Screensaver kicks in mid-mission

[tjhowse]

I fly FC3 and A-10C with a TM warthog, which means that there can be long periods of time during which I don't touch the mouse or keyboard. It seems that stick input or button presses from the warthog don't refresh the screen saver timer, meaning the screensaver can kick in mid-mission.

 

I've googled around and found this thread which came to no satisfactory conclusion. Another site suggested ticking the "Allow this device to wake the computer" box on the "Power Management" tab on all devices in the "Human Interface Devices" list in device manager, but when comparing the hardware IDs it appears that the warhog USB devices appear in this list, but neither of them have a "Power Management" tab. I ticked that box on every possible device regardless, but the warthog still cannot clear the screensaver.

 

I'm using windows 7 64b. For now I have worked around this problem by disabling the screensaver and monitor power saving, but I would prefer a more elegant fix. Preferably DCS properly preventing the screensaver turning on, similar to media playing programs such as VLC or windows media player, but I'm open to suggestions. Apologies if this has been solved elsewhere.

 

Thanks,

tjhowse.

Edited February 24, 2013 by tjhowse
Clarity.

[cichlidfan]

The power saver feature should not kick in while the game is running, at least I have never seen it happen even if I leave it on pause for an extended period.

 

The screen saver I am unsure about since I don't think I have used a screen saver since Win 98. ;)

[Wolf Rider]

The power options are available in the Control Panel /Device Manager / USB ROOT HUB /Properties - Power Management section.

Two tick boxes are present, with one being 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power',

and the other being 'Allow this device to wake the computer'.

 

For joysticks, make sure the Root Hub that the controller is attached to has both boxes unticked.

[tjhowse]

The power options are available in the Control Panel /Device Manager / USB ROOT HUB /Properties - Power Management section.

Two tick boxes are present, with one being 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power',

and the other being 'Allow this device to wake the computer'.

 

For joysticks, make sure the Root Hub that the controller is attached to has both boxes unticked.

 

I went through and unticked all boxes on all of the USB root hub entries, and a few other similiar-sounding items. Unfortunately this had no effect, not in making that menu available on the wathog devices, nor in making the warthog interrupt the screensaver.

[Wolf Rider]

The Warthog, as such, doesn't seem to show up in Device Manager (at least, this end) at all and when you say "similiar-sounding items", which ones do you mean?

 

 

Another place to look would be in the Control Panel / Power Options and check the status of the USB SELECTIVE SUSPEND SETTING in your current profile

[tjhowse]

The Warthog, as such, doesn't seem to show up in Device Manager (at least, this end) at all and when you say "similiar-sounding items", which ones do you mean?

 

 

Another place to look would be in the Control Panel / Power Options and check the status of the USB SELECTIVE SUSPEND SETTING in your current profile

 

 

I checked the power settings of all of the items in the red box. The "Intel® 6 Series/C200 ... 1C2D" device has the two warhog "HID-compliant game controller"s listed on its "Advanced" tab, but that particular device has no power settings tab. It's worth noting that all of these USB hubs are motherboard-based. I have no external USB hubs attached.

 

The two devices of the warthog introduce four entries into device manager. Two "HID-compliant game controller"s and two "USB Input Devices", one of each type for the throttle and stick. None of these four devices have power settings available.

 

The "USB selective suspend setting" is enabled. My readings about this setting indicate that it allows windows to shut down particular devices to save power. I don't think this has a bearing on my particular issue.

 

Thanks for trying to help, rep inbound. I'm open to any other suggestions.

[FatSlapper]

screensavers sit in ram even when not being used, slow down boot time, suck up clock cycles, wear out Your LCD's and backlight and waste electricity! It is the very first thing You should turn off when optimizing a gaming rig. They are silly and stupid and absolutely useless since the demise of monocrome CRT monitors. If You "must" then set it to "blank" to minimize these problems.

[Wolf Rider]

 

~ that there can be long periods of time during which I don't touch the mouse or keyboard ~

 

 

Try unticking the selected suspend setting and check the other options in the Power Profile for their status

 

 

(my bad regarding entries... I was quoting from my other machine. oops :) )

 

I have my screens saver set to 25 minutes and it doesn't engage with Heaven looping, DCS running, etc but will if file downloading or internet browser is left on with no activity

Edited February 25, 2013 by Wolf Rider

[tjhowse]

If You "must" then set it to "blank" to minimize these problems.

 

I already do this. The only reasons I have a screen saver set up is to blank my monitors such that I cannot see the reflected light from my screens under my bedroom door, and to save power. For the purpose of this thread, using a screen saver and configuring windows to turn off monitors in the power saving menu has the same effect. Neither are interrupted by moving the stick or pressing buttons.

[FatSlapper]

I don't know if You are but it is not good to leave Your computer on 24/7 or days at a time. start every sim session with a fresh boot. Avoid all the screensaver nonsense by disabling sleep/suspend/auto off/blank etc. etc. etc. and just reach up and turn the monitors off when you walk away from Your computer or just turn the machine OFF and it won't be sucking up dust and wearing out bearings....If You let Your PC sleep/suspend then You have to hit the pc power button to wake it up. This feature of windows has always been buggy and problematic.

[FatSlapper]

@tj Do You use a SSD? these things reduce boot times form minutes to seconds....Hmmm I vaguely remember something about an active running program in windows is supposed to prevent this....tbc

[FatSlapper]

Have You tried this? it works great and no installer just a file to run. http://download.cnet.com/Stay-Awake/3000-2094_4-75623245.html