on instantly and is a uniform darkness, but which
is opaque enough that I'll be able to see what's going on in the
background. I'm watching Pluto TV and when a commercial break comes on,
I want to be able to tell when the commercial break is over.

[John C.]

p-0''0-h the cat (coder) wrote:

> John C. wrote:
>>
>> Anybody know of a screensaver that only darkens the screen a bunch? I
>> don't want a blackout, I want to still be able to tell what's going on
>> in the background, but only barely. Adjustability would be nice too.
>>
>> I've looked in vain, maybe somebody can come up with something.
>>
>> TIA
>
> Not a screensaver but maybe
>
> https://justgetflux.com/

Thanks, but I'm looking for something that's easy to turn on and off
instantly. Currently I'm using the "scrnsave.scr" screen saver that
comes with Windows, but it's black or nothing.

[John C.]

B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson wrote:
> John C. wrote:
>>
>> Anybody know of a screensaver that only darkens the screen a bunch? I
>> don't want a blackout, I want to still be able to tell what's going on
>> in the background, but only barely. Adjustability would be nice too.
>
> Some mobile PCs support this through energy settings:
>
> https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/108132-add-remove-dim-display-after-power-options-windows.html
> https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/108137-add-remove-dimmed-display-brightness-power-options-windows.html
>
> Especially tablets quite often bring their own tools to do such dimming.

Thanks, but this is a desktop and a screen saver is what I'm looking
for. By the way, instead of "adjustability", I should have used the word
"configurability".

[lisa]

On Wed, 28 Jul 2021 16:03:38 -0700, "John C." <r9j...@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>Anybody know of a screensaver that only darkens the screen a bunch? I
>don't want a blackout, I want to still be able to tell what's going on
>in the background, but only barely. Adjustability would be nice too.
>

https://www.e-motional.com/TScreenLock.htm

something like this?

Do a search for "transparent screensaver for windows"
and you get much results to try

[John C.]

lisa wrote:

> John C. wrote:
>>
>> Anybody know of a screensaver that only darkens the screen a bunch? I
>> don't want a blackout, I want to still be able to tell what's going on
>> in the background, but only barely. Adjustability would be nice too.
>
> https://www.e-motional.com/TScreenLock.htm
>
> something like this?

Thanks, but that's all trial-ware, not freeware.

> Do a search for "transparent screensaver for windows"
> and you get much results to try

As I mentioned in my OP:

> I've looked in vain

but yes, those are better search terms than I used. Thanks, I'll give
them a try.

[B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson]

On Wed, 28 Jul 2021 22:30:08 -0700, John C. wrote:

>>> Anybody know of a screensaver that only darkens the screen a bunch? I
>>> don't want a blackout, I want to still be able to tell what's going on
>>> in the background, but only barely. Adjustability would be nice too.
>>
>> Some mobile PCs support this through energy settings:

[...]

> Thanks, but this is a desktop and a screen saver is what I'm looking
> for.

Was worth a shot. I thought to remember, that at some time you decided
to switch to a laptop as main computer.

> By the way, instead of "adjustability", I should have used the word
> "configurability".

The listed options (snipped here) for laptop/tablet energy settings would
have enabled you to set time interval /and/ dim intensity. But okay, this
isn't the way to go in your case.

In the morning I didn't have the time to look up a dimming screensaver
I remembered. - Now I checked and here you go:

https://www.dcmembers.com/skrommel/download/dimsaver

It is written as compiled AutoHotkey script. Source code is included.
So you could even adjust its code, if you liked.

The DimSaver.scr goes into System32 on 32 bit Windows and in SysWOW64
on x64. Before you copy it there, extract DimSaver.scr to a directory
with write permissions and right click on it. You should get an entry
"Configure". (Or whatever it is called on an English OS.) The following
dialog enables you to adjust all settings to your needs. Then copy the
newly created DimSaver.ini (aka your settings) alongside DimSaver.scr
to System32 or SysWOW64.

If you wish to run a native x64 port, just compile DimSaver.scr with
the appropriate AutoHotkey compiler. Please note, that you'll probably
receive an error about an inappropriate AutoHdr option for a ListView.
Just delete "AutoHdr" in the (sole) line it appears in. The compilation
process creates an *.exe file. Just rename it to *.scr, afterwards.

