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Lev SeltzerFlag for Israel

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screen saver doesn't start in Windows 8.1

I recently reinstalled Windows 8.1 Pro on my computer and now the screen saver does not kick in after 1 minute (as per the setting). I tried a different screen saver with the same result.
The preview of all the screen savers works properly.

What could be running in the background that is preventing this from turning on?
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McKnife
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Thank you for your responses.
I am working on a desktop.
I want the screen saver for two reasons:
1. To lock the screen so no one will use the computer if I leave
2. To display a slide show of pictures, which I like seeing.
I do not mind if it uses the LCD or electricity.
Power management is set to "balanced". Screen will turn off after 10 minutes. and computer will sleep after 30 minutes. This NEVER has happened - even in previous versions of Windows.
Current problem started when I REINSTALLED 8.1 from scratch (Windows had stopped functioning and I had to do a complete reinstalled. Before this, I was running 8.1 and the screen saver worked).

I am not sure what to see in the regedit. The current entries look fine. ScreenSaveTimeOut was 60 - I set it to 3 and it did not go into screen saver mode after 3 seconds.

I have left on the computer for several hours, and it does not go into screen saver.  

Thank you.
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I set the screen saver to NO SCREENSAVER and turned the power settings to shut off the monitor after 1 minute.
I waited.
Nothing.
We are not having earthquakes, so the mouse is not moving when I am not touching it. I am not sure what is happening to cause this situation.

Thank you .
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I am not sure how to respond with your request for information. Below is an image from the computer's properties.
 User generated imageI am sure there are many services and processes running, but am not sure how to give you a list form task manager (which reports 14 apps, 42 background apps and 22 windows apps).

I did not try SAFEMODE yet. I am still trying to get some work done, and can't reboot right now.
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I have an Intel(R) HD Graphics display driver dated  1/22/2014. I clicked on UPDATE DRIVER and no newer driver was found.
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There is no apparent option for "chipset" under "Device Manager." I did not "install" it when I did the windows 8.1 reinstall; instead the 8.1 install was automatic, and whatever the installation program decided to install was installed.

System Power Management is not in device manager either. I ran WIndows Update, and while there are 2 minor windows updates available, they do not relate to this (I am installing the updates in any case).
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I looked for "windows power manager" in "Device manager" under the "system devices" tab, and did not find it.
I am running Windows Update, and it is not finding any new programs or drivers at this time.
I reinstalled windows 8.1 from scratch within the past month, and do not want to do it again, as I do not believe it will solve the problem (also, considering how it took many hours to complete the installation, I do not want to waste the time when it is only a possibility that it will help).

Any other ideas?
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I have made a search of this problem, and it seems that there are a good number of other people with the same problem. On the threads I found, sometimes there is a solution - but one that does not work for everyone - and sometimes there is no solution offered.
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McKnife: I created the task as directed, but it did not start - not even after more than 15 minutes of inactivity.
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I didn't try safe mode. I did find an update for the screen and network drivers from Intel and installed those. No change in performance.
The task scheduler IDLE trigger still does not work.
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I went to safe mode (with network) and waited 3 minutes (the screen saver was set to 1 minute).
Nothing happened.
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I have an intel board. The intel website has a program that checks my computer and recommends drivers. I downloaded and installed the driver for the network and the one for the video. I haven't a clue where to go for "chipset" and "Bios" updates.
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I think I am going to just resign myself to the fact that this is not going to work, and perhaps when Microsoft comes out with the next update to Windows it will work. Thank you for all your help.
@WEBuilder - Thank you for the update. Windows 8.1 Update 1 will be out next week and that may help you.