IDEA: Allow display of program output even when Windows Desktop is locked

[rd_online]

I have a PC that runs Windows7 Pro SP1, and has 2 DVI monitors attached to it, and one HDMI monitor.  I use the HDMI monitor to display video camera output, while the other two monitors serve as desktop for other windows programs I run (Outlook, Word, etc).  The HDMI monitor is a large, wall-mounted Samsung TV.

At our location, all of our PCs are governed by a group policy which causes a password-protected screen-saver to start after 15 minutes of inactivity.  When the screen saver starts, the monitors connected to the PC all go blank, and the PC is locked.   When CTRL+ALT+DELETE is pressed and a password is entered, the attached displays return to whatever they were showing prior to the screen saver starting.

I am looking for a solution which will continue to display (whatever is on) the HDMI monitor even when the screensaver is running.   Put another way, whenever the PC is locked I still want the video camera output displayed on the HDMI monitor.

Anyone know of a (free) program to do this?

[skwire]

Hi, rd_online, and welcome to the DonationCoder site.   

I am looking for a solution which will continue to display (whatever is on) the HDMI monitor even when the screensaver is running.   Put another way, whenever the PC is locked I still want the video camera output displayed on the HDMI monitor.
Anyone know of a (free) program to do this?

-rd_online (January 02, 2019, 02:11 PM)

Interesting idea, but I'm not sure if it's possible.  Let's see if anybody else has any ideas.

[mouser]

The easiest way would be a custom screensaver designed to display the contents of another window (or specifically the video camera).  Or maybe a screensaver that selectively blanks only certain screens.. Are you allowed to set a custom screensaver of your own choosing?

[skwire]

Are you allowed to set a custom screensaver of your own choosing?

-mouser (January 02, 2019, 08:05 PM)

Based on the OP's original statement of...

At our location, all of our PCs are governed by a group policy which causes a password-protected screen-saver to start after 15 minutes of inactivity.

-rd_online (January 02, 2019, 02:11 PM)

...I'd say, probably not.   

[Ath]

Put another way, whenever the PC is locked I still want the video camera output displayed on the HDMI monitor.

-rd_online (January 02, 2019, 02:11 PM)

That is not possible, by design, of Windows being locked...

It is kind of possible using specific screen managing software like DisplayFusion, but that doesn't lock windows, and seeing that the screensaver is managed by a windows group policy, it is fairly unlikely he's allowed to install that.

[4wd]

Use a splitter on the camera output, feed one to the computer as usual, the other to a spare input on the HDMI monitor, (through any required adapter/converter).
The monitor will auto-switch to the active input when the computer locks.

[rd_online]

The replies so far are correct: we are not allowed to install custom screen savers.   As far as using a splitter - the cameras are not physically connected to my workstation.  Rather, I use a vendor-supplied program to view the output of the cameras, and it is this program that I was hoping to (still) display on the large monitor when the desktop screensaver kicks in.

Maybe I'll investigate the custom screensaver idea or look into programs designed to manage multiple monitors and see if they have this ability...

[4wd]

If the output from the cameras is required to be monitored all the time, why aren't they on their own system?
Or, at least, why isn't the policy of the computer set to something suitable for its task.

Or something like a Intel Compute Stick, (or similar), running the vendor program on Windows 10 in kiosk mode plugged into a HDMI port - kiosk mode will allow it to run on top of the lock screen.

[Deozaan]

Another workaround (which your IT department will hate): Get one of those "mouse jiggle" programs to keep the screensaver from turning on.

[4wd]

LowToSleep and set it at 1% CPU activity.

[mouser]

LowToSleep and set it at 1% CPU activity.

-4wd (January 04, 2019, 01:04 AM)

Decades from now we will still be re-discovering old skrommel utilities that we forgot existed..