I seemed to have solved this problem.
On the Menu, under "more applications" --> "configurations" ---> "screensaver" [next to last item] I was able to get the screen saver to function.
However, I still cannot get the screen saver to function by using the "Configure your desktop" ---> "Look and Feel" ---> "Desktop" ---> "Screen saver" Any choice here crashes the "Configure Your Desktop" with a message to report the bug, and that window is useless and goes nowhere.
Newlife