How to disable screensaver

[jeffbarish]

I considered caffeine, but it is not in the repository for Lubuntu 12.04. In any case, I prefer to avoid adding another dependency -- especially in a case where the problem was caused by too many dependencies with overlapping functionality.

I wanted to add one comment to my posting with the solution to the problem. I am having trouble understanding why X11 provides both DPMS and xscreensaver, considering that the functionality of the first appears to be subsumed by the second. Moreover, xfce4-power-manager triplicates some of the functionality. Having three modules performing the same functions seems like a bad design. Also, if my belief is correct that a recent upgrade to X11 activated the DPMS functionality, then a lot of users are going to be surprised as I was when their configuration of xfce4-power-manager and xsreensaver mysteriously stops working. This seems like a particularly poor upgrade policy for an LTS release.

[Rex Bouwense]

Got the old Dell out of the closet and after updating the kernel to 3.2.0.41, it works like a charm. I just thought of something that perhaps you were not doing. Under Memu->Preferences->Power Manager there is a box for disabling DPMS under the General Tab. Did you have that checked before you found your solution?

By the way Lubuntu 12.04 is not a LTS release. As of this moment there is no LTS release for Lubuntu. They do not have the manpower to support the versions.

[espen.k.nilsen]

I found the problem. It's X11. It has something called DPMS. By default, it blanks the screen at 10 minutes (just as I was seeing). To fix the problem, I created a file called 10-disable-dpms.conf in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d (which I had to create) containing:

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "BlankTime" "0"
Option "StandbyTime" "0"
Option "SuspendTime" "0"
Option "OffTime" "0"
EndSection


I'm pretty sure I saw an X upgrade go by some time ago, so I bet that's when this problem started.

Thanks anyway for the suggestions.

This works in lubuntu 13.10 also.

Example

cd /etc/X11
sudo mkdir xorg.conf.d
cd xorg.conf.d
sudo touch 10-disable-dpms.conf
sudo nano 10-disable-dpms.conf 
#Add code from comment (copy/paste)

[buzzingrobot]

In 13.10, the "Brightness and Lock" settings panel -- distinct from the screensaver -- inlcudes settings to lock and turn off the screen after a specified period. Or, not.

[vasa1]

In 13.10, the "Brightness and Lock" settings panel -- distinct from the screensaver -- inlcudes settings to lock and turn off the screen after a specified period. Or, not.

The posters have Lubuntu in mind. Is your answer relating to Ubuntu? I'm not seeing a "Brightness and Lock" settings panel in Lubuntu 13.10.

[buzzingrobot]

The posters have Lubuntu in mind. Is your answer relating to Ubuntu? I'm not seeing a "Brightness and Lock" settings panel in Lubuntu 13.10.

Ah, yep, Ubuntu. Sorry. Odd if it's been removed, tho.

[vasa1]

Ah, yep, Ubuntu. Sorry. Odd if it's been removed, tho.

No idea but a Xubuntu user has been reporting something similar (I think): https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/xu...er/006163.html

I took another tack and I'm using a small script to run every 8 min; it uses xdotool to send a keypress of the shift key every 8 min when the CPU usage exceeds a set value (like when I'm watching a video).

BTW, I don't see the screen getting locked at any time. If I leave my laptop unattended (with minimal CPU usage) the screen just goes blank and never locks. I'm a single user and don't have to worry about others touching my lappie. I don't have any screensaver installed and xscreensaver isn't part of Lubuntu 13.10, AFAIK.

[acornblue]

this is for pple who find this googling for answers.
[ solution ] from cmdline 》xset s off && xset -dpms
that should disable screensaver & powersaver.
u can also change timed to 1hr like so
》xset s 3600 && xset dpms 3600

finally to re-enable
》xset s on && xset +dpms

[Peppe_L-G]

To fix the problem, I created a file called 10-disable-dpms.conf in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d (which I had to create) containing:

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "BlankTime" "0"
Option "StandbyTime" "0"
Option "SuspendTime" "0"
Option "OffTime" "0"
EndSection

This worked for me (Lubuntu 14.04). Thanks!