Invoking the Default Windows Screen-Saver

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

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.

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