Another thought: Most AV programs are triggered by unknown AHK scripts.
(Especially compiled ones.) So you may need to define an exception for
DimSaver.scr. (Self-compiled or not.)

Interestingly, DimSaver.scr works well on Win7 and also dims well on
Win10 when just executed as a test. But when triggered as screensaver,
the display on Win10 will not appear dimmed, but solid gray. It seems,
Win10 adds an additional protection layer over the display content
whenever a screensaver starts its work...

HTH.

[B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson]

Following myself up:

[DimSaver.scr]

> Interestingly, DimSaver.scr works well on Win7 and also dims well on
> Win10 when just executed as a test. But when triggered as screensaver,
> the display on Win10 will not appear dimmed, but solid gray. It seems,
> Win10 adds an additional protection layer over the display content
> whenever a screensaver starts its work...

Just checked: Same solid gray appearance on Win8x64.

Another thought:
After re-reading your needs, you actually do /not/ need a screensaver.
Better suited for you seems a different approach: Copy DimSaver.exe
(not the *.scr) to a (writeable) directory of its own. Execute it from
there, which opens the configuration dialog. Adjust all setting necessary,
but /before closing/ the dialog, pin the program to the taskbar. Now close
the settings dialog with OK.

Right click on the DimSaver taskbar icon and add the parameter " /S"
(without the quotation marks) in the target field behind the entry
<path>\DimSaver.exe. Moreover, assign a hotkey, if you like.

From now on, you can dim the screen by hotkey or by clicking on the
taskbar icon.

[John C.]

B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson wrote:

> John C. wrote:
>
>>>> Anybody know of a screensaver that only darkens the screen a bunch? I
>>>> don't want a blackout, I want to still be able to tell what's going on
>>>> in the background, but only barely. Adjustability would be nice too.
>>>
>>> Some mobile PCs support this through energy settings:
> [...]
>> Thanks, but this is a desktop and a screen saver is what I'm looking
>> for.
>
> Was worth a shot. I thought to remember, that at some time you decided
> to switch to a laptop as main computer.

Not sure what you're referring to. I did buy a laptop a little over a
year ago, but it's a backup computer I only very rarely run because it
has W10 (which I loath) installed on it. I use it for traveling only.

Thanks, I'll check it out. I just downloaded the zip file, ran it
through Virustotal and:

https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/5127f7de33c72feabb0adb82271aefdbb241bf1c04eecbe412282355493a92c4/detection

The two are almost certainly false positives.

[VanguardLH]

"John C." <r9j...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> John C. wrote:
>
>> VanguardLH wrote:
>>
>>> John C. wrote:
>>>
>>>> Anybody know of a screensaver that only darkens the screen a bunch?
>>>> I don't want a blackout, I want to still be able to tell what's
>>>> going on in the background, but only barely. Adjustability would
>>>> be nice too.
>>>
>>> Try using the Bubbles screen saver (already included with Windows,
>>> but you didn't specify the OS, so it could be Linux, Android, iOS,
>>> or something else). In Windows, go to the screen saver settings,
>>> and select the Bubbles screen saver. There is no opacity setting
>>> (from clear to opaque), though.
>>
>> Sorry, the OS on this computer is Windows 7 SP1

Windows 7 has the Bubbles screen saver, too, but that screen saver
doesn't have the opacity/transparency feature you requested, just an
overlay of the bubbles.

> The Bubbles screen saver doesn't darken the screen. What I'm wanting
> is something that comes on instantly and is a uniform darkness, but
> which is opaque enough that I'll be able to see what's going on in
> the background. I'm watching Pluto TV and when a commercial break
> comes on, I want to be able to tell when the commercial break is
> over.

https://www.screensaversplanet.com/screensavers/kuraku-dark-1449/
https://www.screensaversplanet.com/screensavers/screenshade-1437/
https://www.screensaversplanet.com/screensavers/out-of-focus-1390/

Just remember that screen savers are running code, just like a program.
That site might have others you prefer. Rather than rely on the OS to
idle timeout to know when to load the screen saver, you can create a
shortcut or use a programmable keyboard button (if you have a keyboard
with keys you can assign to macros) to the .scr or .exe file to run it
immediately.

