[SOLVED-ish] Can't get rid of Monitor powersaver

[DeBaas]

Did you check powermanagement, PowerDevil ?

[Hootiegibbon]

kenboldt,

A few things that come to mind - you may have checked these already but here goes

If you have changed all the settings via software to state - dont blank - keep on then logic dictates that it may be hard ware related.

So things to check.

The monitor's own menu settings - this is likely to have a setting to toggle the power management on -off.

The Bios setting may have power save settings that need to be disabled.

if there are neither of these things, then check the bootcode of that LXDE install to see if it has the following as different.

1> is EDID called for - is it gathering the gfx setting detail via the 'plug and play' option? reconfigure to a general setting instead there is a bootcode to stop it using the edid settings.

2> check for any powersaving services that may be controlling it beyond the DE level then check the configuration o that service.

My best guess is that it is set to edid/plug and play.

Jase

[Old Ruler]

Hello, I've had similar problems with other Linux operating systems and found the only successful fix was to add the following to the end of /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Section "ServerFlags"
   Option "BlankTime"   "0"
   Option "StandbyTime" "0"
   Option "SuspendTime" "0"
   Option "OffTime"     "0"
   Option "DontZap" "false"
EndSection

I haven't tried it on PCLinuxOS (I'm testing it in a VM before installing to a partition), but it should work.

[Taco.22]

Uninstall any screensaver software currently installed.  Then install  "xscreensaver".  It's in Synaptic.  It is usually launched through terminal - "xscreensaver-demo".  This brings up the interface.  Display mode - select "Disable Screensaver".  Then click on advanced - uncheck "Display Power Management".  This prevents the screensaver activating or the monitor powering down at all.  It's worked on all versions of PCLinuxOS that I've tried.

Depending on the edition you are using, you may need to edit the autostart.sh file with "xscreensaver -no-splash &".  If it's kde then you probably don't.

[Taco.22]

It's one of those little things in life but it does help if one reads the actual question right!

My desktop computer is set up in the living room and we like to have the screensaver show our photos.  It acts as a digital photo frame when not in use essentially.  However, in KDE, no matter what settings I choose in the power management section of the KDE Settings, or anywhere else I can find, after the screensaver is on for 20 min or so, the screen goes into powersave mode and blanks and the power button changes from green to orange on the monitor.  The same happens if I use gnome.  It doesn't happen though when using LXDE with xscreensaver.  It is my understanding that KDE uses it's own screensaver, not xscreensaver, and when I am in gnome, I use gnome-screensaver.

Please disregard my previous suggestion - I haven't tried to set up xscreensaver as a slide show, but it is possible.  If you have installed xscreensaver open it, go to "Display Modes", select "Random screensaver"  and scroll down to "GLSlideshow" and check it.  Then go to "Advanced" and select "Choose random image" under "Image manipulation".  Make sure that "Power management enabled" is unchecked.  Browse to the folder with your pictures.  Under "Display Modes" you have the options of "Blank after..." and "Cycle after...".  Play with as you see fit.  Also uncheck "Lock screen after...".  You also have "Preview" and "Settings" - obvious.  Should give you the slideshow you want.   

[kenboldt]

Hello, I've had similar problems with other Linux operating systems and found the only successful fix was to add the following to the end of /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Section "ServerFlags"
   Option "BlankTime"   "0"
   Option "StandbyTime" "0"
   Option "SuspendTime" "0"
   Option "OffTime"     "0"
   Option "DontZap" "false"
EndSection

I haven't tried it on PCLinuxOS (I'm testing it in a VM before installing to a partition), but it should work.

Hello Old Ruler.  Thanks for the tip.  I just did a full reinstall due to me messing up my previous install because I was monkeying with stuff I shouldn't have been monkeying with.  I turned on the computer this morning before I left for work.  When I get home I will see if the screensaver is still on or whether the reinstall also got rid of this problem.  If not, then I will give your suggestion a try.

[kenboldt]

It's one of those little things in life but it does help if one reads the actual question right!

