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Troubleshooting FAQs


 IMPORTANT NOTE TO COMPUSERVE AND SBC ISP USERS:

If you are using the built-in browser provided by your ISP, you will NOT see Popular Screensavers or your  toolbar. Instead, you MUST:

  1. Launch Internet Explorer 5.01 or above from your desktop. 
    (We encourage you to download Internet Explorer 6.0.)
  2. Find the "My Web Search" toolbar on your browser. To access Popular Screensavers, click the "Screensavers" button.
     

I downloaded Popular Screensavers, but I'm still seeing my old screensaver (or no screensaver).

If you have downloaded Popular Screensavers, but are still seeing your old screensaver (or no screensaver), you may have to change the Display Settings on your computer.  There are two ways to do this:

From the toolbar:

  1. Click on the "Screensavers" button in your toolbar. (Click here to see a picture)
  2. Select "My Screensaver" from the dropdown menu and choose "Display Settings"
  3. Under the line "Set Popular Screensavers as the default screensaver" mark the "Yes" radio button. 
  4. Click the "Save" link.

From your desktop:
  1. Right-click anywhere on your desktop and choose "Properties."
  2. In the resulting pop-up window, click the "Screen Savers" tab.
  3. Find the "Screen Savers" header and select  "Popular Screensavers" from the dropdown menu.  Windows 98 and Windows ME users should select "f3pssavr" from the dropdown.  (Click here to see a picture)
  4. Click "Apply."


I'm seeing a screen with the message "Personalize Your Screensaver!" instead of seeing my screensaver.

If you're seeing this message, you need to add images to your screensaver. To do so:
  1. Click the "Screensavers" button on your toolbar. (Click here to see a picture)
  2. Select "Photo Gallery" and choose a category.
  3. Click any thumbnail image.
  4. Click the "Download" button to add that photo to your screensaver.

If you would prefer to revert to your default screensaver, you can change the Display Settings on your computer by doing the following. 

  1. Right-click anywhere on your desktop and choose "Properties."
  2. In the resulting pop-up, click on the "Screen Savers" tab.
  3. Click the dropdown menu under the "Screen Savers" header and highlight the screensaver you previously used as your default. (Click here to see a picture)
  4. Click the "Apply" button.

Note:  If you revert your Display Settings to view your default screensaver, you will need to change the settings back to "Popular Screensavers" should you wish to display any Popular Screensavers that you download in the future.  To do so, simply follow the steps above and choose "Popular Screensavers" (or "f3pssavr" if you are a Windows 98 or Windows ME user) from the "Screen Savers" dropdown.
 

I am seeing a black screen instead of my screensaver all or part of the time.

If you're seeing a black screen instead of your screensaver, it is likely that your monitor is set to turn off before or during your screensaver.  To change your monitor settings, do the following:
  1. Click the "Start" button in the lower-left corner of your screen.
  2. Select "Settings", then choose "Control Panel."
  3. Double-click "Power Options" on the resulting page.
  4. Find the "Turn off monitor" dropdown under the "Setting for Home/Office Desk power scheme" header. (Click here to see a picture)
  5. Choose "Never" from the dropdown.
  6. Click the "Apply" button.

NOTE: If you are seeing a black screen when trying to view Video Screensavers, please check that you have Windows Media Player 9.0 or greater installed on your computer.
 

My screensaver clock is displaying the wrong time.  How can I change this?

Popular Screensaver clocks display the time set on your computer's clock.  To change the time on your computer's clock:
  1. Double click the time displayed on your computer (normally located in the lower-right corner of your screen).
  2. Set the clock to the correct time.
  3. Click the "OK" button.


What are the System Requirements for Popular Screensavers?

To use Popular Screensavers you must have a computer running Windows 98 or higher and Internet Explorer 5.01 or higher.  (We encourage you to download Internet Explorer 6.0.)
 

I use Norton Internet Security, Zone Alarm, or similar firewall/proxy software and am having trouble downloading Popular Screensavers. Why?

The most common problem when downloading or installing Popular Screensavers occurs when running such software. If you are running one of these types of products, try temporarily disabling it, then go back to http://www.popularscreensavers.com to try the download process again. You can reactivate your firewall/proxy software once the download and installation of the toolbar and Popular Screensavers is complete.


I try to download Popular Screensavers and the download won't start, or I get looped back to the previous page when I click on Download Now. Why?

The most common problem when downloading or installing Popular Screensavers occurs when running security software such as Norton Internet Security, Zone Alarm, or other firewalls/proxy software.

If you are running one of these types of products, try temporarily disabling it, then go back to http://www.popularscreensavers.com to try the download process again. You can reactivate your firewall/proxy software once the download and installation of the toolbar and Popular Screensavers is complete.
 

How do I restore my computer's default screensaver?

To revert to your default screensaver, you have to change the Display Settings on your computer. To do so:
  1. Right-click anywhere on your desktop and choose "Properties."
  2. In the resulting pop-up, click on the "Screen Savers" tab.
  3. Click the dropdown menu under the "Screen Savers" header and highlight your default screensaver.
  4. Click the "Apply" button.


