I don't remember if I posted it but I upgraded my computer to a i5 from Phenom X4...what a difference. I haven't had much time to play around after I upgraded to Mageia 3 and still have a couple of bugs, but Mageia 4 will be here soon and I'll get that going.
The 3D (OpenGL) screen saver Kcometen4 doesn't work after KDE blanked the screen in 4.10, and changed it to a "screen locker" etc. I've used Kcomenten for years and it showed a blank screen with a unlock dialog as does science and some others. When the Screen Locker starts it blanks the screen first so Kcometen and Science only have a black screen to work with. Kcometen4 has the option to load an image file so that is what I did.
This is a hack and will be over written by an update to KDE but it is easy and it works so you can just fix it again after an update.
IMPORTANT UPDATE. I upgraded to Mageia 4 with KDE 4.11.4
To make it work I have to select System Settings>Display and Monitor Require Password After 1 second, otherwise you can't get back to the desktop.
I HAVE TO SELECT REQUIRE PASSWORD & SCREENSAVER
1. Install scrot (it takes screenshots)
2. Make a text (Script) file called kscreenlocker_greet and put this in it:
- Code: Select all
#!/bin/sh
scrot /tmp/ss-kcometen4.png
/usr/lib64/kde4/libexec/kscreenlocker_greet.bin&
Right click it and do properties and check mark executable etc, or use the console if you prefer that.
3. Go to /lib64/kde4/libexec and rename kscreenlocker_greet to kscreenlocker_greet.bin
This is for a 64 bit system. On 32 bit I think it will be in /lib/kde4/libexec . Whatever the case it will be where ever you find the original kscreenlocker_greet file.
4. Copy your new kscreenlocker_greet script file to /lib64/kde4/libexec or where ever you found the original.
5. Goto Kcometen4 settings and on the background tab select image source "File", and select the file /tmp/ss-kcometen4.png
I had trouble because this file didn't exist and typing it in didn't work, it wouldn't keep the setting. If you let the computer cycle
the screenlocker one time the file will exist and then you can change the setting. I use a Ramdisk for my tmp folder so it is empty at boot.
You can use any folder you want to store the screenshot like your home folder. You change that in this part of the script:
Like this, where the script says "scrot /tmp/ss-kcometen4.png", you can make it /where ever you want/anywhere/ss-kcometen4.png
and just set Kcomenten4 to use the image path /where ever you want/anywhere/ss-kcometen4.png
Information:
It takes a screenshot, and then KDE does its thing and blanks the display, displays the login on your screen saver etc.
But then Kcometen4 grabs and displays the screenshot that was just taken, before KDE wiped the screen and displayed the login!!!
You end up with your desktop as your screen saver as intended but you have to hit ESC to exit, and unlock the screen.
KDE 4.10.2 does this no matter what. I don't know how higher versions of KDE do this.
I admit it is a nasty little hack but it works. Until someone comes up with something better it will do for me.
It still displays the mouse pointer too as that is in the KDE code. If an update kills it,
rename the original again and put your script back. They don't update very often.
My cat walks on my keyboard and deletes stuff so locking the screen is a good deal for me!!!
If you don't use a password to login, you just hit ESC, and then click Unlock.
My cat can't do that!
By the way, I've been using Kcometen for my screen saver since 2006 or 2007...way back. Love it!
You can double click the script to test it or copy it to the desktop to use as a screen lock! You can do this so that the file is not non-existent when you try to setup Kcometen4 to use the file. If you quickly click the file and move the mouse the screen will be blank.
Sorry I haven't been around but I've been so busy I just haven't had time to do anything other than use the computer like fix the small bugs that really bug me but don't really cause a problem. This was one of those but I think it is a security feature, not a bug. If you do not want screen data displayed while you are away do not do this!
Happy New Year Again!!!
I've missed this screen saver due to compatibility issues, same as you used it for years but past 4.5 i think it was it just did'nt play ball.
