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Windows9x PCs - Routine Maintenance

Automatically Suspending Screensavers

The following describes a simple way of avoiding the need to disable and re-enable a Screensaver for Defragmentation, or to keep moving the mouse, or click on the Start button. It entails editing the Registry. Although simple, please do not attempt this unless sure you can do so without doing any damage! If uncertain, you can backup the Registry Key concerned - see below.

Editing Registry

  • Click on Start and choose "Run"
  • Type in    Regedit    and click OK
  • This will open the Registry Editor. Note that Regedit has no "Save" option, nor will it ask if you wish to save changes when you close it. You may therefore wish to either backup the entire Registry or just the Key to be changed - described below.
  • Registry Editor looks a little like Windows Explorer. Navigate your way to:
       MyComputer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets
    and open up the "Applets" Key folder.
       Now:
  • If there is a Key called   Defrag   under Applets, select and Delete it. Say "Yes" when asked if you really wish to.
    Though not strictly necessary, close Regedit, and Shut Down and restart the computer.
  • If there is no Key called   Defrag   under Applets, go ahead as follows.
  • Select Applets, in the left-hand column
  • Using Regedit's Edit menu, create a new Key:   Defrag
  • Select the new Defrag Key, and create the Key:   Settings
  • In the new Settings Key, create a String Value:   DisableScreenSaver
  • Select the Value which automatically appears above   (Default)   and Modify it to:   YES
    As with numerous Windows functions, the options to create and modify can also be accessed by right-clicking on them with the mouse
  • Close Registry Editor, Shut Down and Restart the computer

The new settings should look like this.
(Do not include the inverted commas in the names of keys and values when entering them)

The first time Defrag is run with the new Registry settings, any screensaver scheduled to appear may do so briefly, be kicked off screen, and Defrag restart. Thereafter, there will be no interruptions.
If you deleted an existing Defrag Key first, any other Settings which you deleted (eg for 'method' and 'scandisk') will be re-established in the Defrag Key.

Backing-up Registry

For the purposes of this tip on amending a Registry setting, you can either backup just the " Applets " Key and its branches or the entire Registry. This as a safeguard against doing something wrong, enabling you to restore the settings held in Registry. It is best in this case to save the Branch only.

~   To backup just the Applets branch:

  • Run Regedit, as above, to open the Registry editor.
  • Navigate down to the   Applets   Key as above, and select it.
  • From the Registry menu choose Export. If it is not already ticked, tick the Branch option. The Registry path to Applets will already be filled in, thankfully!
  • Choose where you want it saved, and enter a name (eg   RegApplets25Dec01  ) and click Save.
~   If you do wish to backup the entire Registry:
  • Run Regedit, as above, to open the Registry Editor.
  • From the Registry menu choose Export, and tick All in the next box. Type in a name you can relate to (eg   RegBack30Sep01  ) and select where you want it saved.

To restore the settings if you make a mistake, open Explorer, select the saved file - which will have a   .reg   extension - and double-click it. (If you right-click you will be offered the options of Merging or Editing the file - do not choose Edit!). A message will appear confirming the contents have been merged back into Registry.

Shut Down and Restart the computer for the restored settings to take effect.

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