I figured out what is wrong with the screensaver. Nothing! I am on windows 7 and I have all the problems as the others and the solution came by accident. My laser mouse run out of batteries, I did not replace them immediately, but continued working with the other mouse (wireless, but not laser) and the screen saver run on time and with no problems at all! As soon as I put a recharged pair of batteries in my laser mouse and activate it, the screensaver did not run. So, if you have a laser mouse, it is the one who keeps the computer active.

Image is too static. the yellow border burned in quite quickly on my wide screen LCD monitor.
Although LCDs do not suffer from burn in, they can suffer from persistence which is pretty much the same as CRT burn-in except the phantom image will fade away over time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_persistence

[quote]
@27: OldFart
"Mike’s posts are welcome here. His explanation, posted after your comment, clearly shows that YOU are the one who doesn’t know what you are talking about and don’t have your facts straight."
[/quote]

Well, no. Actually the criticism I made is not addressed in the second post at all. Read the recommendations in His second post. They are mostly for imaging software. Not data recovery software. The criticism I made was that his referrals are bogus. They are for the most part about a different type of software.

On a different topic::

Im not commenting on the quality of this app as I havent used it. There are two recommendations above which I endorse: Spinrite (which is an excellent app, but a different category of program to the WGXE) and R-Studio, which is a killer data recovery app that does what WGXE is attempting to do, but as well or better than anything available. Its the stand out product in this category in my estimation.

On the subject of price for data recovery apps, R-Studio is $79.99 USD. GetDataBack is $69USD for the FAT version and $79 for the NTFS version. Spinrite is $89USD

So, yes $80-90 is about the ballpark for a decent data recovery app (in the case of spinrite, hdd maintenance app).

If I was spending money on a data recovery suite, my picks would be these three apps. It looks like Mike's point about WXGE's price is correct, (although it was stated prematurely as he obviously hadnt tried the product before making it).

From the feedback above, it looks like WXGE is not mature, and its comparative effectiveness is questionable. It will really need to prove itself in the IT-repair community before it would be rightly priced at the same level as the apps I mention above.

Try their solar system one....It is the best I've come across, ever!

Pros
- Fairly sort of easy and kinda good to use
- Bright colors go good with "X"

Cons
- Kinda a resource hog I think (but not really sure)
- Can't resize window very good (usually runs full screen)

Corny screen saver but I like it. I'll leave until I need the disk space. Kids'll like it as will kids-at-heart.

@14 You can get burn in on an LCD. I've done it. Plasma is worse. CRT is actually harder than plasma or LCD to burn in.

Works fine but doesn't have much appeal. The turtle is great and the fish are not bad but the rest of that particular scene is not really artistic.

It is cute, but the fish moved kinda jerky. Also you need to be able to pick which screen to use as it seems to pick one at random everytime it comes up. And I agree it needs the full screen option. Sorry but not a keeper for me and I do like different screensavers.

Nice eye candy for children. Installed on 32bit vista without a problem. I went to publishers site and looked at others, they seem to have nice products

Excellent.
the music is perfect
turtles doing the backstroke
A Major Stress Reliever for me

If I only get that Runtime Error C+++, what can I do to see the aquarium?
Thanx!

This 'screen saver' loads very slowly with a static image, which wont save your screen, and then has some fish moving over another static screen which also wont save very much of your screen! It also has a massive digital time display which will also not save your screen.
The whole point of a 'screen saver' is to keep the entire screen moving so that it doesnt suffer from burn.
Now as we all know, lcd and led screens dont burn, so a screen saver on a moden disply pannel has nothing to save!
So what exactly is the point? Or do we all have orange or green monochrome crt's?

Astro Gemini is certainly capable of putting out great screensavers. Atlantis 3D (which was once a free bonus for completing the Atlantis Match 3 game) is absolutely stunning and we still have it on our computers. If you're looking for a realistic under the sea experience, I would highly recommend that one. Also they make some really good Halloween themed ones (hint, hint Astro-Gemini ;-) that are VERY well done. And, you can get a better deal by buying one of the packages priced from $29.95 or one for $49.95 with ALL their screensavers. Even though you won't like every one, you'll certainly have enough to choose from and like enough that the package will be worth it.

This one is not as bad as some reviews make it, but is probably going to be more popular with young children. It reminds me a lot of the Ozzy turtle scroller games once given away here. I wondered about the screenshots showing "people" on the ocean floor, but in the program, it becomes clear that these are aquarium decorations. I do agree that this should be available to wide-screen as most monitors are that size.

One thing I did like is it *seems* that AG has gotten away from forcing their screensaver manager on you. Just an single shortcut to run the screensaver from your desktop and it will set the newest screensaver installed as your default (as every screensaver program does.) #6 obviously never tried this screensaver before commenting about the manager.

#18 The temp folder is just a folder where files go while installing. I clearly saw it being installed into Windows/System32 where screensavers are normally installed. Check your directory--it's in there.

Cute little screensaver. Does exactly what the description says.