Since you are trying to fabricate a commercial killer, wouldn't you also
want to mute the noise, er, sound of commercials? You could use
Nirsoft's nircmd to mute your speakers, and then unmute them. Combine
the two in a batch file where you run:

nircmd.exe mutesysvolume 1
<screensaver>.scr
echo Hit a key to unmute and continue ...
pause > nul
nircmd.exe mutesysvolume 0
exit

I'm assuming that when you hit a key that the screen saver turns off.
You might have to configure Windows to /not/ require a logon when the
screen saver exits; else, you'd be relogging in after the end of every
commercial break that you muted and hid. However, maybe the Windows
settings for screen savers don't apply when you directly start the
screen saver yourself by running its .scr or .exe file.

For my TV, I just almost-mute (turn the volume way down to almost off),
and close my eyes to relax. I can hear when the commercials are over,
because the volume goes down during the movie. Commercials aren't
allowed to increase the volume (laws effected limiting over volume) more
than, say, a movie, but they are allowed to make the noise more dense,
so it sounds louder. You can hear the difference. And moments of
relaxation are recommended whether when watching TV or your computer
screen. If you don't feel compelled to plant yourself in front of your
computer or TV during a commercial, just mute down to a very low volume,
so you can hear when the commercial is over when you move away from the
screen during commercials. Rather than use my eyes to determine when a
commercial break is over, I use my ears, especially since I can still
detect the commercials are over without having to return to the TV or
computer to visibly check.

[Zo]

John C. pretended :

Here's one that does what BeAr is describing, but it is already to go.
You turn it on/off with the pre assigned hotkey or one of your own and
you can set the color and desired darkness to what ever you want it to
be.

ColorVeil

Free No install portable.

Clean with 0 Virustotal results.

https://www.east-tec.com/colorveil/

This appearss to do what you want with more control when to turn it on
and off. Hope this helps you out.

I've using it on and off for while now.

--
Zo

Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?

[al]

Great recommendation!

[B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson]

On Thu, 29 Jul 2021 10:58:37 -0700, John C. wrote:

>> I thought to remember, that at some time you decided to switch to a
>> laptop as main computer.
>
> Not sure what you're referring to. I did buy a laptop a little over a
> year ago, but it's a backup computer I only very rarely run because it
> has W10 (which I loath) installed on it. I use it for traveling only.

Because Win7 was EOL I probably assumed, that the Win10 device became
your main desktop. With a decent dock, a laptop could be used as desktop
replacement in a way, that the device itself can be stored out-of-sight
and the look and feel when working with it would be desktop-like.

[B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson]

On Thu, 29 Jul 2021 15:43:18 -0400, Zo wrote:

[DimSaver (.*scr and *.exe)]

>>> It is written as compiled AutoHotkey script. Source code is included.
>>> So you could even adjust its code, if you liked.

[...]

> Here's one that does what BeAr is describing, but it is already to go.
> You turn it on/off with the pre assigned hotkey or one of your own and
> you can set the color and desired darkness to what ever you want it to
> be.
>
> ColorVeil
>
> Free No install portable.

If it hasn't to be a screen saver, this is another way to go. AV programs
complain about it the same way as about DimSaver. And the latter is also
portable and can adjust color, dimming level and so on. So it probably is
a matter of taste, which one to choose.

ColorVeil seems to have problems with hotkey assignment, though. It gives
an error message about hotkey assignment on Win10 every time it is run
with user rights. Apart from this, ColorVeil seems to be a nice tool.

[John C.]

VanguardLH wrote:
> John C. wrote:
>> John C. wrote:
>>> VanguardLH wrote:
>>>> John C. wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Anybody know of a screensaver that only darkens the screen a bunch?
>>>>> I don't want a blackout, I want to still be able to tell what's
>>>>> going on in the background, but only barely. Adjustability would
>>>>> be nice too.
>>>>
>>>> Try using the Bubbles screen saver (already included with Windows,
>>>> but you didn't specify the OS, so it could be Linux, Android, iOS,
>>>> or something else). In Windows, go to the screen saver settings,
>>>> and select the Bubbles screen saver. There is no opacity setting
>>>> (from clear to opaque), though.
>>>
>>> Sorry, the OS on this computer is Windows 7 SP1
>
> Windows 7 has the Bubbles screen saver, too, but that screen saver
> doesn't have the opacity/transparency feature you requested, just an
> overlay of the bubbles.

