How to enable password when computer is idle for more then 5 minutes? 1

[grofaty]

Hi,
on Windows XP sp3 when computer is idle for more then 5 minutes I would like screen-saver to be enabled and after work is resumed I would like user to enter a password.

In Control Panel | Display | Screen Saver tab | I have set Wait=5 and checked "On resume, password protect" and clicked on OK button to close the window.

http://www.shrani.si/f/5/qi/2Qa4zoJv/onresumepassword.png

After 5 minutes I see screen-saver does not appear and also screen is not password protected. I have waited for 10 minutes and screen-saver still does not appear.

How to enable password when computer is idle for more then 5 minutes?
Thanks

 

[cmeagan656]

Do you have Windows Media Player running or some other program that causes the computer to never actually become "idle".

If it's Windows Media Player there is a setting (Tools ->Options then Player tab on WMP 12) that you can check to "Allow screen saver during playback".

Hope this helps.

Please help us help you. Read Tek-Tips posting polices before posting.
Canadian members check out Tek-Tips in Canada for socializing, networking, and anything non-technical.

 

[grofaty]

I don't use Media Player. I have closed down all applications, stopped all of services I can imagine that are not part of Windows itself, but Windows still does not start screen saver.

Is there any way or program that I can check which program influences that screen saver does not start?

 

[BadBigBen]

How to lock computers when idle by using GPO

http://www.bridgetonova.com/2007/11/how-to-lock-computers-when-idle-by.html

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[kermit01de]

How do you login to Windows at startup?

--------------------------------------
>>>>>> Bugs will appear in one part of a working program when another 'unrelated' part is modified <<<<<

 

[grofaty]

BadBigBen, I have exactly followed the instructions on link you provided and have set all four settings.

If for settings "Screen Saver timeout" I set to 60, after 1 minute login screen appears, which is OK.

If I change settings to 300 the after 5 minutes no login screen appears.

So above is working for 1 minute, but does not work for 5 minute.

Any idea what I should check?

 

[kermit01de]

Do you maybe have a wireless mouse connected to the PC? In this case there may be a service in the background that communicates permanently.

--------------------------------------
>>>>>> ... it may be a matter of PEBKAC ... <<<<<

 

[kermit01de]

... or have a look here

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916256/en-us

--------------------------------------
>>>>>> ... it may be a matter of PEBKAC ... <<<<<

 

[BadBigBen]

that boils it down a bit...

my assumption is that a background task is interfering with the shut down. seeing that it works at t=1 and not on t=5...

one service pops into mind, Windows Search, set it to DISABLED... check your Task Scheduler...

see if this is an option:

http://www.fnode.com/2007/04/how-to-lock-windows-xp-when-idle/

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[grofaty]

@kermit01de, I don't have a wireless mouse. I have optical mouse connected to PC using USB cable (optical USB mouse).

 

[grofaty]

Problem solved. I have done the following:
1. Control Panel | Display | Screen Saver tab | Screen saver drop down list selected to (None)
2. Set all 4 settings from BadBigBen suggestion from

http://www.bridgetonova.com/2007/11/how-to-lock-computers-when-idle-by.html

3. Set the settings from BadBigBen suggestion from

http://www.fnode.com/2007/04/how-to-lock-windows-xp-when-idle/

Now works fine.

 

[grofaty]

Mistake in step 2, correct is:
Set this 4 settings back to original settings: "Not configured".

 

[BadBigBen]

glad to hear that the problem is solved... ;-)


Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"