Bubbles screensaver has black background

Anonymous
2012-10-26T15:09:27+00:00

In Windows 7, the Bubbles screen saver created bubbles that moved over the top of whatever was on my screen at the time. 

In Windows 8, if I go to the screen saver settings and preview the Bubbles screensaver, it shows the same behavior – bubbles moving over the top of my existing desktop.

But when the Bubbles screensaver actually activates in Windows 8, the bubbles only appear over a background color which I selected.

Is there something wrong with my settings or video drivers?

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Anonymous
2012-10-26T15:10:02+00:00

There is nothing wrong with your screensaver settings, or your video drivers and system. . 

A design change was made in Windows 8 that prevents screensavers from drawing over an image of the desktop.  Any screensaver that previously drew over the desktop, such as Bubbles, will instead draw over a black background.  The screensaver preview is incorrectly showing Windows 7 behavior.

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Anonymous
2012-12-01T20:38:41+00:00

That was already answered above by a Microsoft Forum Moderator

"A design change was made in Windows 8 that prevents screensavers from drawing over an image of the desktop. Any screensaver that previously drew over the desktop, such as Bubbles, will instead draw over a black background. The screensaver preview is incorrectly showing Windows 7 behavior."

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-05-04T19:57:30+00:00

    I've created this workaround for "Bubbles Screensaver" with desktop background:

    Dowload this zip package: http://sdrv.ms/127i36S

    Unzip package in a temporary folder;

    Copy "BubblesBackground.scr" and "LaunchBubbles.exe" files in "**C:\Windows\System32**";

    Open "Task Scheduler" and create a new task with this parameters:

    General

       Name: Bubbles Background

    Triggers

       Begin the task: On an event

       Type: Basic

       Log: Windows PowerShell

       Source: PowerShell (PowerShell)

       Delay task for: 1 second (type it manually)

    Now select "BubblesBackground" screensaver with desired time delay.

    Issues:

    When the screensaver start, screen goes black for about a second.

    The screensaver also will start every time you start manually "Windows PowerShell",

    to take into consideration in the case where it's used frequently.

    The screensaver only works properly in desktop mode.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-03-30T10:47:00+00:00

    To Microsoft:

    Part of the question still remains unanswered..

    Ok, I know that it was chosent that bubbles will appear over a solid color screen based on what windows background was initially chosen or at least not over any image.

    but what i don't know is "why"?  why did Microsoft opt to do this in Windows 8 ??

    This is a step back, something less that can be done and I would just like to know why.

    "please, because there are so many mixed answers on here, please answer this question by replying to this post so i know it is this question you are addressing,  thanks"

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-03-11T14:39:29+00:00

    That was part of the aero theme--transparent windows-- which is not available on Windows 8.

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