• Nov. 13, 1999: Clarified that Windows 95 and 98 also have a Configure option from the File Explorer. This makes configuration of the EVA screen savers, for example, much easier.
• Oct. 28, 1998: Clarified that Windows 98 can use some Windows NT tricks for access
• Mar. 15, 1998: Clarified you cannot run screen savers from Explorer or File Manager.
• Mar. 15, 1998: Gave an easier way to configure saver under Windows NT 4.0.

When you download a screen saver from Otaku World, it comes in a self-extracting archive file. This means that after downloading the file, you need to copy the downloaded file to a temporary directory then run it to extract the contents of the archive. The contents of the archive will be stored in the same directory as the archive file (which is why you put it in a temporary directory: so the files don't get mixed up with a bunch of other files).

Recommendation: Copy the downloaded file to a disk in case you want to give it to a friend or reinstall later on. By leaving it in the archived form, it takes up less space. By keeping it safe, you won't have to download it again.

A screen saver typically has one or two files associated with it: the screen saver itself and possibly a dll module. The screen saver file always ends in .SCR. The dll module always ends in .DLL. There may be another file such as a text file which describes the screen saver. This text file isn't needed for installation.

Copy the screen saver file and any additional dll modules to the windows directory. This is how Windows will find the screen saver and the screen saver can automatically find its additional module (if needed).

Note: if you try to run the screen saver from the Windows Explorer or File Manager, you will get a message saying the screen saver cannot be found. This is because the screen saver can only be run by Windows as a screen saver.

Most of the japanese screen savers on Otaku World require one or two additional DLL files to run. These are WINNLS.DLL and VBRJP200.DLL. All screen savers will share these files so you will only need to download them once. These two DLL modules always go in your Windows System directory.

WINNLS.DLL

On asian versions of Windows 3.11 and Windows 95, two dll modules are used to handle the complex input needs of the asian symbolic alphabets. These two modules are WINNLS.DLL and IMM.DLL. A program that needs WINNLS.DLL will not run if that dll isn't available. Unfortunately, these two components are not present on U.S. or European versions of Windows. So I wrote a dummy replacement for WINNLS.DLL. This replacement is very small and doesn't affect the system in any way. As a bonus, you don't need the IMM.DLL. All of the screen savers on Otaku World run just fine with this dummy replacement.


VBRJP200.DLL

This is the runtime module for Visual Basic Version 2.0, Japanese addition. It is the most commonly used Visual Basic runtime module used in Japanese savers.

Now you need to enable the screen saver. This is a different process for Windows 95 and Windows 3.1/3.11.

Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0:

Click on the tab that says Screen Saver. Windows will scan the Windows and Windows System directories for all screen savers (all files that end in .SCR) and display a list of their names. These names can be either the filename or a given screen saver name if the saver was written to supply it. Windows does this scan each time you start up the Display applet and click on the Screen Saver tab so you can add and remove screen savers without rebooting.

In the case of the japanese screen savers on Otaku World, these names are often in some form of Kanji/Katakana and U.S. versions of Windows 95 cannot display those characters properly. So you end up with a string of strange-looking characters. This is just a name so you can still select and use it.

When you click on a name, the preview monitor window will display either the screen saver in action or a static icon. Older screen savers that were written for Windows 3.1/3.11 will often show just the icon: the preview option is new to Windows 95.

You can now click on the Settings button to change the options (if any) and the Preview button to see the screen saver in action.

Now Read "Now That the Saver is Installed".

In the case of the japanese screen savers on Otaku World, these names are often in some form of Kanji/Katakana and U.S. versions of Windows cannot display those characters properly. So you end up with a string of strange-looking characters. This is just a name so you can still select and use it.

You can now click on the Setup button to change the options of the screen saver (if any) and the Test button to see the screen saver in action.

Some common options in japanese screen savers

• Usually, a screen saver Settings dialog will display one or more slider bars. These typically control the speed of animation and/or the number of objects that appear on the screen.

• There will frequently be a check box that governs background music. This is labelled usually in Kanji/Katakana but the english letters BGM, BM, or M will appear in the label. Often this is unchecked by default. Just make sure it is on to enable music.

• Other check boxes might enable certain features or present an alternate screen layout. Try them out and see.

• A common option in japanese screen savers (and something that should be in all screen savers) is the ability to enable password protection. This means when you stop a screen saver (by moving the mouse or hitting a key on the keyboard), you will be prompted to enter a password to get back to the system. Enter the wrong password and screen saver continues. It is a way of "locking" a workstation. Windows NT users always have this option for any screen saver.

Easy Way (only on Windows 95/98, NT 4.0, and presumably Windows 2000):

1. In the Windows File Explorer, find the screen saver.
2. Right click on the saver and select the Configure option.

Hard Way (works on Windows 95/98 and Windows NT 4.0):

1. From the MS-DOS prompt, cd to the windows directory where the screen saver is. Example (type the following and press the Enter key): cd \winnt or cd \windows
2. Rename the problem screen saver so it ends in .EXE instead of .SCR. Example (type the following and press the Enter key. Substitute the name of your screen saver for "eva011"): rename eva011.scr eva011.exe
3. Enter the name of the new screen saver file and follow it with a space then the option "/c". Example (type the following and press the Enter key): eva011.exe /c
4. Make your changes to the settings the press the Okay button.
5. To test your settings, enter the name of screen saver file and follow it with a space then the option /s. This will run the screen saver. Press a key or move the mouse to exit the screen saver. Example (type the following and press the Enter key): eva011.exe /s
6. Repeat the last previous two steps until you are satisfied.
7. Rename the screen save back to a .SCR file. Example (type the following and press the Enter key): rename eva011.exe eva011.scr
8. You are done. Remember to select the screen saver in the Screen Saver tab of the Display applet.

Questions and comments can be addressed to Stephen P. Lepisto.

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Original art © 1996 by Jennifer Diane Reitz