under win 2000, when you press CTRL+ALT+DEL, a dialog pops up with a lock option.
This is very useful when you print then collect some document and the printer is far from you.
But in winxp, after CTRL+ALT+DEL is pressed, the task manager is come up, but a dialog with lock option.

How can I get that dialog back in winxp??

Here's a simple trick that'll create an icon on your desktop. Clicking on that will achieve the same effect. I've no idea how to bring that button back on tha dialog box that pops up on Ctrl-Alt-Del.

1. First create a new shortcut on your desktop by right-clicking on a blank space > New Shortcut.

2. In the dialog box that comes up and asks you for the location of the program, copy and paste this entire line: rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation.

3. Click NEXT and give a name for your shortcut - say "Lock Computer".

4. Click on FINISH to create the shortcut and place the icon on your desktop..

Click away, Lock it Up and Feel Happy

I don't know that XP allows for actual locking, I'll look into that for you. However, if you are using fast user switch mode, simply log off by switching users. Yo bring the log off menu up press the windows key and the L key. Then, a password will be required to regain access, but programs will be left running. To lock the computer and require users to press ctrl-alt-del before logging on follow these instructions (from Windows help and support center)
1: Open User Accounts in Control Panel
2: Click the advanced tab
3: In Secure Logon select Require users to press CTRL-ALT-DEL

Thanks man...
it works just fine...

But it is for one user only..
if other user want to have same function, they need to creat this "lock Computer" shortcut by themself.
If it works just like win2000, it would be great.

cool didnt know I could do that on XP, I just used the switch user method, thanks though. What about the shutdown shortcuts, I made one on 98 but cant do it on XP, it was just another shiortcut but its not working anymore.

My friend just gave a very simple way to bring that win2000 style dialog back up in winxp.
what you need to do is deactivate the welcome screen

go to control panel > user accounts > change the way users log on and log off > uncheck "Use the welcome screen"

now restart your pc to see what happen...

I did the same thing for my win98 a few years ago..


In winxp, you can do that by:
creat a new shortcut (read microscopic^earthling's post above) with shutdown -s for the location

You pc should be shutdown after you clicked on this shortcut.

if you put shutdown -r for the location, you pc will be reboot when you click on it.

The lock thing is more or less the same as the fast user switch one because both still leave your programs running.

Wa, u r so cool.
just learn it. Thanks

What I do (and works quite well for me) is that I have my user session password protected, so when I'm leaving, I go to "change user" and it's back to the "select user" screen. And when I come back, I type my password and enter.