Windows XP Video Screen Saver PowerToy

[Brcobrem]

Hi,

I'm not sure quite where to post this, so let me know if this is off topic.
Here goes:

As you probably know, the "Windows XP Creativity Fun Pack PowerToys" (ie.
powertoys_full.exe) contains the "Windows XP Video Screen Saver PowerToy". I
stumbled across tis today and it is just what I've been looking for ! We
love the old standard "My Pictures" screen saver, but have longed for a way
to use our home movies as a screen saver.

Alas, it installed ok, but when I try to change the Screen Saver Properties
in Display Properties, I hit the Settings button, but then I am prompted that
I need to install Windows Media Player v9. Unfortunately, my Windows Media
Player is already at v10.

I know this is not a supported product, but I thought perhaps there is a
workaround that you might be aware of. If not, are you aware of any similar
programs out there that would allow both picures and video to be used as
screen savers?

Thank you for your consideration of this issue.

Regards,
Brcobrem

[John Inzer]

Brcobrem wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm not sure quite where to post this, so let me know if this is off
> topic. Here goes:
>
> As you probably know, the "Windows XP Creativity Fun Pack PowerToys"
> (ie. powertoys_full.exe) contains the "Windows XP Video Screen Saver
> PowerToy". I stumbled across tis today and it is just what I've been
> looking for ! We love the old standard "My Pictures" screen saver,
> but have longed for a way to use our home movies as a screen saver.
>
> Alas, it installed ok, but when I try to change the Screen Saver
> Properties in Display Properties, I hit the Settings button, but then
> I am prompted that I need to install Windows Media Player v9.
> Unfortunately, my Windows Media Player is already at v10.
>
> I know this is not a supported product, but I thought perhaps there
> is a workaround that you might be aware of. If not, are you aware of
> any similar programs out there that would allow both picures and
> video to be used as screen savers?
>
> Thank you for your consideration of this issue.
>
> Regards,
> Brcobrem
===================================
Maybe the following download would be worth a try...
after installing just go to Display Properties / Screen
Saver tab / select...Video Screen Saver...click the
Settings button and browse to the video clip you
wish to use.

Microsoft Video Screensaver
(International Edition)
http://tinyurl.com/9mdmx
or...
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=6405ff4f-9bc4-40dd-aa30-ed4ffe02baac&displaylang=en

--

John Inzer
Digital Media MVP

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

[Brcobrem]

Hi John,

Thanks for the tip. Yep, that works fine for wmv files.

Didn't like the mp4 files from a video camera though. Caused an error to
reported back to Microsoft when it hit a directory with mp4s.

Thought I'd try to convert , but Windows Media Encoder (v9 I have installed)
didn't like the mp4s either. Oh well. . .

Any version of WMP that plays mp4?

Regards,
Brcobrem

"John Inzer" wrote:

> Brcobrem wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I'm not sure quite where to post this, so let me know if this is off
> > topic. Here goes:
> >
> > As you probably know, the "Windows XP Creativity Fun Pack PowerToys"
> > (ie. powertoys_full.exe) contains the "Windows XP Video Screen Saver
> > PowerToy". I stumbled across tis today and it is just what I've been
> > looking for ! We love the old standard "My Pictures" screen saver,
> > but have longed for a way to use our home movies as a screen saver.
> >
> > Alas, it installed ok, but when I try to change the Screen Saver
> > Properties in Display Properties, I hit the Settings button, but then
> > I am prompted that I need to install Windows Media Player v9.
> > Unfortunately, my Windows Media Player is already at v10.
> >
> > I know this is not a supported product, but I thought perhaps there
> > is a workaround that you might be aware of. If not, are you aware of
> > any similar programs out there that would allow both picures and
> > video to be used as screen savers?
> >
> > Thank you for your consideration of this issue.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Brcobrem
> ===================================
> Maybe the following download would be worth a try...
> after installing just go to Display Properties / Screen
> Saver tab / select...Video Screen Saver...click the
> Settings button and browse to the video clip you
> wish to use.
>
> Microsoft Video Screensaver
> (International Edition)
> http://tinyurl.com/9mdmx
> or...
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=6405ff4f-9bc4-40dd-aa30-ed4ffe02baac&displaylang=en
>
> --
>
> John Inzer
> Digital Media MVP
>
> Notice
> This is not tech support
> I am a volunteer
>
> Solutions that work for
> me may not work for you
>
> Proceed at your own risk
>
>
>
>

[John Inzer]

Brcobrem wrote:
> Hi John,
>
> Thanks for the tip. Yep, that works fine for wmv files.
>
> Didn't like the mp4 files from a video camera though. Caused an error
> to reported back to Microsoft when it hit a directory with mp4s.
>
> Thought I'd try to convert , but Windows Media Encoder (v9 I have
> installed) didn't like the mp4s either. Oh well. . .
>
> Any version of WMP that plays mp4?
>
> Regards,
> Brcobrem
============================
Check Google...there are converters you
can download.

Maybe the following freebie will convert
the .mp4 files.

SUPER © Simplified
Universal Player Encoder & Renderer
http://www.videohelp.com/tools/SUPER_1
(the mirror download site is faster)

And for playing .mp4 files...maybe the
following player would be worth a try:

VLC media player
http://tinyurl.com/atgf3

Good luck.

--

John Inzer
Digital Media MVP

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

[Brcobrem]

Thanks for the tips John. Best of luck in all that you do. . .

Regards,

Bret