Contradictory Behavior

Are you using a special Theme with Windows 10 that includes a Screensaver? Check the settings in the Theme. Or another 3rd party Screensaver? Check your other power settings that the monitor does not shut off before the Screensaver comes on. Have you tried one of the Windows Default Screensavers to test?

If you have a special theme that would be something to consider

ninicp said:

Any idea on the screen saver front?

No, afraid not. I never use screensavers so I have not built up any knowledge of the subject.

If you want to search the forum for existing threads about it then I suggest you use
Advanced Search - TenForums
and also consider limiting the search to ones for which the screensaver was the primary issue by setting the TitlesOnly field


Best of luck,
Denis

I don't do much with screensavers, usually the Ribbons, Mystify or similar, have the file extension of .scr. Double-clicking the file will invoke it for viewing the set later. Some from earlier Windows will work.

Try3 said:

If it really proves impossible to get it to appear in the user interface then the alternative is to use PowerCfg commands to change the property directly. I have not had to do this for years but if you really need to use this method then I'll work it out, test it then post it.
[It's not complicated, it's just that I have not had to do it for so long]

ninicp said:

Thank you Try3, I appreciate your help! I'll give it a whirl on the tutorial as suggested.

You do not seem to be getting anywhere so here is the PowerCfg direct method. I've included the checks I did before and after because they are our only confirmation of the effect the commands are having
- Note that I ran these commands successfully in an ordinary command prompt but I had always thought that an elevated command prompt was required. Quite surprising.


Step 1 - Check your power plans
Run this command

Code:

powercfg /l

and you'll probably get this response

Code:

Existing Power Schemes (* Active)
-----------------------------------
Power Scheme GUID: 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e  (Balanced) *

i.e. Just the Balanced plan
If you have additional power plans then they will need to be set separately and I've commented on this in Possible Step 5 below


Step 2 - Check your current Dim display after values
- This command is like the powercfg /qh command I suggested in an earlier post but it just responds with this particular section of PowerCfg properties so it's easier to see what's going on.

Code:

powercfg /qh SCHEME_BALANCED SUB_VIDEO VIDEODIM

Mine were set to {decimal} 30 seconds [because I'd been playing in order to test what I was doing before posting]

Code:

Power Scheme GUID: 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e  (Balanced)
  GUID Alias: SCHEME_BALANCED
  Subgroup GUID: 7516b95f-f776-4464-8c53-06167f40cc99  (Display)
    GUID Alias: SUB_VIDEO
    Power Setting GUID: 17aaa29b-8b43-4b94-aafe-35f64daaf1ee  (Dim display after)
      GUID Alias: VIDEODIM
      Minimum Possible Setting: 0x00000000
      Maximum Possible Setting: 0xffffffff
      Possible Settings increment: 0x00000001
      Possible Settings units: Seconds
    Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x0000001e
    Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x0000001e

Step 3 - Change the Dim display after values
Run both these commands

Code:

PowerCfg -SetDCValueIndex SCHEME_BALANCED SUB_VIDEO VIDEODIM 0

Code:

PowerCfg -SetACValueIndex SCHEME_BALANCED SUB_VIDEO VIDEODIM 0

Step 4 - Check your new Dim display after values

Code:

powercfg /qh SCHEME_BALANCED SUB_VIDEO VIDEODIM

You should now see that they have both been set to 0 which means Never.

Code:

Power Scheme GUID: 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e  (Balanced)
  GUID Alias: SCHEME_BALANCED
  Subgroup GUID: 7516b95f-f776-4464-8c53-06167f40cc99  (Display)
    GUID Alias: SUB_VIDEO
    Power Setting GUID: 17aaa29b-8b43-4b94-aafe-35f64daaf1ee  (Dim display after)
      GUID Alias: VIDEODIM
      Minimum Possible Setting: 0x00000000
      Maximum Possible Setting: 0xffffffff
      Possible Settings increment: 0x00000001
      Possible Settings units: Seconds
    Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000000
    Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000000

Possible Step 5 - Set up Dim display after for other power plans if applicable
If you have additional power plans then you will have to repeat the commands for each of them.
Change the command used to set them by substituting its GUID from Step 1 in place of the 'Alias' I used for Balanced SCHEME_BALANCED
So the revised commands would be in the form

Code:

powercfg /qh 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e SUB_VIDEO VIDEODIM

Code:

PowerCfg -SetDCValueIndex 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e SUB_VIDEO VIDEODIM 0

Code:

PowerCfg -SetACValueIndex 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e SUB_VIDEO VIDEODIM 0

Note that I do not have any other power plans so all I could do was test this on was my Balanced plan.


This procedure should stop Dim display after happening. Do let me know how you get on.

I also used to suffer from Dim display after happening [on just one computer].
- I used the method in the tutorial to get the section to appear in Power options, <Select the chosen or the only plan>, Change plan settings, Change advanced power settings, Display
- I have not had to use PowerCfg directly for ages. I had always intended to work out how to do it directly but had never got around to it.

All the best,
Denis

I'm glad to have been able to help.

Once you've monitored things for long enough to feel satisfied, you can mark the thread as Solved by clicking on the green control at the bottom.


Denis

---

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If your display still dims then some utility or other is doing it not Windows.

Does it also happen in another user account? Create one for test purposes if you do not already have one.
Does it happen in Safe mode? Boot into Safe Mode - TenForumsTutorials

While you're at it, please put these results [the whole display section of the powercfg properties] in a text file and attach it.
- Choose a folder path of your own rather than my example one.

Code:

powercfg /qh SCHEME_BALANCED SUB_VIDEO >D:\Desktop\PowerCfg-DisplaySection.txt

- You attach files in the same way that you post pictures - How to Upload and Post Screenshots and Files - TenForumsTutorials

After what period of inactivity is the screen dimming?

Denis