Giniko-Chan's How To Install Screen Savers Updated 13 November 1999

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How To Install Screen Savers



Updates:
Assumptions: I am assuming that you know how to copy and move files, execute files, and rename files. These can all be accomplished from the Windows Explorer in Windows 95 or the File Manager in Windows 3.1/3.11. Or you can do these tasks from the MS-DOS prompt if you are so inclined (in which case, you will also need to know how to change to a different drive and directory). I am also assuming you know where your Windows' and Windows' System directories are. Consult your user manual for details on these operations.

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.

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:

Run the Display applet in the Control Panel by double-clicking on it. You can also get to this applet by right-clicking on the desktop (but not on any icons) and selecting Properties.

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".


Windows 3.1/3.11, Windows NT 3.51:

Run the Desktop option from the Control Panel. In the middle of the dialog that pops up are the screen saver options. Windows will scan the Windows and Windows System directories for all screen savers (all files that end in .SCR) and fill the drop down list with 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 Desktop option 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 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.


Now That the Saver is Installed

Most screen savers have some options, even if it is only to enable password protection. For the japanese screen savers, this Settings dialog will usually be in Kanji/Katakana and on U.S. versions of Windows will appear as strange-looking characters. However, all the options still work, you just have to figure them out. Trial and error is all you can do at this point. Change a setting then try it out.

Some common options in japanese screen savers

Windows 98/Windows NT 4.0 note: I have found that on many of the Japanese screen savers, the Settings button works the same as the Preview button. This means you can't change the options for that screen saver. All is not lost, however. There are two ways you can configure the saver: the Easy way and the Hard Way.

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.


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