How to Customize the Default Screensavers in Windows 7 and Vista

 

Windows 7 and Vista include a nice set of backgrounds, but unfortunately most of them aren’t configurable by default.  But with the help of a free app and some registry changes, we can make the default screensavers unique.

How to Customize the default screensavers

If press the Customize button on most of the default screensavers in Windows 7 and Vista, you will probably be greeted with this message:

But if you dig a little in the registry you will find that this isn’t fully correct.  The default screensavers in Vista and 7 do have options you can set, but they’re not obvious.  With the help of an app or some registry tips, you can easily customize the screensavers.

How to Customize Windows Screensavers with System Screensavers Tweaker

Download the System Screensavers Tweaker (link below), and unzip the folder.  Run nt6srccfg.exe in the folder to tweak your screensavers.  This application lets you tweak the screensavers’ registry settings graphically, and it works great in all editions of Windows Vista and 7, including x64 versions.

Change any of the settings you want in the screensaver tweaker, and click Apply.

To preview the changes to your screensaver, open the Screen Saver settings window as normal by right-clicking on the desktop, and selecting Personalize.

Click on the Screensaver button on the bottom right.

Now, select your modified screensaver, and click Preview to see your changes.

You can change a wide variety of settings for the Bubbles, Ribbons, and Mystify screensavers in Windows 7 and Vista, as well as the Aurora screensaver in Windows Vista.

And, by tweaking a little more, you get a screensaver that looks more like a screen full of marbles.

And, if you want to return your screensavers to their default settings, simply run the System Screensavers Tweaker and select Reset to defaults on any screensaver you wish to reset.

Customize Windows Screensavers in the Registry

If you prefer to tweak Windows registry, then here’s how you can customize the screensavers yourself in the Registry. 

Note : Back up your registry first. Create a restore point. (So many thing can go wrong accidently or not following correct procedure.)

1. Type regedit into the search box in the Start menu.

2. Browse to the key for each screensaver, and add or modify the DWORD values listed for that screensaver using the Decimal base.

Note: Tweaking the Registry can be difficult, so if you’re unsure, just use the tweaking application.

3. To edit the Bubbles screensaver, browse to the following in regedit:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Screensavers\Bubbles

Now, add or modify the following DWORD values to tweak the screensaver:

• MaterialGlass – enter 0 for solid or 1 for transparent bubbles
• Radius – enter a number between 1090000000 and 1130000000; the larger the number, the larger the bubbles’ radius
• ShowBubbles – enter 0 to show a black background or 1 to show the current desktop behind the bubbles
• ShowShadows – enter 0 for no shadow or 1 for shadows behind the bubbles
• SphereDensity – enter a number from 1000000000 to 2100000000; the higher the number, the more bubbles on the screen.
• TurbulenceNumOctaves – enter a number from 1 to 255; the higher the number, the faster the bubble colors will change.

4. Ribbons

To edit the Ribbons screensaver, browse to the following in regedit:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Screensavers\Ribbons

Now, add or modify the following DWORD values to tweak the screensaver:

• Blur – enter 0 to prevent ribbons from fading, or 1 to have them fade away after a few moments.
• Numribbons – enter a number from 1 to 100; the higher the number, the more ribbons on the screen.
• RibbonWidth – enter a number from 1000000000 to 1080000000; the higher the number, the thicker the ribbons.

5. Mystify

To edit the Mystify screensaver, browse to the following in regedit:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Screensavers\Mystify

Now, add or modify the following DWORD values to tweak the screensaver:

• Blur – enter 0 to prevent lines from fading, or 1 to have them fade away after a few moments.
• LineWidth – enter a number from 1000000000 to 1080000000; the higher the number, the wider the lines.
• NumLines – enter a number from 1 to 100; the higher the value, the more lines on the screen.

6. Aurora – Windows Vista only

To edit the Aurora screensaver in Windows Vista, browse to the following in regedit:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Screensavers\Aurora

Now, add or modify the following DWORD values to tweak the screensaver:

• Amplitude – enter a value from 500000000 to 2000000000; the higher the value, the slower the motion.
• Brightness – enter a value from 1000000000 to 1050000000; the higher the value, the brighter the affect.
• NumLayers – enter a value from 1 to 15; the higher the value, the more aurora layers displayed.
• Speed – enter a value from 1000000000 to 2100000000; the higher the value, the faster the cycling.

Link

Download the System Screensavers Tweaker