Prevent XP Professional from locking laptop every 15 minutes

[Guest]

Hi,

I have a work-provided laptop that has been setup by our IT department.

I have admin privileges so can edit the registry, install programs etc.

One thing that drives me nuts with their install is that they have set up
the laptop to automatically lock after 15 minutes of no input. While this is
fine for my desktop at work, I find it a real pain when I am on the road
where often in meetings etc.

How do I change this? I'd like to set up my laptop so it never locks me out.
I don't mind logging on with my username and password etc. but each time I
log on I am always with my laptop so there's no need to have it lock me out
every 15 minutes.

Best,

Dave M

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Hi,

I have a work-provided laptop that has been setup by our IT department.

I have admin privileges so can edit the registry, install programs etc.

One thing that drives me nuts with their install is that they have set up
the laptop to automatically lock after 15 minutes of no input. While this
is
fine for my desktop at work, I find it a real pain when I am on the road
where often in meetings etc.

How do I change this? I'd like to set up my laptop so it never locks me
out.
I don't mind logging on with my username and password etc. but each time I
log on I am always with my laptop so there's no need to have it lock me
out
every 15 minutes.

Best,

Dave M

Since staff from your IT Department set this up for you, they
are the best people to resolve this problem. If they won't
cooperate, escalate the issue through your manager.

 

[Juan Perez]

Hi:

If you go to Start->Settings->Control panel->display->Screen saver-> see if
the option on resume, password protect, is selected.

Also if you go to Monitor power->Power->Advanced->Options, see if it is
ticked the option "Prompt for password when computer resumes from standby.

 

[Guest]

Dear Juan,

Thanks. ->Control panel->display->Screen saver-> the option on resume,
password protect, is indeed selected but it is greyed out and I cannot change
it. The time is set for 15 minutes as well which is the same time interval
that is bugging me so much.

Also, on Monitor power->Power->Advanced->Options the option "Prompt for
password when computer resumes from standby" was selected, although this one
I could remove.

Still, after doing the above nothing changes. I am still locked out after 15
minutes of no input.

@Pegasus - I did call IT but they are not very helpful. Obviously this is
seen as a security feature and not something they wish end users to
circumvent. Whether the actual risk might be very low and the real world
implications of a 'security breach' in our case might be laughably
inconsequential seems not to interest them very much. So....little prospect
of allowing a single end-user to be that much less frustrated and more
effective when there's "security" to be had....

Best wishes to all and still looking for a solution here. I expect I need to
edit in the registry but am not sure where to begin. Thanks for suggestions,

Dave

 

[SingaporeWebDesign]

Hello,

A workaround is to simulate activity by having a song looping in Windows
Media Player. See if that resolves your issue temporarily.

--
Singapore Website Design
http://www.bootstrike.com/Webdesign/
Singapore Web Hosting
http://www.bootstrike.com/WinXP/faq.html
Windows XP FAQ

 

[Malke]

Dear Juan,

Thanks. ->Control panel->display->Screen saver-> the option on resume,
password protect, is indeed selected but it is greyed out and I cannot change
it. The time is set for 15 minutes as well which is the same time interval
that is bugging me so much.

Also, on Monitor power->Power->Advanced->Options the option "Prompt for
password when computer resumes from standby" was selected, although this one
I could remove.

Still, after doing the above nothing changes. I am still locked out after 15
minutes of no input.

@Pegasus - I did call IT but they are not very helpful. Obviously this is
seen as a security feature and not something they wish end users to
circumvent. Whether the actual risk might be very low and the real world
implications of a 'security breach' in our case might be laughably
inconsequential seems not to interest them very much. So....little prospect
of allowing a single end-user to be that much less frustrated and more
effective when there's "security" to be had....

Best wishes to all and still looking for a solution here. I expect I need to
edit in the registry but am not sure where to begin. Thanks for suggestions,

There is no solution here. You will not be able to change things in the
registry because you won't have the access rights. If your IT Dept. is
not helpful, then I'm sorry but you'll need to live with their
configuration or take your concerns to your boss.


Malke

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

@Pegasus - I did call IT but they are not very helpful. Obviously this is

seen as a security feature and not something they wish end users to
circumvent. Whether the actual risk might be very low and the real world
implications of a 'security breach' in our case might be laughably
inconsequential seems not to interest them very much. So....little
prospect
of allowing a single end-user to be that much less frustrated and more
effective when there's "security" to be had....

Best wishes to all and still looking for a solution here. I expect I need
to
edit in the registry but am not sure where to begin. Thanks for
suggestions,

Dave

Attempting to bypass security policies by stealth rarely works.
Either it fails altogether or it creates internal friction. Much better
to follow normal procedures and escalate the issue if necessary.
Your manager might have to remind the IT Department that they
are here to provide a service, not to place obstacles in your way.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Dear Juan,

Thanks. ->Control panel->display->Screen saver-> the option on resume,
password protect, is indeed selected but it is greyed out and I cannot
change
it. The time is set for 15 minutes as well which is the same time interval
that is bugging me so much.

Also, on Monitor power->Power->Advanced->Options the option "Prompt for
password when computer resumes from standby" was selected, although this
one
I could remove.

Still, after doing the above nothing changes. I am still locked out after
15
minutes of no input.

@Pegasus - I did call IT but they are not very helpful. Obviously this is
seen as a security feature and not something they wish end users to
circumvent. Whether the actual risk might be very low and the real world
implications of a 'security breach' in our case might be laughably
inconsequential seems not to interest them very much. So....little
prospect
of allowing a single end-user to be that much less frustrated and more
effective when there's "security" to be had....

Best wishes to all and still looking for a solution here. I expect I need
to
edit in the registry but am not sure where to begin. Thanks for
suggestions,

Dave

Don't make any changes. Registry changes are not appropriate for you to
make, even if they were possible. And they aren't, as your IT group has
an approved security policy they have applied.

You have to take this through your managers to get IT to override their
management-approved security policy decisions. Otherwise, you put your
job at risk.

Take it seriously; they certainly will. Count on it.

HTH
-pk

 

[C.Joseph Drayton]

Hi,

I have a work-provided laptop that has been setup by our IT department.

I have admin privileges so can edit the registry, install programs etc.

One thing that drives me nuts with their install is that they have set up
the laptop to automatically lock after 15 minutes of no input. While this is
fine for my desktop at work, I find it a real pain when I am on the road
where often in meetings etc.

How do I change this? I'd like to set up my laptop so it never locks me out.
I don't mind logging on with my username and password etc. but each time I
log on I am always with my laptop so there's no need to have it lock me out
every 15 minutes.

Best,

Dave M

Hi Dave,

You may have 'Administrator' access, but they may have set a
'GPO' that locks the computer.

I will agree it is annoying, but if you are handling
'confidential' material on your computer, it is a reasonable
'GPO' to set.

Over the last year, I have had a number of ex-clients
contact me about new policies that have been put into place
in their organizations by their new service provider that
made life more comfortable for the end-user but ended up
causing them to lose money due to loss of confidential data.
It is always a balancing act to determine when security
effects productivity.

Keep in mind that if you are in the field with your laptop,
there is automatically an increase in the possibility of
confidential data being compromised.

Ciao . . . C.Joseph

"A promise is nothing more than an attempt,
to respond to an unreasonable request."