Screen Saver Timeout Restriction (Greyed) – Display Properties

Windows XP Screen saver timeout numeric box located in the Display Properties under the Screen Saver tab is restricted/disabled (greyed out). The most likely cause of this is malware utilizing Group Policy Objects which enforces policies for system settings and/or user account(s) settings. The Group Policy for Screen Saver timeout will cause the Screen saver timeout numeric box to be restricted/disabled (greyed out) in Display Properties when enabled.

Group Policies are typically applied at businesses to control access to programs, system properties, and user account settings. For Home users, Screen saver timeout numeric box can be restricted/disabled (greyed out) by these Group Policies but usually malware is the culprit. If you are a home user and the Screen saver timeout numeric box is restricted/disabled (greyed out) from the Display Properties and looks like the pictures below then there is a good chance you are infected with malware.

Manual Steps Using Group Policy Editor

NOTE

The Group Policy Editor requires Administrative privileges and is only available for Windows XP Professional Edition. Windows XP Home users can use the Windows XP Registry method to remove the Group Policy restriction.

1. Click Start and then Run.
2. Type gpedit.msc in the Run dialog box.
3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
4. In the Group Policy Editor navigate to:

   User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Display

5. Double-click Screen Saver Timeout.
6. Select Not Configured.

NOTE

If the Screen saver timeout numeric box is restricted/disabled (greyed out) on a per User account basis then the above method will not work, you will need to use the Registry Editor to remove the Group Policy.

Manual Steps Using Windows XP Registry

1. Click Start and then Run.
2. Type regedit.exe in the Run dialog box.
3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
4. Navigate to:

   HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop

5. Right-click ScreenSaveTimeOut to select Delete.
6. Navigate to:

   HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop

7. Right-click ScreenSaveTimeOut to select Delete.
8. Quit the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).

NOTE

You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Manual Steps Using REG DELETE

1. Open a Command Window.
2. Type:

   REG DELETE "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop" /v ScreenSaveTimeOut /f

3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
4. Type:

   REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop" /v ScreenSaveTimeOut /f

5. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
6. Type EXIT and press ENTER on your keyboard.

NOTE

You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Automated Fix Using an Registration File

1. Download ScrnSvrTmt.Allow.reg to a folder on your hard drive.
2. Right-click ScrnSvrTmt.Allow.reg to select Merge.
3. Now the registration entries are removed for you.

NOTES: The ScrnSvrTmt.Allow.reg file is from my web server (http://lprf.homeserver.com).  You also can view the contents of the ScrnSvrTmt.Allow.reg file by right-clicking the file and selecting Edit. You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Platforms Tested

• Microsoft Windows XP Editions

Related Articles

• Password to Protect Restricted (Greyed) – Display Properties
• Screen Saver Restricted (Greyed) Part 1 – Display Properties
• Screen Saver Restricted (Greyed) Part 2 – Display Properties
• Screen Saver Tab Missing – Display Properties
• Repair Screen Saver File Association (Context Menu / Right-Click)

Version 2.2
Edited: May 8, 2012