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  • #2182512

    Auto Log Off Windows XP

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    by warren ·

    How do you make a user log off automatically when there has been no activity for a certain period of time?

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    • #3183080

      Passwords and screen savers

      by dpskiman ·

      In reply to Auto Log Off Windows XP

      Enable the screen saver, and set a password for it. Right click the desktop, choose properties, then screen saver. Enable it with the flavor of your choice, then click in the password box. Choose a time value in minutes for the screensaver to kick in, and you’re done. By the way, this is common for Windows 2000 as well.

      PC Doctor in Memphis

    • #3182870

      Good Question!

      by matt.werner ·

      In reply to Auto Log Off Windows XP

      I’ve often wondered about this, but have never taken the time to research this low priority (for me) item. It annoys me that Microsoft hasn’t addressed this in a simple and obvious manner. I hate when users leave for the day with their system logged on and applications running. You never know if it is safe to force a logoff (e.g. via shutdown cmd) so you can perform maintenance.

      Also, I think MS should create the functionality to preserve the state (memory) of open applications and their associated data for a user’s logon session when a forced logoff occurs, much like hibernation does for laptops. In such a scenario, the applications (and data file) would be restored in memory the next time the user logs back in.

    • #3007034

      ScreenPass.net

      by antonseidler ·

      In reply to Auto Log Off Windows XP

      You can try using ScreenPass

      ScreenPass automatically Logout idle workstations after administrator defined idle period has exceeded.

      Works under XP and Vista.

    • #3023353

      winexit.scr gpedit.msc regedit.exe

      by marcotjioe6 ·

      In reply to Auto Log Off Windows XP

      I use winexit.scr, and do further tweaking with gpedit.msc and regedit.exe.

      Winexit.scr is a screen-saver file that can be downloaded easily from the Microsoft website. It works like a screen saver in that you specify the delay time after inactivity before the screen saver is activated.

      If you are a single user and do not care that other users are forced to log off, downloading the file and setting the screen saver will do the job.

      However, most of the time this question is asked by an administrator who wants to make sure that many users log off after certain period of inactivity. If this is true, the gpedit.msc (group policy edit) will help to extend the screen saver to reach all users (not only the user who installs it). Also, winexit.scr comes with an associated permission problem, which will generate an error message (“Error encountered while creating registry key. Make sure you have Set Value and Create Subkey Permissions”) if it is used by any user but the administrator. The regedit.exe will solve this problem.

      Here is the step by step process:

      A. Installing the Screen Saver
      The screen saver file winexit.scr can be downloaded from:
      http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9D467A69-57FF-4AE7-96EE-B18C4790CFFD&displaylang=en

      1. Run the executable file.
      * It will install a lot of files under C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits

      2. Open the folder in C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits and find winexit.scr

      3. Right click on winexit.scr and click install.
      * The screen saver display property window will pop out. If it does not, right click on the desktop and go to Properties > Screen Saver and choose “Logoff Screen Saver” as the screen saver option

      4. Set the settings (force logoff, time, message, etc)
      * Force logoff means that files that are unsaved will not be saved before log off.

      Now the log off screen saver is installed.

      B. Extend screen saver to all user using group policy

      Note: This is a summary of the information which can be found from the following website:
      http://www.wyckedone.net/2005-06-17/setting-a-default-screen-saver-for-all-windows-200xxp-users/
      (If link does not work, try to google: screen saver all users)

      1. Click start > run and type gpedit.msc.
      2. In the pane on the left, expand Administrative Templates under User Configuration
      3. Expand Control Panel
      4. Click on the folder for Display

      Next:
      1. Double-click Hide Screen Saver tab and set it to Enabled. Click the Next Setting button*.
      * This is only necessary if you do not want users to have any access to the Screen Saver tab in the display properties.

      2. Set Screen Saver to Enabled. Click the Next Setting button.
      * This setting will disable the screen saver drop down and settings in the display properties. Users will not be able to change or configure the screen saver but they can change the energy settings. This will only be valid if you set the Screen Saver executable name and Screen Saver timeout.

