XP Auto Log off

[Rhort]

I’d like to be able to set Windows XP up to automatically log off a user after a given amount of time. Is this possible, either within Windows itself, or with some third party software (I don’t mind having to pay for it, etc, because this will save me a bunch of headaches)?

I don’t want to use a screensaver, I just want it to log the user off and return to the “CTRL+ALT+DEL” screen.

 

[linney]

Anything here give you any ideas?


Can you do anything with Scheduled Tasks?

Start, Run, secpol.msc Look for 'Force logoff when logon hours expire'

http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=3FB6E343.FB3AE435@hydro.com

Copy and Paste whole of link.

 

[dlblack]

You might take a look at AutoMate by Network Automation depending on your needs

http://www.networkautomation.com

David L. Black Consulting

 

[MasterofNone]

1. Click on the Start Menu
2. Click Run
3. Type CMD in the Open textbox and click OK
4. In the command window type:

net user accountname /times:M-F,8am-8pm; Sa,8am-5pm;Su,8am-1pm


Replace accountname with the name of the account you wish to limit. The time command is a bit tricky, but the above example is easy to replace with the appropriate values. Here's microsoft's further information regarding the format of the time command:

Specifies the times that users are allowed to use the computer. Time is limited to 1-hour increments. For the day values, you can spell out or use abbreviations (that is, M,T,W,Th,F,Sa,Su). You can use 12-hour or 24-hour notation for hours. If you use 12-hour notation, use AM and PM, or A.M. and P.M. The value all means a user can always log on. A null value (blank) means a user can never log on. Separate day and time with commas, and units of day and time with semicolons (for example, M,4AM-5PM;T,1PM-3PM). Do not use spaces when designating times.


Here are the steps to turn off limitations:
1. Click on the Start Menu
2. Click Run
3. Type CMD in the Open textbox and click OK
4. In the command window type:

net user accountname /times:all

 

[MasterofNone]

My previous post will obviously only limit the time of day they are allowedto use the pc. Not sure if this is enough or your circumstances

 

[Rhort]

Sorry, I wasn’t clear enough there, was I? What I meant was that I want Windows to automatically log them out after a given period of inactivity, so, for example, if the machine isn’t used for 30 minutes, it logs them out and sends them back to the Ctrl+Alt+Del screen, ready for the next person to log in.

 

[tfg13]

Is this what you are looking for?

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314999

 

[bcastner]

Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Scheduled Tasks. Under
Advanced/Settings/Idle Time (Only start... and Stop the task...).

You can schedule a task for inactivity. Use this to lock the
desktop after 10 minutes of idle time.

Use this shortcut for the task:

C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe
user32.dll,LockWorkStation.

To log off and run the risk of having your programs end prematurely and
without saving any unsaved material, you could use the same scheduled
task command and replace the LockWorkStation with ExitWindows. That will
log off the currently logged on user.

To schedule a logoff procedure for XP, use this:
C:\Windows\System32\shutdown -l as the scheduled task.

 

[blackhat72]

It's so simple, it's dumb... but it's free. Right click desktop, go to screen saver tab. Select "Blank" for the screen saver. Set "Wait" time to 30 minutes, or whatever duration you like. Check the "Display welcome screen" option. Make sure your system is set to require ctrl+alt+del for log in. That's it.

 

[bcastner]

The original poster specified no screensaver solution.