How to Configure a Screen Saver Password

Windows XP

Security is a top priority especially with the amount of data stored on a personal computer or network drive. Your personal data or other sensitive information can be compromised within a few seconds if left unprotected. Before you step out for a quick coffee break, configure a screen saver password, hotkey or desktop shortcut that can be activated quickly before leaving your desk. Once activated, a user must enter the correct password to gain access to your open files, database sessions or network drives. Although a user can still reboot your machine and gain access to files stored on the hard drive, any sensitive information within the SMU database or network drives can not be compromised by an unauthorized user.

A.  Configuring a Screen Saver Password

  1. Click Start
  2. Click Settings
  3. Click Control Panel
  4. Double click the Display icon
  5. Click the Screen Saver tab
  6. Select the desired screen saver
  7. Check the Password Protected box
  8. For Windows 98 users only:
    a.  Click Change
    b.  Enter your new Screen Saver password in both fields. Note: The screen saver password is completely separate from your ITS password.  Changing your ITS password will not change your screen saver password or vice versa
    c.  Click OK
  9. Select the amount of idle time that must pass before the screen saver is started
  10. Click OK

If you are using Windows XP or 2000, the screen saver password automatically defaults to your login password.

B.  Creating a Screen Saver Shortcut
Creating a desktop shortcut or hot key command will allow a user to activate the screen saver without waiting for the configured idle time to elapse.

  1. Click Start
  2. Click Programs
  3. Select Windows Explorer        
  4. Locate the folder     Windows XP: Windows\System32
  5. Locate a screen saver file (these files have the .scr extension)
  6. Right click on the file
  7. Select Send To
  8. Select Desktop (create shortcut)
  9. Click Ok
  10. Exit Windows Explorer
  11. To launch the screen saver, double click on the desktop shortcut                             

C.  Creating a Screen Saver Hot Key

  1. Create a desktop shortcut
  2. Right click on the shortcut
  3. Select Properties 
  4. Select the shortcut tab
  5. Click once in the shortcut key field
  6. Press the ALT key and a letter of your choice
  7. Click OK
  8. To launch the screen saver, press CTRL+ALT+the letter you chose

D.  Locking and Unlocking your computer

For Windows XP and 2000 only

  1. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL once
  2. Click Lock Workstation

When you wish to resume working, click unlock workstation.