Just a Minor Irritation

Running win2k pro here. A fairly fresh install, fully updated running E Trust Armor A/V and firewall. I check often for malware with adaware and spybot s+d. Now here is my problem, I have power settings set to shutdown moniter and HD but it never seems to shut down. I was messing around a bit and decided to use a screensaver to see if that would function. I set a standard screen saver and all of a sudden the moniter shuts down when it should. But now I don't see a screen saver! I don't need a screen saver, the moniter shutting down is fine, just wonder whats messed up here.