      3. Set Screen Saver executable name to Enabled and provide the name of the screen saver file you wish to use. Click the Click the Next Setting button.
      * If the screen saver file (*.scr) is in the %Systemroot%\System32 folder, you only have to provide the file name. If the file is elsewhere, you must provide the full path (i.e. C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits\Tools\winexit.scr).
      * If you do not set this value, users will be able to change the screen saver via the drop menu on the Screen Saver tab in the display properties (if the screen saver tab isn?t hidden).
      ** What I did is to copy the winexit.scr to C:\Windows\Systems32, and just write winexit.scr on the text box

      4. If you wish to password protect the computer (lock the system) when the screen saver starts, enable Password protect the screen saver. Click the Next Setting button.

      5. Set Screen Saver timeout to Enabled and set the timeout (in seconds). By default, it is set to 900 seconds (15 minutes). Click Apply and then OK to close the setting property box.
      * If this is not set, users will be able to set the timeout time (if the screen saver tab isn?t hidden).

      These would set the screen saver for all users.

      C. Eliminate error to allow any user to use the winexit.scr by changing the registry

      Note: changing the registry is dangerous, and you should never delete anything from it or your computer will be rendered unusable. What we’ll do here is simply changing permissions.

      The information below is a summary referenced from the following websites:
      http://support.microsoft.com/kb/156677
      http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310426

      Since there is not a single website that describes everything, we have a couple of websites up there.

      1. Click start > run and type regedit.exe.

      2. On the left pane, go to the following directory:
      HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\IniFileMappings\Control.ini

      3. On the Edit menu, click Permissions.
      * Notice that the permission is for the folder “Control.ini”

      4. Click on the group of users (“Users” or “Power Users”) that you want to give the permission to and on the bottom box, click on the check box for “Allow” and “Full Control”.

      This should have solved the permission error associated with winexit.scr.

      D. Users still don’t see screen saver?
      Perhaps the winexit.scr are prohibited from use by the users. Right click on the winexit.scr file, go to security, and under “Group or User Name”, check to see if “User” or “Power User” is listed. If not, click on “Add” and on the last box, add the text “(Computer Name)\Users” (e.g. “AEC\Users”)

      Hopefully you have luck with this method.

      • #2874651

        Winexit.scr has some annoyances – I prefer…

        by mike.panagos ·

        In reply to winexit.scr gpedit.msc regedit.exe

        Such as having to adjust permissions on the registry (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/156677) and it’s a bit limited (and IMO quite ugly with today’s user interface standards).

        While there are some OK paid alternatives, I think the one at http://www.grimadmin.com/staticpages/index.php/ss-operations is the best free screensaver app out there.

        • #2875425

          Limitations of WINEXIT ans similar tools

          by nospam ·

          In reply to Winexit.scr has some annoyances – I prefer…

          WINEXIT and its clones do not always log off the users. For example, if the screen is locked, it cannot log off. Or, if the user is disconnected from the server, it cannot log off the user either. It may not work for the limited users. Also, the user may set up a different screensaver and thus disable the automatic logoff.

          To make sure the automatic logoff happens no matter what, consider the proper system tools not based on the screen saver functionality, such as our ActiveExit. See the following web page for more discussion:

          http://www.winability.com/active-exit-vs-winexit/

          HTH

        • #2875280

          Sort of…

          by mike.panagos ·

          In reply to Limitations of WINEXIT ans similar tools

          In my experience, screen locking does not prevent logging off or other actions with the program I linked to. It may have been the case with winexit.scr, but remember that program was written for Windows NT originally.

          Now, if the computer has stopped sending signal to the display due to power saving features prior the screensaver running, then it won’t run. This is primarily what your software gets around (that and leaving you with the ability to let your users have a screensaver of their choice from the ones already installed to the computer… typically about 5 or 6 options come with Windows). The drawback is that your software requires installation of a service that monitors idle time, where the screensaver idle-time monitoring is already built into Windows.

          The other reasons you give are primarily non-issues. You can handle most of these with Terminal Services timeouts and Group Policy or Preferences.

    • #2855803

      schedule logoff.exe for your convenient time

      by prabinkumarag ·

      In reply to Auto Log Off Windows XP

      right click on desktop
      new
      create shortcut
      type logoff
      create it

      start-allprograms-accessor-system tool-schedule-add scedule
      browse the shortcut
      select for every login tab
      configure the properties as your wish

      –prabin–

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