deactivate automatic shutdown

[Marius]

Hi

I am pretty new to XP. My question: After about 10 min -
and even if there is a program running on my pc - XP
automatically "shuts down", meaning it gets back to the
page where I have to choose an account (and enter my
password) to get back to the desktop.

How can I deactivate (or change the time it takes to shut
down) this function?

Thanks for your help,

Marius

 

[Sam]

I am pretty new to XP. My question: After about 10 min -
and even if there is a program running on my pc - XP
automatically "shuts down", meaning it gets back to the
page where I have to choose an account (and enter my
password) to get back to the desktop.

How can I deactivate (or change the time it takes to shut
down) this function?

Do you have a screen-saver active? If so, try right-clicking on the desktop
and select Properties. Then go to the Screen Saver tab. Below the screen
saver name you'll see the "Wait" time and following that a check-box that
says: "On resume, password protect". If this is checked, uncheck it and see
if that doesn't help.

Sam

 

[Alex Nichol]

I am pretty new to XP. My question: After about 10 min -
and even if there is a program running on my pc - XP
automatically "shuts down", meaning it gets back to the
page where I have to choose an account (and enter my
password) to get back to the desktop.

You have something that is crashing - and the system's 'automatically
restart' is cutting in. Turn this off: in Control Panel - System -
Advanced, click Settings in the Startup and Recovery section. There
uncheck 'automatically restart'. You can also usefully change the
'write debugging information' to (none) unless you are actively needing
a dump for debugging something, or to 'minidump' if you are getting
errors that you wish to report on to Microsoft. You may now get a Blue
screen failure instead, but at least will get some guidance as to what
is happening.

Likely causes are some driver for a sound of video card; or hardware
trouble. If different programs are indicated, but the address much the
same, suspect the RAM (Windows is fussy about RAM); if there is no
pattern, suspect overheating (open the case and make sure the fan on the
processor is running enthusiastically)