Lock This Computer

Mike · External Since: Feb 12, 2007 Posts: 14

On the lower right side of the start menu
is an icon of a lock. It says "lock this computer".

What is the purpose of this feature ?

Is it meant to keep people from walking up to an
unattended computer and gaining access to it ?
Or is is meant to keep sicko hackers from hacking
into your computer remotely while the computer is
left unattended ?

Either way it seems like a redundant feature
wouldn't just logging off do the same thing ?
Or I might be missing something altogether.

I searched windows help an looked on Google,
not much said about it. Please help me to understand
when this feature is for.

Thanks Mike

Paul Adare · External Since: Dec 15, 2006 Posts: 99

In article <eOgtmghXHHA.3952 DeleteThis @TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl>, in the
microsoft.public.windows.vista.security news group, Mike
<mike DeleteThis @rocket.org> says...

> On the lower right side of the start menu
> is an icon of a lock. It says "lock this computer".
>
> What is the purpose of this feature ?
>
> Is it meant to keep people from walking up to an
> unattended computer and gaining access to it ?

This is exactly what it is meant for.

<snip>

>
> Either way it seems like a redundant feature
> wouldn't just logging off do the same thing ?
> Or I might be missing something altogether.

Logging off, by definition, closes all of your running programs,
locking a computer, on the other hand, allows your running
programs to remain running while still securing your computer by
requiring a user name and password to unlock it.

--
Paul Adare
MVP - Windows - Virtual Machine
http://www.identit.ca
"The English language, complete with irony, satire, and sarcasm,
has survived for centuries without smileys. Only the new crop of
modern computer geeks finds it impossible to detect a joke that
is not clearly labeled as such."
Ray Shea

Robert Moir · External Since: Nov 24, 2006 Posts: 445

"Mike" <mike.DeleteThis@rocket.org> wrote in message
news:eOgtmghXHHA.3952@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> On the lower right side of the start menu is an icon of a lock. It says
> "lock this computer".
>
> What is the purpose of this feature ?
>
> Is it meant to keep people from walking up to an
> unattended computer and gaining access to it ?

As Paul says, This is the one.

> Either way it seems like a redundant feature
> wouldn't just logging off do the same thing ?
> Or I might be missing something altogether.

You honestly can't think of a scenario where you might want to leave a
program running unattended (for example a lengthy download) without people
being able to fool with what you've got the computer doing?

To be fair, though, this feature is probably more aimed at business use than
consumers.

Vince Moser · External Since: Mar 04, 2007 Posts: 1

Well, if you are around people who like to screw with your PC and or Laptop,
It is a great feature and is in the right spot. I left the room for 2 min.
and someone, or should I say 5 of them came up with and idea to put a
password in for me. Why should I have a password at home???Now I use that
feature all the time after costing me a half case.

--
Vince Moser
"Robert Moir" <robspamtrap DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
news:exDNC%23kXHHA.992@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>
> "Mike" <mike DeleteThis @rocket.org> wrote in message
> news:eOgtmghXHHA.3952@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> On the lower right side of the start menu is an icon of a lock. It says
>> "lock this computer".
>>
>> What is the purpose of this feature ?
>>
>> Is it meant to keep people from walking up to an
>> unattended computer and gaining access to it ?
>
> As Paul says, This is the one.
>
>> Either way it seems like a redundant feature
>> wouldn't just logging off do the same thing ?
>> Or I might be missing something altogether.
>
> You honestly can't think of a scenario where you might want to leave a
> program running unattended (for example a lengthy download) without people
> being able to fool with what you've got the computer doing?
>
> To be fair, though, this feature is probably more aimed at business use
> than consumers.
>

Puppy Breath · External Since: Feb 27, 2007 Posts: 73

Yeah, they're right. Nothing to do with sicko hackers. The idea is you're in
a work environment. You need to leave the PC for a while, but don't want
anyone to see what's on your screen, don't want to close anything, and don't
want anyone to use the PC while you're away. You lock the PC and walk away.
When you come back, log back in and everything is just as you left it.
Privacy maintained.

