Recommend me a screensaver, which actually saves my screen

[d123456]

XP laptop connected to my tv
The windows Screensaver is on and within 1 Minute should make the whole screen black.
I just came back from my neighbours after 2 hours and I have now what looks like serious burn in.
Normally I turn off my tv or switch it to an AV-Channel that doesn´t get any feed.
But every so once in a while something happens and you get distracted and you forget to turn the damn tv off (I should burn in hell!)
First of all, why didn´t the xp screensaver kick in? It works most of the times, like when say listening to music. But in this case I had a pdf opened in Firefox. That has now been burned in! There was no animation on the pdf nor was my mouse or keyboard moving.

But OK, I´d like a 3rd party screensaver that kicks in after 2 minutes just in case the windows default junkscreen saver decides to leave me hanging again.
Any recomendations? the screensaver should just display an all black screen so that the tv uses minimal power and doesn´t wear the tv out. My tv actually does not display anything if an all black screen is fed to the tv.

update; I just checked again and there doesn´t seem to be any real burn in, but what if I would have been gone longer? Anyway, I´d still like a recommended screen saver. Thanks

[BoringSupreez]

Some programs create constant input, making it so that the screensaver can't kick in. You could try closing all your windows when you aren't using them.

[Hobie-wan]

With the exception of maybe an old projection TV, it takes days and days of an unchanging image to really burn something in. As for why your screen didn't blank, do you have your mouse set extremely sensitively? Is something making your desk vibrate? Your PC, a fan, loud music playing, someone walking in the room if the floor moves on an upper floor, vehicles passing outside?

[Jontendo]

CRT or LCD TV? LCDs can have "image retention" which looks like burn-in, but goes away after a power cycle or two.

Otherwise, if you're going to be away long enough for burn-in to take place, I think the power button makes a great screensaver.

[Nemoide]

That's really weird to get burn-in after only two hours. Also, I'm fairly sure that having all black will actually not protect the screen; the key to screen protection is having the display change. I would recommend just turning the monitor off when you're not using it.

As for specific screensaver recommendations,I'm partial to the Tokidoki screensaver. But something generic like "moving stars" or "moving lines" should work just as well.

But what monitor are you using? Because it really shouldn't be an issue unless you're using something unusual.

[CRTGAMER]

Most add on screensavers communicate or tie in with the Windows Screensaver. I like using an oldie called Marine Aquarium made by Serene Scene, a pleasant background when the computer sits for a while. Both Mac and PCs get the fish treatment.

Agree with BoringSupreez and Hobie. Maybe there is a program running that is set to "Always on Top' circumventing your screensaver. That or a very sensitive mouse getting bumped by vibration.

[Jontendo]

That's really weird to get burn-in after only two hours. Also, I'm fairly sure that having all black will actually not protect the screen; the key to screen protection is having the display change. I would recommend just turning the monitor off when you're not using it.

All black would be acceptable. The problem is static images with differing contrasts. Displaying for an extended time wears the screen phosphor unevenly in a very noticeable way (in CRTs).

Solid-black would avoid any hot-spots and wear minimally and evenly. Even just turning the contrast way down (as some screensavers do) protects against burn-in for the shorter term. Turning the TV off entirely is still the most effective way to minimize screen wear, of course.