#10: "... But I cant get rid of the sounds at all..."

Start up Regedit, look for "[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Astro Gemini Software\Fishdom H2O - Screensaver]", and make sure "EnableMusic"=dword:00000000

Fun Aquarium 3D Screensaver is a bit different than the traditional .scr files placed in Windows' system folder... It un-zips itself into your temp folder in a sub-folder named: "4A8CEB0C-FC4B-4c41-B9E0-53F6AEA9834F". That it does so is no big deal, & if you delete that folder the screen saver will just put it back next time it's run. Knowing that you could do things like make it portable, copy/rename the folder & trigger the Fishdom H2O.exe file however and so on.

It wouldn't run in 7's XP Mode VM because of a Microsoft C++ runtime error. After running it 7's registry lists it as Direct 3D. To me that suggests not all systems will be able to run the screensaver, so some with lower power PC/Laptops/Netbooks may want to set a Restore Point &/or backup their system or registry etc... it wouldn't be critical, but more a matter of personal preference as registry impact is very light. Installation puts a folder under Program Files by default, that just holds an .html [web] page & it's graphics -- the main part of the app is the "Fun Aquarium 3D Screensaver.scr" placed in Windows' system folder (& which might just be a .7z [7zip] file). Installation adds an "Astro Gemini Software" key to HKCU\Software & one key with un-install data -- when you run the screensaver, Windows updates a few registry entries for things like last used D3D app & some audio settings.

As others have noted Fun Aquarium 3D Screensaver is cute -- not everyone does cute [or this sort of cute anyway], so look at the screenshots 1st... my wife will like it -- either of my sons would likely sniff my coffee cup. ;-)

If this works on Windows 7 I'll use it. I had to take off all their other screensavers because I couldn't get them to work on Windows 7.

I for one do not use screensavers. I just turn the monitor off (cheap and saves on the electric bill). But my kids say this download and had me load it. I was a little leery do to the fact that any software that plays with my ATI video software and messes with my Aton 2 (thankyou GOTD!) usually screws-up my desktop when it returns. But I give great kudos to Astro Gemini. They got it right!! Will keep! and at $7.96 my kids would have made me buy it anyway! THX

Installed Ok on Win7 x64 but when I disabled sounds, all I got was sound of water (very fast running water too!), no screensaver. I had to change to a different screensaver to get back to the control settings and then a new instance of the screensaver started, so I ended up with four sets of sounds even though I had turned all sounds off! Had to use task mgr to terminate. As far as the tank, it is `supposed to be a FUN tank folks! Not sure about the 3-D claim though, as Ididn`t come with 3-D glasses! Just wish it worked as advertised! Un-installing....

I know my neice will love this screensaver with its bright colours.
As for some of the daft comments above it is as it says a fun aquarium not a realistic one.
The problem with astro gemini is that some of there screensavers do not work at all on windows 7 this one does but go to there site and download the windmill one and try and run on windows 7 32 or 64 bit it doesn't work along with a few others so if you spent the 50 dollars for the all package you will end up with a package that only halve work a dent in your pocket and frustratiom installing and uninstaling the none working ones.
So thank god for demenoid pirate bay etc for the bit torrents so you can test fully before you buy.
If you do read this any one from astro gemini you should make sure that all your screensavers work on any new operatimg system and fix or scrap the ones that don't because if you don't it becomes very unprofessional.
Zolta

Sorry, all - the correct link for the free screensavers site is: New Free Screensavers

Mini Review:

Smooth download, installation, and activation on Vista x32 OS. The program provides the following features:

(1) Set FPS
(2) Enable/Disable Time Display
(3) Time Display is in: 12-hour, 24-hour formats
(4) Exit (or not Exit) on Mouse Control Movements
(5) Enable/Disable Music and Sound
(6) Set Music/Sound volume levels
(7) Nice, bright, colorful pretty colors
Three suggestions for improvement:

(1) make animations more realistic - although they are adorable and fun to watch (especially for those of us who love such screensavers).

(2) allow edit/settings options where user can adjust the number of fishes and other animations to vary in number, color, etc.

(3) although $7.96 is a very reasonable price, there are equally nice freeware screensaver alternatives on the market.



Summary - although limited in nature, the screensaver is cute, colorful, and fun to watch - thanks, GOTD & Astro Gemini.

Freeware Option:

New Free Screensavers (100% Free & Safe)-and offers users option of downloading toolbars, on an OPT-IN basis.

screensavers, have only any real use on a CRT monitor, to stop the burn-in image on the screen

Main rule for choosing screensavers:

"If the screensaver is not made by 3planesoft, then it's already considered "crap" before you even try it."

NO way would I waste 50 mb of space for this thing . the graphics are terrible and even though it is a cartoon they are bad drawings, I would suggest they look for better graphics or artists . the settings has nothing for you to change it is all set except for some dry changes that would actually change nothing. the fish are not changeable nor is the back ground it is not worth the money they are asking, maybe if the graphics improved and the settings were improved so you could actually see something different it might have a chance , screen savers are about a thing of the past .

