Is there anyway to activate a certain screensaver at the logoff screen 1

[rgomez1999]

I have problems with my fellow co-workers not shutting off their computers at the end of the day. Also because we're dealing with patient records (HIPPA) I've had to purchase an autoshutdown screensaver program that will close all opened programs and shut off the computer. Here's the catch.

Co-workers think when they click Start-Shutdown, they automatically click Logoff thinking that's the way to shut off the computer. What happens now is that computer stays on until the next work day. I've been trying to figure out if there's a way I can get my shutdown screensaver to come up at that screen (The CTRL+ALT+DEL to login again) and turn off the machine. Other than that the program works fine during normal use but when they click logoff instead of shutdown it's a whole different story.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.


(P.S. - It's interesting that when you first boot-up and don't log on to your workstation that login.scr starts up and you're forced to see that Windows 2000 banner floating all over the place until you move the mouse and log on.)

 

[kippy13]

Hi,
It may be worth your while looking at this post which may throw you some ideas.
thread779-756323
Post back if its of no use

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Looking for the best answers:
faq222-2244
Keeping your system clear of malware:
faq608-4650
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Dont forget to post back with the eventual resolution.
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[bcastner]

First, the basics. Screensaver settings are stored in the registry:

In Regedit go to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

Check/add the following REG_SZ values:

ScreenSaveActive = 1 (0 = no screensaver active)
ScreenSaverIsSecure = 1 (set to 0 it means no password is required)
ScreenSaveTimeOut = 600 (10 minutes, time is in seconds)
SCRNSAVE.EXE = C:\Windows\System32\ssmypics.scr (or desired screensaver file name)

If no one has logged on yet, or all users are logged out:

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop

Check/add the following values
ScreenSaveActive = 1 (0 = no screensaver active)
ScreenSaverIsSecure = 1 (set to 0 it means no password is required)
ScreenSaveTimeOut = 600 (10 minutes, time is in seconds)
SCRNSAVE.EXE = C:\Windows\System32\ssmypics.scr (or desired screensaver file name)

Finally, change the screensaver Grace period.

This setting determines when password protection of a screen saver becomes effective. By default, a brief period elapses within which the user can use the mouse or the keyboard to stop the screen saver without entering the password.

Registry Settings
System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
Value Name: ScreenSaverGracePeriod
Data Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Value Data: 0 - 2,147,483 seconds (approximately 24 days)

2. Setup your machine with the screensaver settings you want. Then use regedit to check the settings above. You may need to add new key values. Then export the three registry keys above.

3. To push registry changes to the desktop, you have several choices. See, for a good discussion:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...w2kmag01/html/DistributingRegistryChanges.asp

 

[rgomez1999]

You know Bcastner it's interesting because I ran through the registry and made those changes. My shutdown screensaver came on when I did a logoff and when I restarted the computer system. However, the computer did not shutdown like it's suppose to it basically just showed the CTRL+ALT+DEL prompt. The screensaver does shutdown in normal operations when you step away from your desk. Any other ideas?

 

[bcastner]

1. See the to my earlier discussion on this provided above by kippy13. You need clean permissions for SYSTEM, and the Everyone Group.

2. Check again what is in the registry for the \.Default user assignment.

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop

Check/add the following values
ScreenSaveActive = 1 (0 = no screensaver active)
ScreenSaverIsSecure = 1 (set to 0 it means no password is required)
ScreenSaveTimeOut = 600 (10 minutes, time is in seconds)
SCRNSAVE.EXE = C:\Windows\System32\ssmypics.scr (or desired screensaver file name)

You cannot tell what is going to happen until a reboot; or if "pushed" through Group Policy until at least three reboots have occured.

3. Check the last line:
SCRNSAVE.EXE = C:\Windows\System32\ssmypics.scr (or desired screensaver file name)

I have seen this quoted, unquoted, double quoted depending on where it was assigned (various versions of Group Policy, etc).

For example, this is not uncommon:

SCRNSAVE.EXE = "C:\\Windows\\System32\\winnt.scr"

I have never quite made a good guess as to why this has to be true in different settings. I suspect it is an extended settings feature of CMD, and version specific, but try various versions of this particular registry line.

 

[rgomez1999]

I did reboot twice to see what would happen but I'll try doing that push feature and see what happens. Also to note, I'm just doing this on my local PC for now in my office and not on the network just yet.

Mine is setup as follows:

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop
-----------------------------------------
ScreenSaveActive = 1
ScreenSaverIsSecure = 0 (I'm not using a password)
ScreenSaveTimeOut = 60 (1 minute just for testing purposes)
SCRNSAVE.EXE = C:\Windows\System32\shutdown screensaver.scr

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
---------------------------------------
ScreenSaveActive = 1
ScreenSaverIsSecure = 0
ScreenSaveTimeOut = 3000
SCRNSAVE.EXE = C:\WINNT\System32\SHUTDO~1.SCR (I guess windows automatically shrunk my longfile name down)

 

[bcastner]

It will not admit of blank or empty spaces without quotation marks in the registry. Copy to the \.DEFAULT the same identical usage as in the HKCU entry.
The syntax has to be perfect, and believe me I have looked an never found any consistentcy between NT, Win2k, and XP clients on this value. But it has to be perfect. Try quotation marks on the existing entry to handle the spaces in the value.

 

[ScorpioX]

You could take the easy way out and not allow them to log off. By using the Policy to remove the log off option. Which may cause long term problems such as trouble shooting by one of your technicians. What I have done here in my workplace is use a scheduled task. Which automatically shuts the PC(s) down at set time.

ScorpioX