"Mike" <mike.RemoveThis@rocket.org> wrote in message
news:eOgtmghXHHA.3952@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> On the lower right side of the start menu is an icon of a lock. It says
> "lock this computer".
>
> What is the purpose of this feature ?
>
> Is it meant to keep people from walking up to an
> unattended computer and gaining access to it ? Or is is meant to keep
> sicko hackers from hacking
> into your computer remotely while the computer is
> left unattended ?
>
> Either way it seems like a redundant feature
> wouldn't just logging off do the same thing ?
> Or I might be missing something altogether.
>
> I searched windows help an looked on Google,
> not much said about it. Please help me to understand
> when this feature is for.
>
> Thanks Mike
>
>

JackieD · External Since: Aug 05, 2007 Posts: 2

"Vince Moser" wrote:

> Well, if you are around people who like to screw with your PC and or Laptop,
> It is a great feature and is in the right spot. I left the room for 2 min.
> and someone, or should I say 5 of them came up with and idea to put a
> password in for me. Why should I have a password at home???Now I use that
> feature all the time after costing me a half case.
>
> --
> Vince Moser
> "Robert Moir" <robspamtrap DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:exDNC%23kXHHA.992@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> >
> > "Mike" <mike DeleteThis @rocket.org> wrote in message
> > news:eOgtmghXHHA.3952@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> >> On the lower right side of the start menu is an icon of a lock. It says
> >> "lock this computer".
> >>
> >> What is the purpose of this feature ?
> >>
> >> Is it meant to keep people from walking up to an
> >> unattended computer and gaining access to it ?
> >
> > As Paul says, This is the one.
> >
> >> Either way it seems like a redundant feature
> >> wouldn't just logging off do the same thing ?
> >> Or I might be missing something altogether.
> >
> > You honestly can't think of a scenario where you might want to leave a
> > program running unattended (for example a lengthy download) without people
> > being able to fool with what you've got the computer doing?
> >
> > To be fair, though, this feature is probably more aimed at business use
> > than consumers.
> >
>
>
>

JackieD · External Since: Aug 05, 2007 Posts: 2

"Robert Moir" wrote:

>
> "Mike" <mike.DeleteThis@rocket.org> wrote in message
> news:eOgtmghXHHA.3952@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> > On the lower right side of the start menu is an icon of a lock. It says
> > "lock this computer".
> >
> > What is the purpose of this feature ?
> >
> > Is it meant to keep people from walking up to an
> > unattended computer and gaining access to it ?
>
> As Paul says, This is the one.
>
> > Either way it seems like a redundant feature
> > wouldn't just logging off do the same thing ?
> > Or I might be missing something altogether.
>
> You honestly can't think of a scenario where you might want to leave a
> program running unattended (for example a lengthy download) without people
> being able to fool with what you've got the computer doing?
>
> To be fair, though, this feature is probably more aimed at business use than
> consumers.
>
>
I have found so many bits and pieces about how to lock vista (its not hard
to understand) my question is (I'm new to computers so bare with me.. ) how
do you unlock it.. when I log off will it automatically go back to normal?
my son has accidently hit lock.. my user is password protected, I assume that
I will have to use my password to get back into my screen?

any help would be appreciated...

Thanks
>

Dave · External Since: Jun 17, 2007 Posts: 538

You can lock the computer screen by pressing "Winkey -L", or clicking on the
Lock button on the Start menu.

While it is locked, you should see the logon screen, and the box to enter
the password.
If you don't see it, then try Ctrl-Alt-Del

"JackieD" <JackieD.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4639D328-2B47-4040-BAB9-2C74CDCF939E@microsoft.com...
>
>
> "Robert Moir" wrote:
>
>>
>> "Mike" <mike.DeleteThis@rocket.org> wrote in message
>> news:eOgtmghXHHA.3952@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> > On the lower right side of the start menu is an icon of a lock. It says
>> > "lock this computer".
>> >
>> > What is the purpose of this feature ?
>> >
>> > Is it meant to keep people from walking up to an
>> > unattended computer and gaining access to it ?
>>
>> As Paul says, This is the one.
>>
>> > Either way it seems like a redundant feature
>> > wouldn't just logging off do the same thing ?
>> > Or I might be missing something altogether.
>>
>> You honestly can't think of a scenario where you might want to leave a
>> program running unattended (for example a lengthy download) without
>> people
>> being able to fool with what you've got the computer doing?
>>
>> To be fair, though, this feature is probably more aimed at business use
>> than
>> consumers.
>>
>>
> I have found so many bits and pieces about how to lock vista (its not hard
> to understand) my question is (I'm new to computers so bare with me.. )
> how
> do you unlock it.. when I log off will it automatically go back to normal?
> my son has accidently hit lock.. my user is password protected, I assume
> that
> I will have to use my password to get back into my screen?
>
> any help would be appreciated...
>
> Thanks
>>