Xubuntu 8.04 - Gnome-Power-Management settings have no effect

[jimmy the saint]

In Xubuntu 8.04 the Gnome-power-manager seems to have no affect on the system regardless of which settings are applied. I use a thinkpad t61. There are many threads in the forums that I believe stem from this issue so I believe it is a wider issue than just my laptop model. Specifically, threads regarding an inability to set a password prompt to be enabled upon awakening from suspend. Gconf-editor has no impact. This occurs with the default install. Settings attempted include "dim screen when inactive" "turn off screen after X minutes" and others. The lock screen when screensaver is active has no effect either. It really appears that gnome power manager has no impact whatsoever.

[tetsuo29 (russell-martin)]

I would like to confirm that I am having this problem with Xubuntu 8.04. Screen blanks after a few minutes of inactivity and none of the screen saver or power management settings have any effect on this. It's kind of embarrassing since I swapped out a working Windows 2K box with an Xubuntu box and I have been touting the benefits of Linux over Windows and now something as simple as the screen saver and power management settings don't work.

[tetsuo29 (russell-martin)]

I think that the following how-to (from http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=854557) fixes this problem:

HOW: Applications>settings manager> click on Autostarted apps button.
click add. give it a name, a description and for command type
"gnome-screensaver". click ok and then CTRL-ALT-BACKSPACE. log back in and your power settings will actually work, including suspend password, screensaver and whatever screen settings you have selected.

It's only been about 30 min. since I followed those directions, but my screen has yet to blank.