HOWTO (simple one) replace gnome-screensaver with xscreensaver.

**dE_logics** · May 13th, 2010

Although xscreensaver is much better and liked by many users, the Ubuntu devs replaced it with gnome-screensaver simply cause -

1) It's integrates better with the gnome-desktop.
2) It follows release cycles of Gnome.

Since the devs and admins won't listen, we users have to clean their **** up and this is the howto -

In Ubuntu, the gnome-screensaver is running; but xscreensaver is better, so we need to replace it.

The gnome-screensaver runs as a daemon...removing this gnome-screensaver package will remove this executable also -

Code:

apt-get remove gnome-screensaver

And install xscreensaver -

Code:

apt-get install xscreensaver

Then start the xscreensaver executable to start the xscreensaver daemon.

Code:

xscreensaver -nosplash

xscreensaver-demo will show the xscreensaver's configuration dialog, the thing that you see in system>preferences.

Now that standby/suspend/screen off is controlled by gnome-screensaver and configured through the power manager(system>preferences), since it's disabled now, it won't work anymore, but other configuration (power button action etc...) will still work.

Configure your standby/suspend/screen off configuration form xscreensaver.

Next, you have to add the xscreensaver -nosplash at startup; to do so, goto system>prefferences>startup applications; there click add and after putting a name, add "xscreensaver -nospash" in the comand section.

To have all screensavers enabled -

Code:

apt-get install unicode-screensaver xscreensaver-gl-extra rss-glx xscreensaver-data-extra

**azertyh** · May 13th, 2010

hi,
i installed xscreensaver 2 hours ago. i did like you but through synaptic.

**dE_logics** · May 13th, 2010

Originally Posted by azertyh

hi,
i installed xscreensaver 2 hours ago. i did like you but through synaptic.

Yeah, it's the same thing.

You see synaptic is a front end to apt-get and apt-cache. But you should remove gnome-screensaver though to make the screensavers work properly.

**wandalalakers** · February 12th, 2011

Thx, my screensavers in xfce stopped working and now they are back working because of your info!

Originally Posted by dE_logics

Then start the xscreensaver executable to start the xscreensaver daemon.

Code:

xscreensaver -nosplash

Next, you have to add the xscreensaver -nosplash at startup; to do so, goto system>prefferences>startup applications; there click add and after putting a name, add "xscreensaver -nospash" in the comand section.

To have all screensavers enabled -

**John_T** · February 16th, 2011

Originally Posted by dE_logics

...
Next, you have to add the xscreensaver -nosplash at startup; to do so, goto system>prefferences>startup applications; there click add and after putting a name, add "xscreensaver -nospash" in the comand section...

I just wanted to point out the "nospash" typo in that paragraph. If you copy and paste from the wrong section of the message, as I nearly did, you'll get unexpected results.

Otherwise, great stuff, thanks!

**omegamike3** · February 17th, 2011

It appears that notify-osd will overlap xscreensaver, meaning while the screensaver is active, any notifications that you get will still show up. There's an open bug from October on launchpad, but it doesn't look like anyone has done anything with it. https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...sd/+bug/660224 Has anyone else had this issue or know a way to fix it?

**forestwalkerjoe** · March 1st, 2011

Ok.. so if the bug is still not fixed.. and i checked.. it's not. any one have any idea how to fully remove the XScreensaver and put back the sreensaver for Gnome? i tired to reverse the code above.. and i cant Tell Screen saver to start of X screen to stop.. got any ideas? I even removed the Start Daemon thing from Start up..

**uriel1998** · March 7th, 2011

Try

Code:

sudo apt-get purge xscreensaver unicode-screensaver xscreensaver-gl-extra rss-glx xscreensaver-data-extra

to remove everything from xscreensaver. Then use synaptic to reinstall gnome-screensaver. You may need to reinstall gnome-power-management as well and put gnome-screensaver in your startup.

http://live.gnome.org/GnomeScreensaver