Ubuntu

how do I use a command line to turn off my screensavers

Asked by Joe Gunto

My screen saver preferences box is stuck on Molecule, and it freezes my computer. I have to unplug the power cord and then plug it back in to reboot the computer. I would like to know how to open a command line to access the screen saver files and turn them off or reset them so I can use them correctly. Thanks for any assistance anyone can offer

Joe

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Ricardo Cropalato de Melo
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Best Ricardo Cropalato de Melo (ricardo-cropalato) said : 		#1

The keyboard is freeze too? Try ALT+F1;

If you want to kill the screensaver:
kill `pidof gnome-screensaver`

If you want to deactive the screensaver:
gnome-screensaver-command -d

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Joe Gunto (tujfam4) said : 		#2

I tried both of the commands you suggested and didn't have any luck
I could not find the pidof screen saver when it was on or off, and I didn't have any luck with the other command either. When I listed the pid's the screen saver wasn't running, so none showed up. When I tried to start the screen saver so there would be a pid, the machine froze up, except a solid black mouse pointer arrow. The previous time everything froze including the mouse pointer arrow, and it was the white with black outlined pointer. I am still stuck with the problem.
NOTE: Once I reboot the computer I can do whatever I want unless I let it sit idle for the 10 minutes which is the set time for the screen saver to activate.
Then it freezes. Also, if I open system>preferences>screensaver, it goes directly to the Molecule screensaver line and freezes.
---- Ricardo Cropalato de Melo <email address hidden> wrote:
> Your question #31673 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/31673
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Ricardo Cropalato de Melo proposed the following answer:
> The keyboard is freeze too? Try ALT+F1;
>
> If you want to kill the screensaver:
> kill `pidof gnome-screensaver`
>
> If you want to deactive the screensaver:
> gnome-screensaver-command -d
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/31673/+confirm?answer_id=0
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
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>
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Joe Gunto (tujfam4) said : 		#3

I tried your suggestions, but had no luck killing or deactivating the screesaver. I needed more information that it took several attempts to find. I finally found the pidof screensaver with the top command, When I used it with the kill command, I received the following: kill "pidof gnome screensaver"with command [15]. I tried to figure out what command [15] was, but couldn't. I finally came up with the rather obvious solution, (but only obvious to me after two days of messing around with it a few times) to open system>synaptic package manager and uninstall the gnome screensaver. Since I did that, I don't have the screensaver locking up my computer anymore. My screen does stay on all the time though, so I may do a reinstall of the screen saver program, so I can set the screen to turn off after a set amount of time. Your suggestions helped me in the sense that they pointed me in a direction which finally led to the top command, and finding the pidof gnomescreensaver. After a few frustrating attempts, I was able to come up with a solution to my problem. Not the one you intended, I'm sure, but a solution never the less. I'll take it.

Thanks for responding to my question

Joe Gunto