[PanamaKevin]

I know this is probably an amatuer question but I am running XP professional and want to find out how to set it so that it will lock the pc after a set amount of time when the user has been away. I don't want it to log out, just lock the pc, like when you go to the switch user screen, only automatically... thanks in advance

[Wanderer2]

That is a setting in the screen saver properties. You can set time and require a password.

[stantley]

An easy way to do it would be to go into Power Options, set the time for the system to go into Standby, then go to Advanced and check 'Prompt for password when computer resumes from standby'.

So at a time you designate the computer will go into Standby (a low power state) and then when the mouse or keyboard is touched a password will be required to get back into Windows.