My desktop computer is set up in the living room and we like to have the screensaver show our photos.  It acts as a digital photo frame when not in use essentially.  However, in KDE, no matter what settings I choose in the power management section of the KDE Settings, or anywhere else I can find, after the screensaver is on for 20 min or so, the screen goes into powersave mode and blanks and the power button changes from green to orange on the monitor.  The same happens if I use gnome.  It doesn't happen though when using LXDE with xscreensaver.  It is my understanding that KDE uses it's own screensaver, not xscreensaver, and when I am in gnome, I use gnome-screensaver.

Please disregard my previous suggestion - I haven't tried to set up xscreensaver as a slide show, but it is possible.  If you have installed xscreensaver open it, go to "Display Modes", select "Random screensaver"  and scroll down to "GLSlideshow" and check it.  Then go to "Advanced" and select "Choose random image" under "Image manipulation".  Make sure that "Power management enabled" is unchecked.  Browse to the folder with your pictures.  Under "Display Modes" you have the options of "Blank after..." and "Cycle after...".  Play with as you see fit.  Also uncheck "Lock screen after...".  You also have "Preview" and "Settings" - obvious.  Should give you the slideshow you want.   

Taco, thanks for the reply.  I have used xscreensaver, and do so when I run LXDE.  It runs fine and does exactly what I want.  GLSlideShow with no screen blanking.  Perfect.  The issue I am having however is with KDE.  It doesn't use xscreensaver, it uses its own screensaver and when I am in KDE, which I would prefer to use, no matter what I try, the screen blanks.  I will be trying Old Ruler's suggestion next.

[kenboldt]

kenboldt,

A few things that come to mind - you may have checked these already but here goes

If you have changed all the settings via software to state - dont blank - keep on then logic dictates that it may be hard ware related.

So things to check.

The monitor's own menu settings - this is likely to have a setting to toggle the power management on -off.

The Bios setting may have power save settings that need to be disabled.

if there are neither of these things, then check the bootcode of that LXDE install to see if it has the following as different.

1> is EDID called for - is it gathering the gfx setting detail via the 'plug and play' option? reconfigure to a general setting instead there is a bootcode to stop it using the edid settings.

2> check for any powersaving services that may be controlling it beyond the DE level then check the configuration o that service.

My best guess is that it is set to edid/plug and play.

Jase

Hi Jase.  I will go through your list (thanks for it by the way).

I checked and the Monitor has no power settings in its own menu.

Checked the BIOS, nothing there either that would blank the monitor.

As for EDID in the bootcode.  I am comfortable with Linux, but I am a noob or newb when it comes to digging into the code.  Where would I find the bootcode, and what might I be looking for?  How would I turn off the EDID settings?  I tried setting the monitor in PCC to Generic Flat panel 1280 x 1024 instead of PnP or the specific Dell model.

[Taco.22]

Just remove or disable kde screensaver so it doesn't conflict with xscreensaver.  Works with kde3 - haven't tried kde4.  However, http://docs.kde.org/stable/en/kdebase-workspace/kcontrol/screensaver/index.html should help.  

[Edit]  Search Synaptic for "kdeartwork4-kscreensaver".  Just make sure removal doesn't involve lots of other stuff.  Otherwise Kickoff/System Settings/Desktop/Screensaver and disable.

[Extra edit]  Similar issue here http://forum.kde.org/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=35085 with "cure"!  Got to agree with the last post, poor sod  
Also Compiz, if enabled, can create its own conflicts and issues.  

[MtnMan]

You may have tried this from all the many confusing power options but I'll mention it anyway.  I set the screensaver to slideshow and in the General Settings of Power Management - Let Power Devil manage screen powersaving is checked.  When AC Adapter is plugged in - selected Presentation without making any changes to that profile.  The slideshow ran on 2 machines without blanking the screen.

[Taco.22]

Can I ask a really dumb question here?  I'm a keen fan of the dumb question, because it is usually the one that no-one wants to ask

So - dumb question - if LXDE is able to do the screensaver stuff that you want, and probably everything else that kde can offer, why are you so keen on kde!!!  Considering the wide range of responses that don't seem to have come up with an answer to kde's failure - why not just pick a flavour of PClinusOS that "just works"! 