Thanks for the clarification, and yes, I noticed that.

>> The Bubbles screen saver doesn't darken the screen. What I'm wanting
>> is something that comes on instantly and is a uniform darkness, but
>> which is opaque enough that I'll be able to see what's going on in
>> the background. I'm watching Pluto TV and when a commercial break
>> comes on, I want to be able to tell when the commercial break is
>> over.
>
> https://www.screensaversplanet.com/screensavers/kuraku-dark-1449/

Too bad it's an .msi file. I only rarely will install a screensaver,
usually just put .scr files in a folder I use.

> https://www.screensaversplanet.com/screensavers/screenshade-1437/

The download contains a questionable file named "InstallScreenSaver.cmd"
which contains the following instructions:

start rundll32.exe desk.cpl,InstallScreenSaver
%SystemRoot%\System32\ScreenShade.scr

I simply extracted the ScreenShade.scr file from the download and ran it.

This one is the closest to what I'm looking for so far, but it's not
dark enough and not configurable.

> https://www.screensaversplanet.com/screensavers/out-of-focus-1390/

https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/5f0ca240242aecaf9ab82a7ae4eeaff857454bb1837bac81999f431b0d9c7d71/detection

but the two hits are probably false positives. Regardless, it's too slow
and too bright. Doesn't darken the screen.

> Just remember that screen savers are running code, just like a program.

Of course I know this. An .scr file is an executable, just like an .exe
or a .com file.

> That site might have others you prefer. Rather than rely on the OS to
> idle timeout to know when to load the screen saver, you can create a
> shortcut or use a programmable keyboard button (if you have a keyboard
> with keys you can assign to macros) to the .scr or .exe file to run it
> immediately.

I've been doing this for years with the built in "Blank Screen Saver"
screen saver (I use Ctrl-Alt-B). It blacks out the screen totally
though,so it's not what I'm looking for.

> Since you are trying to fabricate a commercial killer, wouldn't you also
> want to mute the noise, er, sound of commercials? You could use
> Nirsoft's nircmd to mute your speakers, and then unmute them. Combine
> the two in a batch file where you run:

Thanks, but my sound system is one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Surround-Speaker-System-Subwoofer/dp/B000JJM8XE/

Interesting that they're selling for so much now. I only paid a little
over $100 for mine.

The volume control pad you see in the center of the illustration is
about 5 inches away from my right hand when I'm using the computer. Not
only that, but Pluto TV has a mute button in its interface.

> nircmd.exe mutesysvolume 1
> <screensaver>.scr
> echo Hit a key to unmute and continue ...
> pause > nul
> nircmd.exe mutesysvolume 0
> exit

Yeah, I use a nircd shortcut to shut my DVD drive.

> I'm assuming that when you hit a key that the screen saver turns off.

I usually just move the mouse a little.

> You might have to configure Windows to /not/ require a logon when the
> screen saver exits; else, you'd be relogging in after the end of every
> commercial break that you muted and hid. However, maybe the Windows
> settings for screen savers don't apply when you directly start the
> screen saver yourself by running its .scr or .exe file.
>
> For my TV, I just almost-mute (turn the volume way down to almost off),
> and close my eyes to relax. I can hear when the commercials are over,
> because the volume goes down during the movie. Commercials aren't
> allowed to increase the volume (laws effected limiting over volume) more
> than, say, a movie, but they are allowed to make the noise more dense,
> so it sounds louder. You can hear the difference. And moments of
> relaxation are recommended whether when watching TV or your computer
> screen. If you don't feel compelled to plant yourself in front of your
> computer or TV during a commercial, just mute down to a very low volume,
> so you can hear when the commercial is over when you move away from the
> screen during commercials. Rather than use my eyes to determine when a
> commercial break is over, I use my ears, especially since I can still
> detect the commercials are over without having to return to the TV or
> computer to visibly check.

I prefer to mute entirely, always have. That way there's no subliminal
(and worthless) information coming through.

