Invoking the Default Windows Screen-Saver

Originally published on: Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:13:10 +0000

Please note! If you're having difficulties compiling the C source code presented below, please see my post: Compiling C from the Command Line with Pelles C

Several weeks ago, I posted code for a utility that prevents a Windows screen-saver from firing by simulating mouse motion ( http://www.mailsend-online.com/blog?p=47 ).

Today, I'm providing a short WSH JavaScript script that will invoke the default screen-saver. I noted a search for similar functionality that led to my blog. This post will be included in the "By Popular Demand" category of items requested via a search-engine.

runsaver.js

// Launch the default screen-saver
//
// License: MIT / X11
// Copyright (c) 2009 by James K. Lawless
// jimbo@radiks.net http://www.radiks.net/~jimbo
// http://www.mailsend-online.com
//
// Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person
// obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation
// files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without
// restriction, including without limitation the rights to use,
// copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
// copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
// Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following
// conditions:
//
// The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be
// included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
//
// THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
// EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES
// OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
// NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT
// HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY,
// WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
// FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR
// OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

   var shl=new ActiveXObject("WScript.Shell");
   var ss=
      shl.RegRead(
         "HKEY_USERS\\.DEFAULT\\Control Panel\\Desktop\\SCRNSAVE.EXE");
      // Let's wait one second to make sure all fingers are off the keyboard and no further
      // mouse motion is happening...
   WScript.Sleep(1000);
      // Run the screen-saver
   shl.Exec(ss + " /s");

To invoke this script, you may enter one of the two following command-lines:

cscript runsaver.js

wscript runsaver.js

CScript will run the console version of the WSH interpreter engine; WScript will run the GUI version and will not display a console window.

You may create a shortcut to this script by using wscript.exe as the program to run and runsaver.js as the sole parameter. You might need to specify a full path for the runsaver.js script in the shortcut.

Unless otherwise noted, all code and text entries are Copyright Š2009 by James K. Lawless.

Views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessary reflect those of the author's employer. Views expressed in the comments are those of the responding individual.

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