Comments on: Windows key+L: Lock desktop

by: anonse

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:43:59 +0000

Oral sex in the morning, that’s a head-start

by: Ashley

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 07:37:20 +0000

I had this same issue, XP professional the Win+L just didn’t work at all. Checked the registry for the above entries, doesn’t have any of those. Noticed that my machine was strangely unlocked when I got to work on Monday morning. Tried the Win+L several times nothing. Then did a Ctrl+Alt+Del, and the machine came back immediately saying the computer was locked (no enter required) - showing the login name and the password prompt. Unlocked the machine, tried the Ctrl+Alt+Del again, this time it was behaving normally. I had to press Ctrl+Alt+Del to get the login prompts. And hey presto, the Win+L is working again like magic, still don’t have a clue what the problem was…..

by: Michael

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 04:38:46 +0000

Had this problem, turned out to be some quarantined items in Avira. Used the Avira option to delete the quarantined items and full windows+L functionality returned.

Keeping it simple is usually the easiest way to fix a problem, I can’t believe people were recommending the changes above so boldly — There are few reasons to change the windows registry, especially if you’re a “normal” user.

Hope this helps someone. Cheers.

by: Carlos

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:49:58 +0000

I love this feature, but when I unlock, all keys respond as if I were holding down the windows key. I have to hit the windows key again or the keyboard misbehaves. I can’t seem to find any references to this, even though this has happened on an HP and a Lenovo laptop running vista and Windows 7.

by: Sam

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 07:40:05 +0000

Hi, i have a laptop with win xp sp2… my win+L key responds slowly… means when i press this keys the screen which shows “your computer is in use and has been locked” comes after some times till that time nothing appears.. can u help me with this???

by: estephen

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:03:11 +0000

Does anything happen when you hit Windows Key + L? Do you have multiple users switched on?

by: Rostgrm

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:07:00 +0000

Hi guys,
My dear computer doesn’t want to lock itself on Win+L. The registry key doesn’t help. WinXP Professional 2nd SP. It also was with my Home Edition. Help pls.

by: Mako

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:15:20 +0000

I think Windows+L is a wonderfully useful keyboard shortcut. (Clearly, I lock my workstation often.)

This shortcut is new in Windows XP; it wasn’t available on Windows 2000. So back on 2000, one annoying alternative for Windows+L would be to press Ctrl+Alt+Del, then press Enter (because Lock is usually the default button selected) or K (the mnemonic).

by: Moje

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 13:43:41 +0000

Yep, one more thing… if this value exists, it may be reason why Win+L does not work… try deleting it then…

by: Moje

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 13:40:43 +0000

Hm, might interest you that the value’s name is
DisableLockWorkstation
So it will look like this

DisableLockWorkstation REG_DWORD 0×0000000x(x)

where x is either 1 or 0.

by: Moje

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 13:38:38 +0000

Hi,

There is a way how to enable/disable shortcuts functionality via windows registry. You need to go to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
If this key does not exist, create it.(There will be already key explorer in key Policies, so create key System)
Then you need to add a value type DWORD, with value
0 - enable Win+L shortcut
1 - disable Win+L shortcut

Should work for both XP and Vista.

However, it may not work on some PCs… not sure why, though…

by: Bashi

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 04:34:02 +0000

anyways thanks a lot for ur help.

by: estephen

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:54:47 +0000

Bashi, sorry to hear Windows+L isn’t working for you. I’ve never heard of this issue before, and there isn’t normally a way to disable these keystrokes, so I don’t know why it’s not working.

Short of contacting Microsoft for help, my only suggestion is to use Ctrl+Alt+Delete, Enter in the meantime.

by: Bashi

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:51:59 +0000

The “Ctrl+alt+del” does work on my machine. The computer is also locked properly on “Ctrl+Alt+Del” combination.

I wanted a shortcut for this. As it is said here the ” Windows(key) +l” combination. this doesnot work on my machine.

Is there anything on the comp wherein we can enable or disable these shortcuts? If there is any please do let me know.

Thanks a lot for all your help.

by: estephen

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:12:32 +0000

Ok, try this:
1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete
2. Select the “Lock Computer” button (by pressing either Enter, since it’s default, or K, since that letter is underlined)

Do you see the appropriate “Computer Locked” dialog when you do that?

by: Bashi

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:13:35 +0000

I have windows 2000 server installed. The Window (key) + l combination doesn’t do anything.

i do have a username and password to enter when i log in.

by: estephen

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 22:11:00 +0000

What does it do instead? What version of Windows are you running? And do you have a username and password you have to enter when you log on?

by: Bashi

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:57:34 +0000

On my workstation Windows (key) +L doesn’t work. Can anybody help me with this?

by: Kevin

Sun, 18 Mar 2007 22:44:44 +0000

If you have XP Home set up with multiple users, this will take you to the “switch user” screen.

by: Ksilebo

Sun, 18 Mar 2007 22:36:50 +0000

The Ctrl+Alt+Delete is only required if the WIn XP computer is on a domain. Not sure how this works with Win2k3, or when Vista is on a domain.