Linux Screensavers for Microsoft Windows / Blog: Recent posts

Release 3 is the 'best so far'. Now you can put your logo on the boot splash screen and wallpaper by following instructions here https://developer.ibm.com/tutorials/awb-build-linux-dist-as-a-ms-windows-screen-saver/ , and the boot time has been improves from something like 9 minutes to 3 minutes .

If you want to run the open source games or educational software under WSL2 instead of as a screensaver, there are 2 scripts in https://sourceforge.net/p/linux-screensavers-for-windows/screensavers/ci/bookworm/tree/bin/ which will help.

First clone the repo with git clone git://git.code.sf.net/p/linux-screensavers-for-windows/screensavers. You should issue the git clone command in directory ~/eclipse-workspace in a Debian WSL2 session.... read more

I have updated the screensavers in respect of the recent release of Debian 12 . The new zip files are in the "release2" directory; as before.

QemuSaverOpen needs installing first and then QemuSaverOpenGames should be installed if you want another screensaver.

Some packages which were in Debian 11 are no longer in Debian 12; I have dropped these from the screensavers, but this makes little practical difference.... read more

Just realised I have not given instructions fro how to set up these screensavers.

It is quite simple; first download the zip files, then use 'Extract All' in the Windows file explorer on them.
After that, run the installer exe to install the screensavers. You need the educational one because it contains some files; the games one is optional.
Then go to the Windows screensaver selection screen, and select 'fr2' or 'gk2' as appropriate.... read more

I have uploaded the previous generation of screensavers, mostly as they existed in 2005 but some constructed at dates between then and now, to the release0 directory. I do not have all the source code for these, so if challenged to make source code for these available I would have to discontinue distributing them.
The current generation of screensavers is in the release1 directory. All the source for these is in the Debian repository.

If you want to run a full-speed proper Linux, unzip the zip file and you will find an 'iso' file in the 'extras' directory. Burn this to a USB storage key; you will need the size of the USB key to be at least 16 GB; and then boot your PC from the USB key. There is a suitable utility for creating bootable USB keys on Windows here https://rufus.ie/en/ ; on Linux you can use the dd command.

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Linux as a Screensaver for Windows: The Gift of Open Source Games and SBOMs for the Holidays

Author: Chris Ward, Sr. Programmer, IBM
Co-author: Nirav Patel, Vice President and Chief Architect, Linux Foundation
Co-author: Eun Kyung Lee, Manager Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure Software Research, IBM

Construct and package a Linux® Live DVD to install using the standard Microsoft® Windows® install process and operate as a classic Windows screensaver.
Introduction... read more