Thanks for your reply. I'll look the website over and see if there's
anything else there.

[John C.]

Zo wrote:
> John C. pretended :

???? What did I "pretend"?

>> B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson wrote:
>>> John C. wrote:
>>>
>>>>>> Anybody know of a screensaver that only darkens the screen a bunch? I
>>>>>> don't want a blackout, I want to still be able to tell what's
>>>>>> going on in the background, but only barely. Adjustability would be nice>>>>>> too.
>>>>>
>>>>> Some mobile PCs support this through energy settings: [...]
>>>>>
>>>> Thanks, but this is a desktop and a screen saver is what I'm looking
>>>> for.
>>>
>>> Was worth a shot. I thought to remember, that at some time you decided
>>> to switch to a laptop as main computer.
>>
>> Not sure what you're referring to. I did buy a laptop a little over a
>> year ago, but it's a backup computer I only very rarely run because it
>> has W10 (which I loath) installed on it. I use it for traveling only.
>>
>>>> By the way, instead of "adjustability", I should have used the word
>>>> "configurability".

>>> (snip)

>
> Here's one that does what BeAr is describing, but it is already to go. 
> You turn it on/off with the pre assigned hotkey or one of your own and
> you can set the color and desired darkness to what ever you want it to be.
>
> ColorVeil
>
> Free No install portable.
>
> Clean with 0 Virustotal results.
>
> https://www.east-tec.com/colorveil/
>
> This appearss to do what you want with more control when to turn it on
> and off.   Hope this helps you out.
>
> I've using it on and off for while now.

Thanks very much, Zo. Even though this isn't a screen saver, it does
exactly what I want! *And* it's portable! Excellent!

Definitely a keeper and I will be using it a lot.

[John C.]

B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson wrote:

> John C. wrote:
>
>>> I thought to remember, that at some time you decided to switch to a
>>> laptop as main computer.
>>
>> Not sure what you're referring to. I did buy a laptop a little over a
>> year ago, but it's a backup computer I only very rarely run because it
>> has W10 (which I loath) installed on it. I use it for traveling only.
>
> Because Win7 was EOL I probably assumed, that the Win10 device became
> your main desktop. With a decent dock, a laptop could be used as desktop
> replacement in a way, that the device itself can be stored out-of-sight
> and the look and feel when working with it would be desktop-like.

Yeah, I agree but that's not what I bought the laptop for. My desktop is
actually pretty nice and I could easily have put W10 on it, but I detest
that Windows version with a passion.

Don't even get me started about the upcoming W11.

[Zo]

John C. brought next idea :

You're Welcome! :-)

--
Zo

"Hummels - largest selection ever. 'If it's in stock, we have it!'"

[VanguardLH]

"John C." <r9j...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> VanguardLH wrote:
>
>> https://www.screensaversplanet.com/screensavers/kuraku-dark-1449/
>
> Too bad it's an .msi file. I only rarely will install a screensaver,
> usually just put .scr files in a folder I use.

Criteria not specified by you before. Anything else restricting what
you'll accept as suggestions?

>> https://www.screensaversplanet.com/screensavers/screenshade-1437/
>
> The download contains a questionable file named "InstallScreenSaver.cmd"
> which contains the following instructions:
>
> start rundll32.exe desk.cpl,InstallScreenSaver
> %SystemRoot%\System32\ScreenShade.scr

rundll32.exe runs functions (aka methods) defined inside of DLL (Dynamic
Link Library) files. Some methods are internal only in a .dll file.
Some are exported which means they have an external interface that
allows them to be called as a function by a caller process. .cpl files
are Control Panel applets. You can even use rundll32.exe to call a
system library's methods to call a system CPL file to open to a
particular tab or dialog, like:

rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,2

Search your drive, and you'll find lots of .cpl files which are a type
of DLL file. shell32.dll is also part of Windows, a very critical part.
Instead of bothering to dole out an .exe file which merely calls a
method in a DLL file to start the program, a program may simply load the
.dll file to run its main() method, if it has one, or use the
system-provided rundll32.exe to call a front-end method in the .dll file
which is how the .exe is going to access an exported method in the DLL.

https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/what-is-rundll32exe-and-why-is-it-running/
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/description-of-control-panel-cpl-files-4dc809cd-5063-6c6d-3bee-d3f18b2e0176

desk.cpl is already on your computer as it is part of Windows. The .scr
file is obviously their screen saver. You didn't want an .msi
installer, so now you don't want to have desk.cpl deposit the .scr file
on your host. Any other restrictive criteria? As you've noted, you can
just get the .scr to put anywhere you want to run it from there. Most
users don't know about what are .scr files, how to extract, or where to
put them hence the use of installers or system lib calls.

