HOWTO: Change Gnome-screensaver back to Xscreensaver

**NobodySpecial** · June 4th, 2006

Those who have just migrated from Breezy to Dapper may not be aware of the controversy surrounding the Gnome Developers' decision to change Xscreensaver to Gnome-screensaver. For those who prefer to bring back the beauty and customizability of Xscreensaver, read on.

Code:

System -> Preferences -> Power Management -> Move the two sliders all the way to the right

Code:

System -> Preferences -> Screensaver -> Unclick all options

In the terminal:

Code:

sudo chmod -x /usr/bin/gnome-screensaver
sudo apt-get install xscreensaver xscreensaver-data-extra xscreensaver-gl-extra

Run xscreensaver once to start the daemon, then exit:

Code:

Alt-F2 (Run Application): xscreensaver

Make screensaver start with bootup:

Code:

System > Preferences > Sessions click on the "Startup Programs" tab, click "Add" and enter "xscreensaver -nosplash"

Fix the menu settings:

Code:

Applications -> Accessories -> Alacarte Menu Editor
System -> Preferences -> right click on Screensaver & select Properties
Change "command" box to "xscreensaver-demo"
Click "Close"

Now configure your screensavers:

Code:

System -> Preferences -> Screensaver

One final issue is that the "Lock Screen" function still points to gnome-screensaver.
In the terminal:

Code:

sudo cp /usr/share/icons/gnome/24x24/apps/gnome-lockscreen.png /usr/share/pixmaps

Add launcher to panel:

Code:

Right-click on panel -> Custom Application Launcher -> Name "Lock Screen", Command "xscreensaver-command --lock", Icon "gnome-lockscreen.png"

Enjoy! 8)

Thanks also to Abandon.

Edited:
6/4/06 Added "-nosplash" to startup.

**Elephantman5** · August 31st, 2008

Now that I've totally messed up my system following your guide, the lockscreen doesn't work, and the last part of your tutorial doesn't work,

Do you want to tell me how to undo everything you just told me how to do?

**kellemes** · August 31st, 2008

Originally Posted by Elephantman5

Now that I've totally up my system following your guide, the lockscreen doesn't work, and the last part of your tutorial doesn't work,

Do you want to tell me how to undo everything you just told me how to do?

Don't blame him, you chose to follow a 2 year old tutorial, not the brightest of ideas.

**Rhubarb** · August 31st, 2008

To undo this tutorial, the following should work fine for you in Ubuntu 8.04:

Get rid of lock-screen launcher in panel:
Right click on it, remove from panel.

Delete the icon you copied for the launcher:

Code:

sudo rm /usr/share/pixmaps/gnome-lockscreen.png

Un-fix the menu settings:
Applications -> Accessories -> Alacarte Menu Editor
System -> Preferences -> right click on Screensaver & select Properties
Change "command" box to "gnome-screensaver-preferences"
Click "Close"

Remove the xscreensaver from starting on bootup:
System > Preferences > Sessions click on the "Startup Programs" tab, select "xscreensaver -nosplash" then press the Remove button.

Allow gnome-screensaver to be executable again:

Code:

sudo chmod +x /usr/bin/gnome-screensaver

Remove xscreensaver packages:

Code:

sudo apt-get remove xscreensaver xscreensaver-data-extra xscreensaver-gl-extra

Configure gnome-screensaver they way you like it
Activate when idle if you wish
System -> Preferences -> Screensaver -> Click options you want

Change Power Management back the way you want it:
System -> Preferences -> Power Management -> Move the two sliders to your preferred settings

If you wish to lock the screen from your panel, you may add it yourself:
Right Click on the panel where you want the lock screen icon to appear, Select "Add to Panel".
Scroll down and select "Lock Screen", then Press the "Add" button.

You may have to restart Ubuntu for all these changes to take effect, but you may not have to, as I haven't tested this myself.

**Elephantman5** · August 31st, 2008

Originally Posted by Rhubarb

To undo this tutorial, the following should work fine for you in Ubuntu 8.04:

...

If you wish to lock the screen from your panel, you may add it yourself:
Right Click on the panel where you want the lock screen icon to appear, Select "Add to Panel".
Scroll down and select "Lock Screen", then Press the "Add" button.

You may have to restart Ubuntu for all these changes to take effect, but you may not have to, as I haven't tested this myself.

I appreciate you writing this out.
Baby steps, for the layman, slow mind.

sudo chmod +x /usr/bin/gnome-screensaver was what bothered me. (Or the other version of it.) Meh.

I was tired, thanks for the interesting tutorial though, Nobody Special. It was late, and now I know what the xscreensavers look like.

**ktechman** · September 10th, 2008

This worked on two out of three rigs, the New laptop with the ATI graphics card cho-o-o-o-ked, froze every time and the cheap on-board Nvidia graphics works like a charm.