PC "Locks" itself automatically, after a while... Any means to get rid of it?

pyton357ru

pyton357ru

Joined
Aug 26, 2002
Messages
362
Greetings!

Recently my lady friend's PC began to lock down (in the same way you get by pressing Windows key + L) if not touched for a while.

It's not a screen saver password.

As far as she confessed -- she didn't touch any settings.

I haven't found means to make Windows lock itself, or to switch down such locking.

So if anybody can offer any suggestions, both of us would be truly grateful!
 
Most likely something in system settings; run through the control panel's general settings on power-saving, security, and so forth. Sometimes these things just seem to check themselves...
 
this sounds like the replacement for the screen saver password in XP

there isn't a check box that says "On resume, password protect"?

i'm looking at the "Screen Saver" tab under "Display" in the Control Panel
 
Maybe check "Control panel" - "Administrative Tools" - "Local security policies" - "security options"

(wording may be different, I use Czech version of W2K)
 
Thanks for your time guys!

Unfortunately, checking neither the "power", nor the "screen saver" options gave no result...
 
On my desktop computer I have noticed since it was new that it will lock up where the mouse or anything else simply won't move. Oh the clock still works and stuff like that but you can't use it. The screen is on and thats it.

Down on the task bar by the clock (to the left of it) I have a bunch of little things up and running on it when it restarts or I first boot it up. I've found that by right clicking on everything on the task bar that I can close and that by closing clicking on exit or close for each one that it doesn't lock up anymore. It only locks up now when I forget to close those items. I've never once missed any options or had problems from doing that. Can't really explain why it works but it does.

STR
 
I would go to the Control Panel, Internet Options, and pick delete all temporary files on the hard drive. This is where spyware often hangs out.
 
STR said:
On my desktop computer I have noticed since it was new that it will lock up where the mouse or anything else simply won't move. Oh the clock still works and stuff like that but you can't use it. The screen is on and thats it.

Down on the task bar by the clock (to the left of it) I have a bunch of little things up and running on it when it restarts or I first boot it up. I've found that by right clicking on everything on the task bar that I can close and that by closing clicking on exit or close for each one that it doesn't lock up anymore. It only locks up now when I forget to close those items. I've never once missed any options or had problems from doing that. Can't really explain why it works but it does.

STR
Click to expand...

You can stop them from running at startup by going to Start->Run-> "msconfig" without the quotes. Uncheck the names of the items you don't want to start up with the computer.

As for the original question, I'm not sure what would cause this. Has she run any anti virus or anti spyware in the days following the problem?

Does she have any restore points on her computer that she could restore to?
 
I ran "msconfig". How do I know what belongs? I recognize "adobe" and some other familiar names, many I didn't recognize.

Two entries definitely look suspicious. There are just blanks where the Names belong under "Startup Item", and blanks where the pathways should be under "Command". Should I be worried?

Thanks
 
I'd disable the blank ones.

Most, if not all of the things enabled under "Startup" will be third party programs that get installed. If you disable them you won't hurt the computer, you'll just have to start that program manually from the start menu. Most programs will want to start with the computer by default unless you tell them otherwise, so that's why so many people bog their systems down at startup. I mean just by installing a DVD program, an instant messenger, disk defragger, and sound card drivers could give you 15 things that start up with the computer that you don't even need.

The only thing I keep running on my computer at startup are the firewall, anti virus, hotsync for my PDA, and my mouse/keyboard application. Things like AOL Instant Messenger and any other third party things get disabled.

If you still aren't sure what to disable, you can take a screenshot by opening the msconfig window and holding Alt while pressing Prt Scr, then paste it into Paint and save it as a JPEG file and upload it at a place like Photobucket.
 
Sure...Unplug it and toss it out the window.:D.:D

(...Sorry, I just couldn't resist.:D.).
 
jfindon said:
You can stop them from running at startup by going to Start->Run-> "msconfig" without the quotes. Uncheck the names of the items you don't want to start up with the computer.

As for the original question, I'm not sure what would cause this. Has she run any anti virus or anti spyware in the days following the problem?

Does she have any restore points on her computer that she could restore to?
Click to expand...

before you disable an item, check what it is here
 
Or you could get a utility called WinTasks. It tells you every process running on your computer.
 
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