Screen Saver On When Logged out

Question

Hi, all,
We have 4 iMacs at work that are bound to the domain via AD. I've configured them such that when a student is logged on, if 15 minutes of idle time has passed, the Shell screen saver will turn on. All four are doing this correctly.
However, one of the iMacs turns on the Shell screensaver when a user is logged out of the computer. The other 3 are not turning on the Shell screen saver when a student is logged out -- which is what I want.
I have configured the iMacs and have customized the default profile, English.lproj file, and backed up the original. I use the customized profile for students.
Suggestions on why this is happening? Thnx in advance.

Answer 1

From my experience, I don't believe that you can activate the screen saver from the login window. If you don't have external devices that prevent it, the Mac eventually goes to sleep. There seem to be few work around options.
In the Accounts System Preferences, under Login Options, you can choose to have the Restart, Shutdown and Sleep buttons available in the login window. Then instruct everyone to Sleep the Mac when they log out.
If you prefer the Screen Saver, the other option is to go to the Security System Preferences and use Require password to wake this computer from sleep or screensaver. Then in the Desktop and Screen Saver Preferences under Screen Saver set up a hotcorner(s) which imediately activates the Screen Saver when the mouse is rolled to that corner(s). Then leave the Mac signed into an account and have folks always activate the Screen Saver when the Mac is idle. You can reinforce that by setting the Screen Saver to self activate after a very short period. But having to enter a password gets old to some folks if the Screen Saver activates too quickly, too often. You don't mention your setting, whether these are family accounts or a work environment. Security has its importance in both settings!
I don't have multiple accounts on my Mac, so I can't test whether those work arounds need to be set in each individual account or just the Admin Account.