Madkows,

Thank you for using the Dell | Talk forum.

Try to turn off all other power management options, and background programs.
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Turn off the Power Management Features in Windows:

1. Click Start, then click Control Panel
2. Double-click Power Options. Then in the Power schemes
do the following.
3. In the Turn off hard disks box, click Never.
4. In the Turn off monitor box, click Never.
5. In the System standby box, click Never.
6. In the System hibernates box, click Never.
7. Click Apply, and then click OK.
8. Restart the computer.
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**Clearing the Startup Folder.**

Click on (Start,Programs,)
Find the (Startup) folder, and right click the mouse button over it.
You should get a small gray windows.
Go down to "Explore" and left click on "Explore"
You should get a "Startup" window that is split in two.
High light and delete all the icons on the right hand side of the Window.

**Using MSconfig to stop all background programs.**

Left-click on START | RUN.
Type in "msconfig" in the "Open" dialog box and left-click on "OK."
When the "System Configuration Utility" window appears, the "General" tab will be visible. Left-click on "Selective Startup."
Remove the check marks from each choice except "System.ini," by left clicking on the check marks.
Click the Startup tab.
Uncheck every entry.
Left-click on "Apply" and then left-click on "OK."
A message will appear stating that "For the changes to take place, the system must be restarted." Left-click on the "OK" button, and the system will begin the restart.

If the problem stops, then try using the steps below, to isolate the program that
is causing the problem.
Repeat the first couple steps above, but instead of un-checking the entries, re-check one entry at a time until you have identified the category that is the cause of the problem. After you have isolated the application, utility, or device driver that is causing the problem, you will be able to proceed with further troubleshooting. One of the easiest methods to attempt a resolution is to reinstall the problematic application or device driver. The entry causing the problem can be left disabled if it does not affect system operation.

**Delete old dos/legacy configuration files.**

Search the system for these files, delete them.
Autoexec.bat
Config.sys
Win.ini
-Delete "All" the files and folders in the ( C:\Windows\Temp ) and
( C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files ) folder.
Search the system for any ( *.TMP ) files, and delete them.

Thank you for posting this solution.  I went through all the steps and the one application that was causing the screen saver not to activate was the Dell Media Experience.  Once I left that unchecked in the startup tab and everything checked, the screen saver activated.  The only way I could get a "Normal" start up with the screen saver activating was to uninstall the Dell Media Experience.  I'm afraid to reinstall because I might get the same problem.  I haven't even been able to try the software but, oh well.  If there is a better idea, let me know.

Waldowaldn