Why can't I see Popular Screensavers - or the toolbar - on my browser?

If you have downloaded Popular Screensavers and are not the seeing the "Screensavers button" or the toolbar on your browser, you may need to enable the toolbar through your browser's menu. To do this:
  1. Click on the "View" menu option.
  2. Select "Toolbars."
  3. You will see "My Web Search" listed in the dropdown - make sure that there is a check mark next to it. If there is no check mark, click on it in order to enable your toolbar. (Click here to see a picture)

If the toolbar does have a check mark but is not visible on your browser, clear the check mark by clicking on the name of the toolbar. Then repeat the steps above to re-enable it. The toolbar should now appear. (Click here to see a picture)
 

Will Popular Screensavers work with my browser?

 Popular Screensavers and your toolbar will work with Internet Explorer versions 5.01 and above. (We encourage you to download Internet Explorer 6.0.)
 
Note to WebTV Users: Popular Screensavers does not function with the WebTV interface.


 Is Popular Screensavers compatible with Macs?

 Sorry, Popular Screensavers and your toolbar are not compatible with Macs.
 

Does Popular Screensavers or the toolbar include adware or spyware?

Absolutely not - both Popular Screensavers and the toolbar include NO adware and NO spyware.
 

I can no longer see Popular Screensavers or my browser toolbar. How can I get them back?

If you have downloaded Popular Screensavers and are not seeing the "Screensavers" button or the toolbar on your browser (click here to see a picture), you are likely experiencing one of two scenarios:

1. You did not close all your open browsers once you downloaded Popular Screensavers. Please do this now and then reopen a new browser.

2.  You may need to enable the toolbar through your browser's menu. To do this, click on the "View" menu option and select "Toolbars." You will see "My Web Search"  listed in the dropdown - make sure that there is a check mark next to it. If there is no check mark, click on it in order to enable your toolbar. (Click here to see a picture)


 If the toolbar DOES have a check mark but is not visible on your browser, clear the check mark by clicking on "My Web Search." Then repeat the steps above to re-enable it. The toolbar should now appear.
 

The download process ends prematurely - or I get a blank screen - when I click the "Download Now" button to install this feature. What can I do to resolve this issue?
You need to change your security setting to Medium in order to successfully download using Internet Explorer. Follow the instructions below to change your security settings.

 
Internet Explorer 5.x:
1. Go to the "Tools" menu at the top of your browser.
2. Select "Internet Options."
3. Go to the Security tab and choose Medium security and then click "OK."

Internet Explorer 6.x:
1. Go to the "Tools" menu at the top of your browser.
2. Select "Internet Options."
3. Go to the Security tab and click the "Custom Level" button, then choose "Medium." Safety under "Software channel permissions" and click "OK."

Why am I getting a message that tells me "Your current security settings prohibit running ActiveX controls on this page" - and how do I fix it?

If you're seeing this message, your browser's security settings do not allow the download of ActiveX controls. You will need to change these settings.

To do so, select Tools at the top of your browser, then select Internet Options. Next, select the Security tab. Now move the slider down until you have selected Medium security. Confirm by pressing the OK button.

Don't see a slider tab under Security? Instead, select Internet, then select Custom Level. A window will pop-up. You now need to "enable" or "prompt" the following:

1. Download signed Active X controls.
 2. Run Active X controls and plug-ins.


How do I remove the Popular Screensavers button from the toolbar?

First, find the "My Web Search" button to the far-left of the toolbar. Click the small arrow to the right of this button.  From the dropdown, select "Add/Remove Buttons". Now, uncheck the "Popular Screensavers" box in the Cool Tools module. Click the "Finished" button and your "Popular Screensavers" button will be removed. You can always add it back at any time by repeating the steps above and checking the Popular Screensavers box.



How do I add the Popular Screensavers button to the toolbar?

First, find the "My Web Search" button to the far-left of the toolbar. Click the small arrow to the right of this button.  From the dropdown, select "Add/Remove Buttons".  Now, check the "Popular Screensavers" box in the Cool Tools module. Click the "Finished" button and your Popular Screensavers button will appear in your toolbar. (Click here to see a picture)



 How do I uninstall Popular Screensavers and the toolbar?

To permanently remove Popular Screensavers and your toolbar, you must do the following:

1. From your computer's Start button, select "Settings," then select "Control Panel."
2. Double-click on the "Add/Remove Programs" icon.
3. Select "My Web Search (Popular Screensavers)."
4. Click "Remove." The toolbar and Popular Screensavers feature have now been uninstalled.
 

How do I remove the toolbar feature which provides suggested search listings when I mistype or enter an incomplete word or URL into my browser?

If you wish to uninstall this "Search Assistant" feature from your computer, you will need to uninstall Popular Screensavers and your toolbar. To do so, please follow the steps in the previous question.

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