how to fix screensaver size to fit 1920x1080 on windows 10

My mom had this when I was young on our old computer and it always fit onto a full screen, then I download it onto my window's 10 pc years later after finding it again and it won't fill fullscreen cause of only having 3 screen settings. 640x480, 800x600, and 1024x768. My monitor resolution is 1920x1080 so I would love for it to fit my screen, cause the only way I can decently see it on my screen is on setting 800x600 but then it shows black borders around the sides. I grew up loving this screensaver and would love to have it on full screen every halloween. Please help fix it if can. Any advice or help would be appreciated.

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• The Scary Screensaver screensaver

Rebecca2 days agoWindows 10 x64, Google Chrome

7 replies

• Hello Rebecca,

  It's an old screensaver that natively only supports the older screen resolutions you mentioned, like 800x600, but I've found a way to add newer resolutions like yours.

  The screensaver is installed into the following folder on your hard drive:

  C:\Program Files (x86)\3D-Relax\The Scary Screensaver

  Inside that folder is a settings file called settings.xml. If you open that with a text editor you'll find various settings written down in the XML format:

  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
  <halloween>
  <!-- effect params -->
  <scene>
  <!-- [1..3] effect index, [0]-rotating effects -->
  <index value="0" last="2" />
  <sound value="1" />
  <clouds value="1" />
  <rain value="1" />
  <bats value="40" />
  </scene>
  <!-- videomodes (value = videomode index from list) -->
  <videomode value="6">
  <mode id="0" width="640" height="480" colordepth="16" />
  <mode id="1" width="800" height="600" colordepth="16" />
  <mode id="2" width="1024" height="768" colordepth="16" />
  <mode id="3" width="640" height="480" colordepth="32" />
  <mode id="4" width="800" height="600" colordepth="32" />
  <mode id="5" width="1024" height="768" colordepth="32" />
  </videomode>
  </halloween>

  This is all a little technical, but you may be able to see that the screen resolution options are all listed here, and by editing the settings.xml file we can add additional screen resolutions like the 1920x1080 resolution you are using.

  To do this, we need to open the settings.xml file in a text editor, add this line:

  <mode id="6" width="1920" height="1080" colordepth="32" />

  Directly under this line:

  <mode id="5" width="1024" height="768" colordepth="32" />

  And then we need to swap out this line:

  <videomode value="5">

  With this one:

  <videomode value="6">

  Then save the file, close the text editor, and try the screensaver again.

  You can also skip the manual editing by downloading the version of settings.xml that I created for you. Right-click this link, choose "Save as" (or "Save link as"), then browse to the "C:\Program Files (x86)\3D-Relax\The Scary Screensaver" folder on your computer and save it there, overwriting the file that's already there.

  Hope that helps! It worked for me just now. Let me know if you have any questions.

  Rob (Screensavers Planet)21 hours ago

• Thank you Rob I will for sure try these settings out. Do I need to restart my computer or anything to have the settings be accurate and responsive? Because I did try to update the settingxml file and even with the change it didn't work.

  Rebecca21 hours ago

• Hey Rob so I just tested the screensaver but it doesn't show in the settings the size change as a option and if this website was able to add photos I would attach images to show that there is still a black barrier on the left and right side but not 100% full screen.

  Rebecca21 hours ago

• The computer does not have to be restarted, once you've saved the settings.xml file and go into the screensaver's settings again, you should see the 1920x1080 resolution listed. If not, something may have gone wrong saving the file.

  Can you open up the settings.xml file in a text editor and post the contents here?

  So that would be your current settings.xml file in the directory:

  C:\Program Files (x86)\3D-Relax\The Scary Screensaver

  Rob (Screensavers Planet)16 hours ago

• the settingsxml opens to a browser, i don't have a text editor other then notepad. but yeah when i went to look at the screensaver settings, it only showed the 3 default options. i overrided the file like you said after i got the link to save from your message. and even when i like on the settingxml it shows all the information, but the runSettings.bat still shows the 3 in the pull down options under video and resolution.

  if you got a social account i don't mind adding you to get your help further with this by use of screenshots or videos.

  Rebecca16 hours ago

• I see what you mean. It worked on one computer, but I just tried it on another and the new resolution doesn't "stick", as if the screensaver never reads the settings.

  Let me do some more digging, I'll post back here as soon as possible.

  Rob (Screensavers Planet)12 hours ago

• sounds good Rob thank you. I get email notifications so I'll see when you post. keep me updated

  Rebecca12 hours ago

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