Alan Gilfoy wrote:

I am a standard level user on a computer running Win XP with a Pentium 4 processor.

I go to Control Panel / Appearances And Themes / Display, and then I go to the Screen Saver tab.

Of course, SETI @ Home is selected as my screensaver. I click on the Settings button, check the 'go to blank screen' box, and type in 5 for minutes. I click OK.

Now here's the problem: The computer does not recognize this new setting, and thus, the screensaver does not go to blank screen.

There is an annoying added level of complexity to window such as the Screen Saver tab -- nothing is changed until the "Apply" button at the bottom is pressed.  Using the OK button to exit throwns all changes away.  The Apply button will be darkened if there have been no changes.