Well this is interesting... I\'ve been running the climate prediction screensaver for a couple of months now, and enjoy the feeling that I\'m doing a little bit to help. However I\'ve noticed one problem.
I thought that a screensaver was ultimately designed to save your screen from getting static images burnt onto it. Hence the name.
However this screensaver has actually ruined my screen! Having that same spinning globe being displayed for such a length of time has now burnt a great big circle onto my screen. It looks like someone has set down a huge mug of coffee on it.
Has anyone else come across the same problem? I have to admit I\'m pretty hacked off that the supposed screen \"saver\" has wrecked my £300 monitor...
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MikeMarsUK Forum moderator Send message Joined: Jan 13 06 Posts: 1367 Credit: 5,308,659 RAC: 2,515
Most of us actually don\'t run the screensaver, but use \'show graphics\' instead
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Les Bayliss Forum moderator Send message Joined: Sep 5 04 Posts: 4743 Credit: 7,747,983 RAC: 697
Calling it \'A screen saver\' was the BBC\'s idea, as they felt that the vast audience that they were targetting would understand that, whereas calling it a low priority background process, (which is what it REALLY is), WOULDN\'T be understood.
Sorry about your monitor, but all through the BBC boards and here, on the Message Board, we have been telling people NOT to run the separate screen saver function just to look at the picture, because it uses up processor time, and makes the model run slower.
Hi Arnolfini,
Unless your monitor is more than about 10 years old there is unlikely to be any lasting damage to it. Somewhere in its properties or adjustments menu there should be a facility to degauss it. The symbol will likely be a horseshoe magnet with a cross or line through it. The screen image will shake but don\'t worry, it\'s supposed to. Do this twice, maybe three times and your screen should be sorted.
Leaving the monitor unplugged from the mains for a while, overnight say, should also dissipate any residual charge.
Hope that helps.
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Has anyone else come across the same problem? I have to admit I\'m pretty hacked off that the supposed screen \"saver\" has wrecked my £300 monitor...
Arnolfini, I to am sorry to see you have this problem. Sometime earlier I myself was asking why they were calling it a screen saver, when it was best not to run it for the reasons given about slowing your model down, so how can it be a screen saver? It\'s like Les says, difficulty with terminology aimed at an audience who are familiar with the term \'screen saver, but will be able to consider advice of those suggesting you should use in only sparingly.
You are right, a screen saver should do what it suggests, save your screen. But this one \'will\' do just that, since it will save the planet, and your screen on it :)
Amolfini - sorry to hear that your monitor is now an ex-monitor.
As already mentioned in this thread, most of us \'seasoned\' BOINCers
know that the screensaver, pretty to watch as it is, is just no good
at all performance-wise!
