right now I dont have a screensaver present, so the default is to power off the monitor (which freaks me out). When I open Screensaver preferences, it asks if i want to start it, I say yes, then i receive an error saying "the xscreensaver daemon didnt start properly". I enter a command but then it tells me to select "`File / Restart Daemon'.". I'm at a loss, where am I doing this? In the screensaver preferences there isnt a file menu to chose from to do this?

sounds like an error in x. you may need to reinstall...

doubt it is an error in x, probably a dependancy not met, or an error int he xscreensaver package or surce depending on what you used.

a real easy fix. i assume you're using gnome. you have to add the xscreensaver daemon to the start up programs list. i'm using redhat 7.3 so the exact location maybe different than 9.0

click the foot button > settings > sessions > session properties and start up programs

click the start up tab and then the add button. put in this command:

xscreensaver -nosplash

click apply and then ok. logout and save the current session. log in and the xscreensaver daemon should be up and running. if it isn't, make sure and check that the xscreensaver command is in the start up programs list and log out (saving the current session) and log back in.

also what version of xscreensaver are you running? the newest version is 4.12 and you can make rpms from the source tarballs.

I think I'm using knome as everything is Knome-ish, I dont have the little foot as the "start" button, but rather a hat. i'm in windoze right now so I'll switch over and try to do as you suggested