[kenboldt]

Hello, I've had similar problems with other Linux operating systems and found the only successful fix was to add the following to the end of /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Section "ServerFlags"
   Option "BlankTime"   "0"
   Option "StandbyTime" "0"
   Option "SuspendTime" "0"
   Option "OffTime"     "0"
   Option "DontZap" "false"
EndSection

Tried this, unfortunately, it didn't work.
I haven't tried it on PCLinuxOS (I'm testing it in a VM before installing to a partition), but it should work.

Hello Old Ruler.  Thanks for the tip.  I just did a full reinstall due to me messing up my previous install because I was monkeying with stuff I shouldn't have been monkeying with.  I turned on the computer this morning before I left for work.  When I get home I will see if the screensaver is still on or whether the reinstall also got rid of this problem.  If not, then I will give your suggestion a try.

[kenboldt]

@MountainMan,  Thanks for the suggestion, I will give it a try, though I don't suspect it will make a difference as I have tried setting the "Performance" profile to basically the same settings as "Presentation" to no avail.

@Taco.22, it's not a dumb question.  I may have to settle for LXDE, but I wish I didn't feel like I had to "settle".  For the most part it is just eye candy that KDE offers over LXDE, but I appreciate that.  The computer is capable of handling a full featured DE, and I don't feel like I should have to lose out on any features just because there is one silly setting that wants to blank my monitor even though every possible setting I can find is set to tell it not to blank.

I am a huge fan of Linux, and I will never go back to windows (except at work where I am forced to use it), but it is the little things like this that keep away a lot of casual users.  If Joe average turns on his computer and says, gee, I want the screensaver to just keep showing the slideshow of pictures when I'm not using the computer and never kick the monitor into powersave mode, then they look in the settings and there is an option to turn off powersaving mode, but then the computer goes ahead and powersaves anyway, it certainly isn't going to give anyone a feeling of confidence.  /rant

Sorry about the rant, just had to get that out as it is the little things like this that dull the shine on Linux.

[Taco.22]

No problems about the rant   I think it puts a finger right on the problem.  It's not a case for "settling" for something like LXDE, but more about not having to put up with the hype and promise of something like KDE - which then can't deliver.  I tossed KDE4 early in the piece when I found myself googling "how to change the desktop wallpaper"!!  For pete's sake!  And let's not even start about automounting external drive icons!  And I'm not alone.  So the emphasis should not be on the bloat and bling that a "full featured DE" would try to offer - think Vista - but on a real computing experience that delivers customer satisfaction with an emphasis on workability.  Eye candy is good, but it is not the measure of a successful OS.  Bells and whistles should be icing on a truly delicious cake, and even then some of us aren't into icing!!

I actually now run PCLinuxOS Openbox - no taskbar, no panel, no desktop icons - no nothing!  I just love the simplicity.  Yet if I want to overlay a property title map over an image from Google Earth in Gimp, scale and annotate it, print it as a pdf, work that into html and upload it to a website to be viewed - no problems.  Lightweight desktop does not mean lightweight computing.  And the random right-click anywhere on the desktop for a menu beats hands-down the search for a button on a bar somewhere.

Eye candy - if I had to go a "full featured DE" I would go Gnome.  It does everything KDE does but without so many of the hassles.  It is my "full" DE of choice - something I would recommend to any newcomer to Linux.  You shouldn't have any issues with the screensaver, either.

Bottom line - the hype is not the spirit - Linux is about freedom, and that includes freedom from over-inflated expectations. 

         

[kenboldt]

Eye candy - if I had to go a "full featured DE" I would go Gnome.  It does everything KDE does but without so many of the hassles.  It is my "full" DE of choice - something I would recommend to any newcomer to Linux.  You shouldn't have any issues with the screensaver, either.

Bottom line - the hype is not the spirit - Linux is about freedom, and that includes freedom from over-inflated expectations. 

Point well made.  Only problem is I seem to have the same problem in gnome that I have in KDE.  Gah!  frustration.

I feel Hootiegibbon may have been on the right track, unfortunately I don't have the knowledge yet to be able dig into bootcode and fiddle with EDID settings.