Setting Default option when using Ctrl-Alt-Del

[Guest]

Using Ctrl-Alt-Del to lock the computer does not always default to "Lock
Computer". For example, if I use Ctrl-Alt-Del and then click "cancel" then
the next time I hit Ctrl-Alt-Del, the default option is "cancel"; i.e. I
would need to use the mouse to click "Lock Workstation" at that point. Now,
this does not bother me at all (I know that it happens that way and so I use
the mouse to select the correct option). The users however seem to have a
problem with it and are complaining. Does anyone know how to set the default
option to "Lock Workstation" always so that the users can simply hit enter on
the keyboard to lock the computer?

The voice of The User Frustration Rep

 

[Jerold Schulman]

Using Ctrl-Alt-Del to lock the computer does not always default to "Lock
Computer". For example, if I use Ctrl-Alt-Del and then click "cancel" then
the next time I hit Ctrl-Alt-Del, the default option is "cancel"; i.e. I
would need to use the mouse to click "Lock Workstation" at that point. Now,
this does not bother me at all (I know that it happens that way and so I use
the mouse to select the correct option). The users however seem to have a
problem with it and are complaining. Does anyone know how to set the default
option to "Lock Workstation" always so that the users can simply hit enter on
the keyboard to lock the computer?

The voice of The User Frustration Rep

Why not CTRL+ALT+DEL and then press k on the keyboard?

Create a shortcut to W2KLockDesktop.exe from tip 5002 in the 'Tips & Tricks' at http://www.jsiinc.com



Jerold Schulman
Windows Server MVP
JSI, Inc.
http://www.jsiinc.com

 

[Guest]

Thanks Jerold,
That is helpful however I find that Ctrl-Alt-Del and k works on one network
but on another network, the Ctrl-Alt-Del and l works only. Humm, makes me
think that somehow we can modify that default keystrokes used to lock the
computer so that all networks are consistent.

I have considered using the shortcut described also but with over 500 users,
someone will complain that they would need to use the mouse to click on the
"show desktop" icon on the taskbar to minimize windows to get to the shortcut.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Using Ctrl-Alt-Del to lock the computer does not always default to
"Lock Computer". For example, if I use Ctrl-Alt-Del and then click
"cancel" then the next time I hit Ctrl-Alt-Del, the default option is
"cancel"; i.e. I would need to use the mouse to click "Lock
Workstation" at that point. Now, this does not bother me at all (I
know that it happens that way and so I use the mouse to select the
correct option). The users however seem to have a problem with it
and are complaining. Does anyone know how to set the default option
to "Lock Workstation" always so that the users can simply hit enter
on the keyboard to lock the computer?

The voice of The User Frustration Rep

Hmmmm....I can't reproduce that at all here. Just tested - I cancelled out &
then went back in - same default of Lock Computer - on both W2k SP4 and WXP
Pro SP1.

However, if that isn't working for you, I really have to wonder why your
users find it insurmountably hard to click on Lock Workstation. If they
can't figure out how to do this, well, they shouldn't complain once they've
been shown how to perform the difficult task of clicking with a mouse. Talk
to your management.

You could also set up forced password-protected screensavers with a default
timeout of, say, 1 or 2 minutes. That would work too, if you feel like being
a smartypants.