Automatically log off idle user. 1

[awreneau]

How does one implement this feature without having to purchase the Developer Kit?

When the PC was delivered and setup it would automatically log off an idle users after so many minutes, no settings on my part whatsoever.

I did windows update and now the auto logoff feature does not work at all.

I would really appreciate your help. I've searched and found winexit and similar third party programs but I dont see the need in it if the ability is already in place but not turned on.

The PC has a handfull of users who come and go at random times and the users lack discipline in loggin off when done.

Thanks for the help.

*****EDIT*****
Would the enable of Fast User Switching "turn on" this feature?

My very own LUG!

http://www.lugot.org

 

[paulbenn]

Hi,

If it is a local you can do this

[URL unfurl="true"]http://securityadmin.info/noframes/faqget.asp#autologoff[/url]





Kind Regards, Paul Benn

**** Never Giveup, keep trying, the answer is out there!!! ****

 

[awreneau]

Thanks for the input, however it's not working as I understand it should.

I did as you instructed and this is the line I adjusted:
Microsoft Network Server: Amount of Idle time before suspending session.

This is not a server it's a desktop machine, I dont know if that makes a difference or not. For grins I set the time to 1 minute, watched the clock and it didnt work.

Any other suggestion?

My very own LUG!

http://www.lugot.org

 

[bcastner]

This can be done in Windows 2000 / XP / .NET using Group Policy. Control Panel, Administrative Tools > local security policy > local policies \ security options \ "Automatically log off users" and/or "Amount of idle time required before disconnecting session"

more info:

http://securityadmin.info/noframes/faqget.asp#autologoff

 

[1101001100110101]

Not sure without the developer kit. But, you can set a domain GPO to run a screensaver after a certain amount of idle use and then password protect it. Not sure if that's what you want though.

 

[marchristensen]

bcastner - Just had to thank you for your brilliant post on instructions for accessing the autl logoff security option. My computer has been automatically logging me off when I did not want this action, and I could not find anything with a search in the Microsoft Knowledgebase. Found it here in just a couple of minutes - this place rocks!

 

[bcastner]

You are welcome, and, Welcome to Tek-Tips.

Best,
Bill Castner

 

[marchristensen]

Well - it looks like I got happy too soon. I looked on my computer at work and the

"Control Panel, Administrative Tools > local security policy > local policies \ security options \ "Automatically log off users" and/or "Amount of idle time required before disconnecting session"

was there. But at home, where I am having the problem, I use Windows XP Home, and the Administrative Tools do not have Local Security Policy option.

This is the exact problem I am having. After a prolongued period on inactivity, when I return to my computer, I am logged off. I have turned off hibernate and all screen savers, but cannot correct the problem. Any ideas?

 

[gpalmer711]

Take a look at ScreenSaver settings.

Start > Control Panel > Display > Screen Saver Tab

Untick (or Tick depending on what you want) "On Resume Display the Welcome Screen".

With this setting Ticked when you come back to your computer and disrupt the screen saver you will be back at the welcome screen.

With this setting unticked you will be taken back to what you were doing before.

Greg Palmer
Free Software for Adminstrators

http://www.palmersoft.co.uk

 

[bcastner]

Take a look at three other areas:

Control Panel, Power Options. If you are on AC Power, set the profile for the machine on AC power to none in all catagories. Follow the screen saver advice above by gpalmer711 for a comfortable interval.

Second, look in Device Manager to make certain that under the Network Adapter, Properties, Advanced there is no power setting to disable the adapter to save power. Thoroughly examine any setting that suggests the adapter can be suspended or managed by a power control.

Third, check the BIOS of the machine. Any BIOS attempts to set ACPI power properties should be disabled. This is an OS task, not a BIOS task.

It is not reasonable under XP Home to expect a Group Policy or local security object to be controlling the internet adapter as you are experiencing.

As a final check make certain you router, if using a router, has not been set for short DHCP leases. Some routers have leases as short as 7 minutes; give yourself a 24 hour lease for DHCP.