Screen saver stops running

[Corbett]

Windows 98SE, I like to run the 3-D Pipes screensaver. Sometimes it runs fine but often I see that it has stopped running and a message is on the screen that
says, "this program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down". I can re-start it and it's fine but will usually stop again after a bit. I have always had this problem with Win98 and have tried clean installs of the OS but it never helps. I have a Diamond Viper V550 graphics card and my PC is a Dell Dimension L1000R, P3. I had the same problem on my Micron PC using the same graphics card. I don't know if it's my card or the screen saver program itself. Anyone heard of this problem? I don't have any trouble with the "blank screen" screen saver, which I sometimes use instead of the pipes. I'm not sure if any of the other screensavers stop running but will try them today and see what happens with some of them.

[Nick Grana]

That would have been my first suggestion.:happy:
You also may an open GL prob.
You may just need to drop your hardware acceleration a notch.

[Miz]

Since the only common factor is the graphics card, I'd suspect it of being the problem.

[Decay]

well screen savers are really just programs like notepad (they use extenstion of .scr and for settings have a bit diffrent api interface) but any rate if just the one screensaver it could have became corupted by spyware/virus/ect..

ya could try to use add/remove program -> window compodents and remove screensavers than add them... see if that fixes it..

[Miz]

It just occurred to me...in Control Panel>Display>Screensaver tab>Power button, do you have it configured to turn off the harddrive after being idle or go into Standby?

I've seen that "illegal operating" message pop up when the screen saver's running and then hard drive is powered down or it tries to go into Standby. On the other hand, I've never found a cure (admittedly, never tried very hard, either) for that on systems where it happens except to set all the power options to "Never."

[Corbett]

Thanks for the replies. Well, I tested a different saver; the 3D flying objects and it seems to run fine until I move the mouse, then it gives me the "illegal operation" message. I have to re-boot to clear it out and start again. I checked my power tab in the screensaver settings and it's set to "never" on all standby or sleep modes. I just did a fresh, clean full re-install of the OS but will try to remove the screensavers and re-install them. I will also try to lower my graphics acceleration a notch...will keep you informed....thanks people!

[Miz]

Have you also tried updating the drivers for the graphics card?

[Corbett]

I will go to Diamnond and download that right now....thanks! In the meantime, I have adjusted the acceleration a notch and am still waiting for another failure; so far, so good....

[Corbett]

Just a quick update.....it seems that by dropping my graphics acceleration two notches, my screensaver problem is solved! Thanks Nick Grana for that suggestion and to all those who assisted me with this fix. You are all a great bunch of folks.