The program downloaded without a hitch. Yes there are black strips down the side, but I am used to the look. (I keep my screen that way in normal mode to highlight my desktop icons.) I think the cartoon effect was cute and it made me smile. Something that can do that has my vote. The music was light and upbeat. The program also returned to my desktop with a click. Other screensavers I have tried, glitched and put me into sleep mode when clicked - very frustrating.

I would love to find a realistic aquarium screensaver in the future and might well purchase one should Astro Gemini prove the developer (please include shadows, it's the main downfall of all the realistic types I have seen). For now, Thanks GOTD and Astro Gemini. I will be keeping this one.

Slight caveat is that I've just moved the sound and music sliders to the left and un-ticked the enable sound and music check boxes. But I cant get rid of the sounds at all. The animations are lovely, but the sound ends up annoying and since I cant turn them off as the controls dont work I'm uninstalling.

Animations 10/10
Controls 3/10 due to sound controls not working.

Lovely screensaver. Not your typical "aquarium" on a screen. Instead of trying to be the same, this one is a little more "cartoony" and the fish have wonderful expressions in a "finding nemo" kind of way. My 3 yr old hasn't stopped staring at it...he's mesmerised.

runs on win7 home edtion (64bit) but doesn't have the option to goto wide screen :( as a result, I was left with a large black area on both sides on the screen saver.

I'm sure that many people will miss the point of this screensaver. It isn't intended to be realistic; it's a whimsical, colorful, busy screensaver. There are 3 aquariums, similar in style, some of the fish are the same and some are different, all with different background music. It's more 2D than 3D. I found the different music tracks to be reasonably pleasant. There are a few unique little touches in each aquarium. I waited a while, and it doesn't appear to switch aquariums automatically, you randomly get one of the three when the screensaver starts.

The install was clean. I noticed that Astro Gemini is offering their entire collection of 3D screensavers for $50, which is a major price reduction.

People always post lots of nonsense when screensavers are offered. If you have some kind of moral objection, keep it to yourself and skip the offering. Screensavers are fully compatible with Windows power management. Personally, I don't use screensavers as such, but as on-demand relaxing animations. People will claim that modern displays don't burn. That's absolutely false. All display technologies, whether phosphor-based, LED, OLED, etc., will get dimmer with use. LCD's have a backlight. LCD's themselves can retain images due to charge buildup across the LCD cells, although the phenomenon isn't permanent. LCD"s require more power to display black, as it takes current to activate the LCD cells, and the backlight remains on (an all-black "on" display may be an exception if you have a variable backlight, which is common for LED backlights). This Astro Gemini screensaver isn't great for preventing image retention, because portions are static, it has a static border, and some display aspect ratios will result in black bounding columns.

People have all sorts of different display hardware and drivers. Using the latest nVidia drivers with a 9800 GT running at 1920x1200, this rendered easily on my PC. As a whimsical and fun screensaver, I think this is OK.

I love Astro Gemini Screensavers! And its great that the screensaver manager manages all your screensavers, not only their own products.

Only idea/suggestion I can make is offer more of them, and repeat some of the older offers. I would love to have Dinosaurs, the planet ones, and a few other past giveaways on my new Windows 7 pc.

Interestingly, I've been trying to learn how to create my own reef aquarium screensaver from photos of reef tanks I've taken, but have been too busy to devote enough time to the project to make much progress.

thanks for the free software...for kids

Weirdly, while this downloaded and installed fine on my Windows 7 pc, when I downloaded it on my XP machine using IE8, when I opened the archive with WinRar, I kept getting "unexpected end of archive" errors.

I then tried to download and execute the installation using the current Firefox build. Same thing. FINALLY I had Firefox open the program and launch it instead of having Firefox download it first and THEN it finally came up with the setup window instead of archive error messages.

I have no idea why it installed on Windows 7 without a hitch, but was so problematic when installed on the XP machine.

With the Vista laptop, it took a couple of trys to get it to install, first time it activated but after a long time the setup window still hadn't come up although it showed in taskmanager. So I did as I did on 7, opened it from the webpage instead of downloading it first and then it ran setup fine.

Works on Win7 HP, though it isn't wide screen. Music, sounds and clock are OK; but the graphics are a bit cartoon like. Not one of their better screen savers.

As you can tell by the screenshots it's a silly cartoon-like aquarium. The music is good and tropical (steel drums, etc.) I like that you have the option to turn the music off or down. As far as the water sound, it sounds more like a strong wind blowing on a microphone. My toddler will probably get a kick out of it. It's been around a decade since I have really been into screen savers. If I were to purchase an aquarium screen saver I would get Dream Aquarium. It's like having a real aquarium, you can add fish, remove them, even feed them and the water sound is as real as it gets but it's $20 USD.

Cute, but a little too cartoonish for my taste. I get a similar screensaver from the "Fishdom" game.