[AClockWorkLemon]

This system hack makes your screensaver your wallpaper for the duration of terminal being open (press controll-c to cancel). It is COMPLETELY safe to use. I suggest using the Helios screensaver.

To use, open Terminal and enter (or just copy-paste):

Code:
/System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Resources/ScreenSaverEngine.app/Contents/MacOS/ScreenSaverEngine -background

Example:


I found this hack on the internet, by no means do I claim that i made it in any way.

Here's a screenshot of it-I'm running Helios





EDIT: I'm finding it irritating having to constantly re-type the screensaver hack every time i boot up. Is there any way I could make it open with that command on startup?

[AKcrab]

Download Backlight for Mac - Menu extra toggles screensaver as your desktop. MacUpdate Mac Desktop Software Downloads
This works in SL (with Rosetta).

edit: Well it mostly works, but it is a bit buggy.

[AClockWorkLemon]

My incentive of this was that it did not require additional software, therefore maening you do not need admin status (which I dont)

[AKcrab]

It's jut an app. It didn't ask me for a password at all.

I'm sure someone here can help you script a command that can run at login. I bet Automator would make it fairly trivial.

[AClockWorkLemon]

I require an admin password to put an app into the apps folder :<
if I try to open an app from my documants, it just says that I don't have permission. Oh well, I hacked the root user so now I can use it as an admin authentication (instructions below), but I would still like someone to automate that login process! (please!)

To hack the root user (System admin, It's a hidden user that is used as a template)

Code:
1.Restart your computer, holding apple/command-s as it boots
2.Wait untill a heap of code appears on-screen
3.Type "/sbin/mount -uw" and hit enter
4.Now type "sh /etc/rc" and hit enter
5.Now type "password root" and hit enter
6. Type a new password. This section is disconcerting, as the cursor does not move. After hitting enter, it will ask you to confirm. Type it again.
7. After It has accepted all that, Type "reboot" and hit enter
8. Once it has re-booted, It will show the login screen, which now has another option, "Other..."

This code is good, as you can use the root as an authentication to do things that an admin has prevented you from doing. to use just use Username=root and Password=what you typed in.

Only problem is the addition of the "Other..." login, which I had to explain off to my parents as a Security Update XD

[Big Mac]

Wait, so you're running as root all the time?

If I read your post correctly, that is not what you want to be doing. It's a very bad practice.

[Spheric Harlot]

Do NOT log in as root.

Ever.

If you are not ABSOLUTELY SURE of EXACTLY what you are doing and why you MUST log in as root, log in to do just exactly that thing, and then log out again immediately, you are 100% GUARANTEED to **** up your system or main users' data in some obscure way.

The truly bizarre scenarios I've encountered on clients' machines - machines partly booting, or only parts of the user data showing, applications unable to be run, data mysteriously disappearing or being inaccessible despite being visible, or data just being GONE (except not really) - have often enough involved some googling and conscious effort to enable and log into the root account.

One general trend I've found is that the more exactly people know why they need to use the root log-in, the LESS willing they are to actually DO it.

[AClockWorkLemon]

Oh, my bad, I portrayed the wrong image.

I KNOW what root can do to the rest of your computer (after seeing mum up her computer with it), I'm just saying that it enables the root user, whose username and password you can then use to authenticate whatever you cannot access (like changing the system preferences on YOUR account)

[Hal Itosis]

Yeah... lord knows how the Mac world ever survived being logged in as root from System 1 through OS 9.

[reader50]

Huh. I've been using root as my main account since about 2002, through 3 OSX versions. My system has quit more frequently from hard drive deaths than from my hosing it. Maybe I'm not smart enough to screw the system up properly.

Try putting Backlight in the Applications folder within your home folder.

[Hal Itosis]

[just for the record: i'm not advocating one way over any other. (i login as ordinary 'admin' myself). Just pointing out the paradox.]

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by Hal Itosis 

Yeah... lord knows how the Mac world ever survived being logged in as root from System 1 through OS 9.

I know you're kidding, but the only *sort of* equivalent to root under System 1 to 9 was keeping a copy of ResEdit running at all times, and liberal use of the programmers' switch.

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by reader50 

Huh. I've been using root as my main account since about 2002, through 3 OSX versions. My system has quit more frequently from hard drive deaths than from my hosing it. Maybe I'm not smart enough to screw the system up properly.

Seriously?

[reader50]

Very slight exaggeration. I've had 2 hard drive failures during that time, and had to do 2 archive & installs. So the two counts are equal.

The first reinstall came after an x86 guy wanted me to install perl GD - he never thought that since I had a G4, trying to install x86 packages might not be a good idea, and I didn't catch it either. The 2nd reinstall came a few years later. I couldn't determine a cause for that failure.

We're drifting quite a ways off topic here.

[Hal Itosis]

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot 

I know you're kidding, but the only *sort of* equivalent to root under System 1 to 9 was keeping a copy of ResEdit running at all times, and liberal use of the programmers' switch.

Oh i don't know. We could always delete 99% of the items in the System Folder (or any users' folder) without even being asked for a password.