Using a Screen Saver

Screen savers display moving designs on your computer screen when you haven't typed or moved the mouse for a while. This prevents static images from burning into your screen.

Although screen burn-in is rarely a problem with newer monitors, screen savers can still be entertaining and hide any work you have on your screen when you leave your desk. You can even assign a password to the screen saver so that only you can reactivate the screen.

To activate one of the screen savers included with Windows XP, follow these steps:

1.	From the Control Panel, select the Display option.
2.	When the Display Settings utility opens, select the Screen Saver tab, shown in Figure 2.21. Figure 2.21. Put on a fancy show with a Windows XP screen saver.
3.	Select a screen saver from the Screen Saver drop-down list. A sample of the screen saver appears on the sample display. For a full-screen view, click the Preview button and click the screen to return from the preview.
4.	Change the properties of the selected screen saver by clicking the Settings button. The options available differ for each screen saver you choose, but usually include things such as speed and colors. Make your selections and then choose OK.
5.	In the Wait section, select the number of minutes you want the screen to be idle before the screen saver activates.
6.	If you want your system to display the Welcome screen when the screen saver stops, check the Return to Welcome Screen option. (Select this option if you want to require a password for reactivating your system after a nap.)
7.	Click OK when done.