Windows Vista screen saver and monitor shutoff do not start

[realmadmartian]

I recently installed Windows Vista SP1 plus all updates, including optional ones. Unfortunately, neither the screen saver nor the power saving modes kick in, ever. I have the screen saver set to 5 minutes and the monitor shutoff set to 10 minutes. I set it to 10 minutes in all three profiles just in case. I read on the net there was a problem with wireless mice pre-SP1, but I have a wired mouse and I have SP1 plus any fixes since. Any ideas what could cause this? Is there any log file that will tell me what's keeping Vista active or a program that will log all activity and help me figure out what is making Vista think it's in use when it's not?

 

[auscanzukus]

Can you reproduce the same symptom in a newly created windows user account?

 

[realmadmartian]

I have some new information - I can start the screen saver manually and it stays on! It just won't start automatically and the monitor powerdown never happens.

I don't want to create another user account. I don't trust Vista to properly remove all traces of it.

 

[Zoron]

You can manually remove any "traces" Vista might leave behind... so you have nothing to be concerned about.

 

[alexville]

Can you reproduce the same symptom in a newly created windows user account?

I created a new user account and the screen saver worked! What should I do now?