Host Screen Saver Never Starts as Long as Guest is Running

[smithlar]

Host: openSuse 10.3, KDE, virtualbox-ose-1.6.0-8.1
Guest: WinXP 32 bit, with Additions, WinXP screen saver disabled

This issue occurs on both 32 bit & 64 bit Hosts.

As long as the Guest VM is running, the Host screen saver never starts.
When the Guest is shutdown, the Host screen saver works as expected
(autostarts after 5 min, etc). Even when the guest is minimized, or on
another desktop (I have 4), the screen saver will not auto-start; it can
only be started manually.

Thanks.

[Prophet]

I too have noticed the host screen saver not working if the guest OS is running.
I am running VB 1.5.6 on Debian Etch 2.6.18-6-686 with an XP Guest OS.

Not a huge deal, just thought I would confirm what smithlar reported

[dchicks]

I never saw any kind of resolution on this post, but I'm seeing something similar.

VB OSE 4.2.4 on Fedora 17 with KDE. I have a Windows7 VM. The screen saver (and screen lock) will start ONLY if the VM is running in a window. If it is running in full-screen mode, then the screen saver will not start.

While I'm certain I can learn to work around this, it's a security issue for me due to my job function. Anyone know of a fix/workaround or known-issue with respect to this?

Thanks,
Dave

[Perryg]

Works for me in Ubuntu and all of my Debian based hosts. I would look into the hosts KDE options to see if there is a place that defines how the screen saver works in regards to programs. Some have areas to set things like playing a video, Etc. blocks the screen saver for activating. Maybe it has something that you can adjust.

[MarkFoley]

Hard to believe this issue has gone 4 years without followup post as it is still an issue -- at least for me. Ditto to all comments above. I'm running KDE 4.14.21 on Slackware 64 14.2. As dchicks mentioned, this is a security issue. Esp. as our office permits remoting login via VNC.

Anything new?

[socratis]

Maybe because it's working? That's why nobody complained in the last 4 years? Check your system. Especially what's preventing sleep, i.e. follow Perryg's advice. It's still valid today as it was 4 years ago.

[MarkFoley]

Mine is definitely not working. It does work if some other window (Thunderbird, Firefox) is running on top of the VM, and it works if I minimize the VM. If Perryg is still listening, and if he (or anyone else) know of a KDE setting as suggested, please clue me in. I've search for such a setting since posting my message and have inquired on the KDE forum and LinuxQuestions for info on such a setting. I've come up with nothing so far. If someone knows of such a setting, please post. If someone is running VirtualBox under KDE and IS NOT having this issue, please post also. I'm doubtful it's just me. For now, no one has posted to any site I've visited that this works for them.

If someone with KDE has the screen saver working under the circumstances I listed, perhaps we can compare settings and come up with what will work.

[Perryg]

Yes I still listen, but I don't have a host available with KDE since I don't like it at all and can't really help to find the settings. Saying that I have tested unity, gnome, and cinnamon and they all work properly for me. Sorry I can't give you more but I left KDE as a lost cause years ago ( about the same time Linus T did if memory serves me properly ).