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Johnny Castaway doesn't run automatically

Hello there,

I installed the screensaver unsing the new installer.exe. This is working and the screensaver shows up where I have to choose them all. Clicking the preview it makes weird stuff within a second and it's running. But it's not running automatically. Then just nothing happens like I didn't choose any screensaver.

I installed it on a Windows 7 x64 system.
I also want to install it on a Windows 10 x64 system later for someone who really likes this one, I want to ask about the problem and how to solve.

Thanks in advance :)
Ronny

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How to run Johnny Castaway on Windows 64-bit

Ronny3 years agoWindows 7 x64, Google Chrome

15 replies

I've tested it just now on Windows 7 and on Windows 10, and it seems to be working on both computers. What's your wait time set to in the Screen Saver Settings panel? I understand nothing happens when that wait time has elapsed?
I set it to 1 minute, clicked "Apply", and on both computers the screensaver popped up after 1 minute of inactivity. Don't worry about the "weird stuff", it's necessary to get this very old screensaver working on modern computers.
Rob (Screensavers Planet)3 years ago
Yes, did as well. In Win 7 I go to the options where I can change sounds, wallaper, screensavers and more it already says that no screensaver is selected although I did of course and saved.
Meanwhile it's working actually after I installed new. BUT when I changed the time back from 1 minute to 20 minutes the options had this problem again: no screensaver selected. In the windows folder I searched for johnny castaway.exe again, right click and said "install" so it switched back to the options where I can select a screensaver. Saving again and the options where I can select sounds, wallpaper etc. showed "Johnny Castaway" as selected screensaver again. This is actually weird. It seems like whenever I change the screensaver options the system is not able to detect it as selected. No idea why.
Ronny3 years ago
Yes, that's strange. I'm familiar with screensavers dropping out of the Screen Saver Settings panel when they're placed outside the Windows folder, but you've already confirmed that the file is inside the Windows folder. It's probably installed into C:\Windows\SysWOW64 folder. I suppose you could try copying it to C:\Windows and/or C:\Windows\system32, those are the three folders Windows checks for screensavers.
Still, if it always appears in the list, it should remember that it's selected, I'm not sure what might go wrong there. If it's annoying, you could have a look at step 5 of the tutorial and use the Screen Launcher utility to launch the screensaver. You would then point it either to C:\JohnCast\DOSBox.exe or C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Johnny Castaway.scr.
Hope that helps!
Rob (Screensavers Planet)3 years ago
Well, it doesn't really help. I copied the Johnny Castaway.scr to both folders. Still the same: When changing any screensaver option or selecting a different screensaver and save, it doesn't detect the Castaway anymore when I select this one again. I always have to make the right click the Johnny Castaway.scr and say install, landing in those options, save and then windows realizes what to do.
I also downloaded this Screen Launcher, copied it to the Windows folder. So I can select it in those screensaver options and browse for the Johnny Castaway.scr ... but then my screensaver options show me like three things: "Johnny Castaway", "PJohnny Castaway" and also "Screen Launcher". Selecting the last one means a black screen only, preview not possible. The "PJohnny Castaway" has a preview, after saving the options and having a look again there, the normal "Johnny Castaway" is selected. And of course the options before - where to select wallpaper, sound etc. - shows only that no screensaver is detected. So I have to "install" again via right click on Johnny Castaway.scr .... too weird.
Ronny3 years ago
Sorry, that's my fault, I completely forgot to mention that if you point Screen Launcher at a screensaver file, e.g. "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Johnny Castaway.scr", then you need to add " /s" (space, forward slash, s) at the end.
So the full line would be:
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Johnny Castaway.scr /s
The /s parameter tells it to run the screensaver.
Alternatively, you could point it directly to DOSBox in the JohnCast folder:
C:\JohnCast\DOSBox.exe
No idea why something like "PJohnny Castaway" would show up, to be honest!
Anyway, hope this does the trick.
Rob (Screensavers Planet)3 years ago
Actually with this /s the Screen Launcher works ... at the same time the "PJohnny Castaway" changes its name to "PScreen Launcher" as the third option between the normal Johnny and the Screensaver.
But although the preview works with this, the problems is still the same: selecting something else and it doesn't detect and I have to right-click again and say "install". I wonder what's the problem.
Ronny3 years ago
So you've set up Screen Launcher, confirmed that it works on preview, clicked "OK" to close the panel, and then the next time you open up the Screen Saver panel and select a different screensaver, the Screen Launcher disappears from the list?
Does this happen with every screensaver you've installed?
Rob (Screensavers Planet)3 years ago
It's still in the list but when I choose it again it won't work anymore. So I have to seach for Johnny Castaway.scr again, right click, install ... it sends me to the screensaver options, saying OK and then it works again.
Actually it doesn't matter which one: Screen Launcher or Johnny Castaway.
Ronny3 years ago
Very strange, I'm not sure what to make of that.
Hopefully once you've gotten the screensaver working again, it will at least continue to work for a while (until you switch to a different screensaver).
If Screen Launcher doesn't really add anything here, you might as well delete it.
Rob (Screensavers Planet)3 years ago
I guess it's really only working like that. So Screen Launcher doesn't seem to work her, although I'm thinking about if it is able to start other files also - well, since flash is gone and all my screensavers don't work anymore while those swf-files are still there. So I can watch those swf-files like a video here but can't use those scr-files of thehm as a screensaver anymore.
Ronny3 years ago
Not at this time, no. I am still looking at possible workarounds for simple SWF-based screensavers, and hopeful that I'll be able to convert a few of them soon.
Rob (Screensavers Planet)3 years ago
Found out that there is something called "ruffle". It must me pretty new and they are trying to create something being a Flash emulator, I think.
About Johnny Castaway, also had two errors meanwhile. One is a blackscreen when I interrupt and there this flashing _ sign. Only this crlt+alt+del works to get back. Today also my screen was freezing while playing the screensaver and I had to restart my computer. That's a bit annoying actually.
Ronny3 years ago
Yes, ruffle looks quite promising, but I tried a few Flash files I pulled from various screensavers and most did not run properly. It's probably going to take a while before it's fully compatible with all Flash animations. But I'll keep an eye on it!
I'm sorry you keep having trouble with Johnny Castaway. Next time you get the screen with the flashing underscore, try pressing Control + C or Control + F9.
Rob (Screensavers Planet)3 years ago
I'm also having a lot of screensavers from SEGA, such old stuff like Phantasy Star Online/Universe, Otogi, Sonic and some from the older Mega Drive / Genesis Colelction. Nothing works anymore - it's pretty sad.
Ronny3 years ago
Also had an "application error" today with an Okay-Button. I clicked on it, then this black screen with this "flashing _" appeared again. Here Control + F9 helped to get back to the normal screen.
Ronny3 years ago