Follows here is a very informative discussion saved from the Bulletin Board messages about 'Screen Saver' type of programs for our Commodores! A hearty thanks to all who participated here. I have edited it down to the relevant points. Hope this answers some of your questions, too. deb! *FlagShip* SysOp GEnie ------------ Message 14 Thu Dec 24, 1987 G.ROOKE [Skater] at 17:12 EST Help !!! Where can i find a Screen saver program for the c-64, to kill the monitor after 5 or 10 minutes of non-use. (To prevent screen burn-out) Thanx G Rooke ------------ Message 15 Thu Dec 24, 1987 CHARRINGTON [Courtney] at 16:07 PST Screen Saver is a program seen mostly in MS-DOS machines. It automatically blanks the screen after a preset period of time to keep images from being burned into it. Courtney ------------ Message 16 Thu Dec 24, 1987 KEVIN.S [-Sysop-] at 19:26 EST Shouldn't be hard to do, though. I haven't seen one for the 64, but to avoid discrepancies with video hardware, the one I use at work just sets colors to black on black. A little ML routine in the ever-popular cassette buffer should do it. KeS ------------ Message 17 Thu Dec 24, 1987 DEB [*SysOp*] at 19:59 EST Well, your C-64 shouldn't ever NEED a screen saving type of program, its not using the same kind of technology that MSDOS and RGB monitors do. Tell us why you think you need it, OK? There is a direct VIC II chip register which will blank the screen, but if something HAPPENS to your software/system, you'll never know what happened. *deb!* ------------ Message 18 Thu Dec 24, 1987 WC.COLEMAN [geo*op] at 22:05 EST I've left my computer on for *hours* with the same screen...didn't cause any problems at all. ------------ Message 19 Thu Dec 24, 1987 KEVIN.S [-Sysop-] at 22:08 EST Sure you need a screen-saver, if you leave your monitor on with one program all the time. Even the old Atari 2600s used to char up TV sets when they first came out... now all the game programs change the title screens around so they don't take a set. Most people don't leave their 64 on all day, every day, so it hasn't been a problem. My 128 monitor has the BTP-128 status line starting to burn in, though. KeS ------------ Message 20 Thu Dec 24, 1987 D.SCHMOLDT at 23:28 EST I've seen a screen saver for the 128. It's public domain. Haven't seen one for the C64 though. Dave (The 128 screen saver was written by Joe O'Hara) ------------ Message 21 Thu Dec 24, 1987 CHARRINGTON [Courtney] at 22:06 PST I'm burning out the monitor to my XT at work by having a main menu sitting up 8 hours a day. Finally had to put in a screen saver. Never had the problem with the 64 or 128 cause they are usually just turned on to play or work with a program, then shut off. ------------ Message 22 Sat Dec 26, 1987 DEB [*SysOp*] at 12:26 EST Well, I'm not a technical type, but someone once explained to me that the C64 constantly updated the screen thru the raster and that you never had to worry about damaging your screen... Beats me, McGee...I only live here! *deb!* ------------ Message 23 Sat Dec 26, 1987 R.KUCENSKI at 11:40 PST EVERY monitor is constantly updated by the raster. This will not help to prevent screen burn in as the same pixels are constantly being illuminated by each pass of the electron beam. A simple way to solve the problem for those who leave the 64 on for extended periods of time with the same screen in place (for instance, business users who don't wish to wait for a reload each time they go to the computer) is the most obvious -- turn the contrast (and/or brightness) controls all the way down. If you can't see it, it won't hurt the screen. When you're ready to resume work on the computer, simply turn the controls back up. Doesn't cost a dime, requires no installation, and works every time. ------------ Message 24 Sun Dec 27, 1987 DEB [*SysOp*] at 04:55 EST Me...I just turn my monitor off...is that bad for it?! ------------ Message 25 Sun Dec 27, 1987 G.ROOKE [Skater] at 17:20 EST Thanx all for the input. Thought it might be nice/needed for a bbs set-up. I use one on my ST so figured i needed one for the c-64. Gary ------------ Message 26 Sun Dec 27, 1987 DEB [*SysOp*] at 21:42 EST Gary, A BBS is probably one of the touchiest things to ever operate on a C64, and if the 'feature' isn't built into the BBS, you're treading on dangerous ground to add it. Several BBS's *do* come with a screen off/on toggle, like RAVICS and COLOR64, that I know of personally. I just leave the monitor turned off on my BBS...saves the screen *and* the power bill. I'll move these messages over to category 4 where they might be of interest to someone in the future. *deb!* ------------ Message 27 Sun Jan 03, 1988 R.KUCENSKI at 16:14 PST DEB: Turning monitor power off is OK. This will not affect the computer or the program in progress when using the 64 The monitor, with the 64, is a completely passive device. The 64 doesn't know (or care) whether the monitor is on or off. The only problem you *might* encounter shows up only if your power up/ power down occurs very frequently. This is a rare one but worth noting. Like a light bulb, the filament in the CRT must go from cold to very hot each power up. This causes mechanical stresses which will eventually cause it to burn out - no crt - Very, Very rare prob. Your method should be harmless. ------------ Message 28 Thu Jan 07, 1988 E.CALDWELL1 [GINNY C] at 01:19 EST In the January, 1988 copy of "RUN" magazine, on the almost last page, there is a program called "Blank-it 64". It will blank out the screen after three minutes. Hit any key and the exact screen reappears. I imagine you could change the length of time if you wanted. It works very very well. There have been times that I have left my computer non because I had to run out to the store while it was printing, or was cooking or the phone rang or something that took me away from the screen and it was nice to know that it would blank out on it's own if I was away longer than expected. By the way, the program in "RUN" is pretty short. In the February issue there is supposed to be a program that will blank the screen for the 128. ------------