Where are screen saver (.scr) configuration settings stored?

I found a Ken Burns Slideshow app in sourceforge I really like. To change settings, an .xml file is created the first time it is run if the .xml file is not located in the same directory. I changed the .exe extension to .scr, copied it to c:\windows\system32 and copied the config.xml file to the same directory. When I change the windows screen saver to use it, it does not find that config.xml and I am unable to save settings changes. Is it possible to use a screensaver file if it requires the use of another file?

Solution 1:

A screensaver, as with any Windows executable can store their config "anywhere" in any format they so choose (including the registry).

If the program is written to only store settings in a config.xml file in the "same" directory then that is what it will "try" to do. However, when run as a screensaver from C:\Windows\System32, it may not be able to determine the "correct" CWD or may not have permission to write there.

However, you can't necessarily turn a standard executable into a screensaver simply by changing its file extension. A screensaver is specifically written to respond to certain command line arguments in order to trigger the screensaver, config and preview windows. And to terminate on user interaction.