> I simply extracted the ScreenShade.scr file from the download and ran it.
>
> This one is the closest to what I'm looking for so far, but it's not
> dark enough and not configurable.
>
>> https://www.screensaversplanet.com/screensavers/out-of-focus-1390/
>
> https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/5f0ca240242aecaf9ab82a7ae4eeaff857454bb1837bac81999f431b0d9c7d71/detection
>
> but the two hits are probably false positives. Regardless, it's too slow
> and too bright. Doesn't darken the screen.

I have no idea why, but VirusTotal includes some rather crappy or iffy
anti-virus programs in its scan suite. They think the more engines that
scan a file then the more likely one, or more, of them will discover a
new exploit or malware. However, with the crappy AVs, they up their
false positive count which diminishes the value of their aggregate scan.
They say 2 vendors flagged the file as suspect, but their scan list
shows only shows 1 vendor in red. They show the scan engine in each AV,
but not if it was contracted and rebranded by the AV vendor; e.g.,
Bitdefender licenses out their scan engine to other AV vendors, and the
AV vendors usually hide or rebrand the scan engine to make it look like
theirs. ClamAV is just one example of a crappy AV they include. When
using Virus Total, you have to look at just who said the file was
suspect. All AVs are not equal, and some should not be used by Virus
Total.

That's not to say Virus Total is worthless or misleading. It's up to
you to figure out if the results are important. I use SysInternals'
Process Explorer (PE), and it has an option to check processes against
Virus Total. It's not enabled by default, but you can configure PE to
submit the processes to Virus Total. If a process already has a scan
recorded at Virus Total, you see it shown immediately in PE. If the
process has not been scanned before, PE submits the process, so you
might see "hashing..." momentarily until Virus Total reports its results
to PE.

[John C.]

VanguardLH wrote:

> John C. wrote:
>> VanguardLH wrote:
>>>
>>> https://www.screensaversplanet.com/screensavers/kuraku-dark-1449/
>>
>> Too bad it's an .msi file. I only rarely will install a screensaver,
>> usually just put .scr files in a folder I use.
>
> Criteria not specified by you before. Anything else restricting what
> you'll accept as suggestions?

No longer an issue. Zo provided me with something that will do what I
need, so you can consider this thread closed from my perspective.

Thanks for replying though.

[B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson]

On Thu, 29 Jul 2021 23:44:27 -0700, John C. wrote:

> The download contains a questionable file named "InstallScreenSaver.cmd"
> which contains the following instructions:
>
> start rundll32.exe desk.cpl,InstallScreenSaver %SystemRoot%\System32\ScreenShade.scr

This command just opens the Windows screensaver configuration dialog with
ScreenShade.scr preselected.

Please note: Without tweaking, screensaver programs for system usage are
only accepted from System32 or SysWOW64 folder. From all other folders the
*.scr can be executed. But the Windows screensaver dialog will not recognize
them as selectable screensavers...

[John C.]

B. R. 'BeAr' Ederson wrote:

> John C. wrote:
>>
>> The download contains a questionable file named "InstallScreenSaver.cmd"
>> which contains the following instructions:
>>
>> start rundll32.exe desk.cpl,InstallScreenSaver %SystemRoot%\System32\ScreenShade.scr
>
> This command just opens the Windows screensaver configuration dialog with
> ScreenShade.scr preselected.

Good to know. Thanks.

> Please note: Without tweaking, screensaver programs for system usage are
> only accepted from System32 or SysWOW64 folder. From all other folders the
> *.scr can be executed. But the Windows screensaver dialog will not recognize
> them as selectable screensavers...

That's all right, since my screen savers aren't for system usage.
Instead, I've simply created a folder in the Start Menu with shortcuts
to all the screen savers I use.