Logoff security

[Guest]

I manage XP PC's that are used by multiple people. How can I force a logoff
if they walk away from the PC for about 15 minutes?
Thanks,
Davenk

 

[Nepatsfan]

Take your pick:

Password protect screen saver:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...n-us/display_assign_screensaver_password.mspx

Password protect standby:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...docs/en-us/pwrmn_passwordprotect_standby.mspx

 

[Guest]

Hello,
I have been using the first option, but it does not always work. Sometimes I
find the user gone but still logged on after many hours. Any ideas? Thanks.
Davenk

 

[Nepatsfan]

I've seen this occur (screensaver doesn't start) when the number
of minutes set in Power Options for the machine to go into
standby is less than the screensaver setting. Once the machine
goes into standby, the screensaver never starts. Moving the mouse
simply brings the PC out of standby without having logged off the
user.

Have you tried the 2nd option?

Keep in mind that the screensaver settings are set on a per-user
basis. Have you tried using the Local Group policy to set
screensaver settings that will apply to all the users?
Go to Start -> Run -gpedit.msc.
Navigate to the following section:
User Configurations/Administrative Templates/Display
Enable the following settings:
Screensaver
Password protect the screensaver
Screensaver timeout (set time in seconds)

I've never used it but I've seen suggestions in this newsgroup
about running the winexit.scr screensaver that's comes with the
2K3 Server resource kit.

Here are a few sites with more information on that option:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;314999

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...69-57ff-4ae7-96ee-b18c4790cffd&DisplayLang=en

http://groups-beta.google.com/groups?q=winexit.scr&start=0&scoring=d

The biggest downside of this approach would be the potential loss
of data from forcing the applications to close.

 

[Guest]

I eliminated the Power Options as a cause.
I do not want to use the standby option.
I tried the winexit.scr, but it kills all of the active applications. That
is not acceptable and there is no option I found to override it.
I still do not understand why the original screensaver does not start like
it is supposed to. Do you know how to reach anyone at Microsoft to get a
better explanation?

 

[Nepatsfan]

It sounds as if you're doing all the right things. The only other
possibilities I can think of that might prevent the screensaver
from starting are:

1. Some process or application is running in the background which
is preventing the machine from being idle for the amount of time
that you've set for the screensaver to start. You might want to
start troubleshooting this by running msconfig and unchecking all
the startup programs. See if the screensaver starts. Add the
programs back one at a time and see if one of them stops the
screensaver from starting. I'd suspect programs that have an
autoupdate feature such as most antivirus apps.

2. Outdated video or monitor drivers. Make sure you're using the
latest drivers. Long shot, but you never know. Usually they cause
problems with a PC going into standby.

3. Network activity. Disable the network connection and see what
happens. Another long shot for the same reasons.

As far as contacting Microsoft, here are the only options that
I'm aware of:

http://www.support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&x=14&y=8&c1=509&prid=3518&gprid=185522

Keep in mind that if Windows came preinstalled on these machines,
they're going to refer you to the manufacturer for support.

Here are a couple of other articles that you may find useful.

http://tinyurl.com/4erpd

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;326719

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

 

[Guest]

Thanks very much for your advice and efforts. I will keep looking for ideas.
It's too bad that there aren't better tools to debug this kind of problem,
especially when we all so concerned with security. May God bless you.
Daven