As you may have already noticed, Ubuntu 11.10 doesn’t come with screensaver package installed. You must install xscreensaver if you want screensavers activated when your computer becomes idled.
This brief guide shows you how to remove gnome-screensaver, install xscreensaver and activate it so that when your computer becomes idled, screensavers will be shown instead of a blank screen.
Objectives:
- Remove Gnome-Screensaver
- Install Xscreensaver
- Configure Xscreensaver to start
- Enjoy!
To get started, press Ctrl – Alt – T on your keyboard to open Terminal. When Terminal opens, run the commands below to remove gnome screensaver.
sudo apt-get remove gnome-screensaver
Next, run the command below to install Xscreensaver and other plugins.
sudo apt-get install xscreensaver xscreensaver-gl-extra xscreensaver-data-extra
After installing, go to ‘Control –> Startup Applications’
Then click ‘Add’ and type the entry below:
Name: xscreensaver
Command: xscreensaver –nosplash
xscreensaver -nosplash
Finally click ‘Add’
When finish, open ‘Dash’ and search for xscreensaver. Open it and customize it.
Enjoy!
Hi,
Very nice! The problem is that the xscreensaver works randomly for me and gnome did have one useful function: –> to lock the screen… so I am going back to the way it was and will continue looking for other options.
But thanks, anyway!
thanks for the tip, but there is one problem, after these steps and activating the screensaver, the screen can not be locked by Ctrl+Alt+L.
I have the same issue as the ppl above which is a bummer cos like the package but its no good if you cant lock it why does this not link into the lockup mechanism that the gnome screen employs.
Cant have my lappie onsite unless it locks so is this going to be fixed???? and when???
However, after I removed gnome-screensaver I lost the ability to lock screen by Ctrl+Alt+L or30 just click “lock screen” in top bar menu :(.
Pretty much everything settings-wise and feature-wise seems to be removed for 11.10.
Bye bye Ubuntu, Welcome glorious LinuxMint!
You can still use the lock function, but need to set the locking to run the xscreensaver lock command. See http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1865593 for instance.