what's the difference between a lock screen and a screensaver

Lock screen is the state of Windows where it remains locked. Your device enters the lock screen when your device is in sleep mode, or after you turn ON your device. You enter your password in the lockscreen mode, just like in an Android device (or say, every other OS).

Screensaver is the mode where the display shows some animations to prevent your display from going black when it's left inactive for a while. It's similar to Android's daydream, nothing much to define it.

Neither a lock screen nor a screen saver will prevent your backup program - or any other program - from continuing to run. But if you set your power options to sleep, hibernate or power off after a specified length of time, that will stop all programs from running.

It's certainly confusing, so I'll explain:

A lock screen and a screen saver are overlays - images that are placed 'on top' of your desktop, but they are used for different reasons. A lockscreen image is intended to prevent passers-by from seeing what's on your desktop - it's a privacy thing. The reason it's called a lock screen is because it's normally password-protected, so the overlaid image is 'locked' in place until you enter the password. Your computer continues to run normally with a lockscreen.

A screen saver is a moving image intended to prevent burn-in on old CRT monitors. You can password-protect a screen saver also, if you want to. Like with a lock screen, your computer continues to run normally with a screen saver.

The power options (Control Panel > Power Options) are different. Their purpose is to reduce your computer's use of electricity. You need to be careful here, because many power options are setup by your computer manufacturer at their factory, so it's worthwhile to go over these settings yourself.

One way that your computer can save electricity is to power off the monitor after X minutes. Even when the monitor is powered off, your computer is still working, and all your programs are still running. You just can't see them.

However, if you set the power options to power off your hard drive, or to 'sleep' the computer, or to hibernate the computer, that will bring all processing activity to a close, and your programs will stop running.

(To see the full extent of the power options, you'll need to be signed in to an Administrator account.)

Hi ShadetreeSam, I am Rob, an Independent Advisor not affiliated with Microsoft and a 15 time and dual award Microsoft MVP specializing in Windows troubleshooting and Bluescreen analysis. Please remember as independents we are not responsible for the development of Windows or the computer hardware and drivers. If you will work with me I will be here to help until the issue is resolved.

A lock screen is a screen on your computer that displays when you lock the screen.

Start - click your User Name - then click "Lock" to see it.

A Screen Shot is an image you make of your screen using "Snipping Tool", "Snip & Sketch", or a 3rd party utility.

Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/use...

Windows Experience Blog - Windows 10 Tip: Snip & Sketch

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/201...

Here to help,

Rob

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Hi Rob,

I asked this question because I'm having a problem with my computer shutting down while my backup program is running.

I'm running the current version of Windows 10 64-bit on a Dell XPS 15 9560 laptop:

I've tried adjusting the power options, but I don't seem to be able to keep the computer from shutting down. Here are some screenshots of the settings I changed. (I keep the computer plugged in when I run the backup program.)

Power Settings:

Power Plan Settings:

Advanced Slideshow Settings:

Screensaver Settings:

I'm pretty sure I'm missing something, but I don't know what. I'd really appreciate any suggestions you might have.

Thanks very much,

--Ralph