OS X 10.6: Run old screen savers on Snow Leopard

With Snow Leopard the ScreenSaverEngine application is a 32/64-bit binary, and if your system supports it will run in 64-bit mode. This means that any screen savers without 64-bit code will not run, and this is primarily old unsupported screen savers.
To get screen savers with only 32-bit code in them to run ScreenSaverEngine must be forced to run in 32-bit mode only.
One way to accomplish this it to remove the 64-bit portion completely:
First backup the ScreenSaverEngine app to somewhere safe, it's located at:

/System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Resources/

Then run this command from a terminal under an account with Admin rights:

sudo lipo -remove x86_64 /System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Resources/ScreenSaverEngine.app/Contents/MacOS/ScreenSaverEngine -output /System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Resources/ScreenSaverEngine.app/Contents/MacOS/ScreenSaverEngine

Removing the 64-bit portion of the ScreenSaverEngine has no apparent disadvantages; it runs fine by opening it from the Finder, having the screen saver activate on a timer, through a hot corner, etc.
One issue that will occur is that System Preferences will still run in 64-bit mode, and so will not allow you to select a screen saver that only includes 32-bit code. Handling this is much simpler:
Open the /Applications folder in the Finder.
Then Get Info (Cmd+I) on System Preferences.

Image via Wikipedia

Tick the Open in 32-bit mode tick box.
Opening System Preferences should give you a window titled 'System Preferences (32-bit).' Now you should be able to select the screen saver from the list.

[crarko adds: I haven't tested this one.]

Source: macworld.com
Nov 05, '10 07:30:00AM

Contributed by: melby.ruarus

Disclaimer: If you choose to use this tip you do so at your own risk, no liability is accepted.

think-act-do

Wednesday, November 10, 2010