Power Schemes

[John]

This problem drives me nuts. I have many WinXP Pro SP3 + latest patches with
default Power Schemes set to stand by after 20 minutes. The default is also
set to "Prompt for password when resuming from standby". It's all good if
the PC is dedicated to 1 user.

Problem is that the machines are shared among many users (1 PC --> used by 2
or 3 users during office hour). If user A logs in and leaves the PC longer
than 20 minutes, no one else can use it because it automatically goes to
standby and locks the PC. The rest of the users must ask user A to unlock it
so they can use the PC.

What's worse is that WinXP won't let regular users change Power Options
settings. I don't know what MS was thinking when they decide that changing
power settings is dangerous thus regular users aren't allowed to make
changes.

My goal is either one of the following (or both):
- Allows all users to make changes to Power Options settings
- Set all users Power Options setting to NOT go to standby and/or NOT prompt
for password when resuming from standby

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[John]

[UPDATE]

I found an answer to my first question (Allows all users to make changes to
Power Options settings) by changing permissions on the following registry:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Controls Folder\PowerCfg

I added ComputerName\Users group Full Control on the above reg key and its
subkeys.

I'm still looking for an answer to set everyone's Power Options settings to
Always On and never go to standby mode.