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So I want to lock my screen to prevent anyone to do anything unless they know a password or a combination of hotkeys. WIN+L is not doing a good job because it prevents a few softwares to continue running and I can't see if a task is finished. I want to be able to see the screen for the following reasons:

  • Keep a playlist running. WIN+L cancels any sound.
  • Run a diagnosis program while I go do something else. It's happened several times that I was running something important and had to leave my laptop alone. When I did the Windows login the software had freezed or crashed.
  • Chrome. I adore Chrome and everything about it but it's not very safe since I have all my passwords in auto complete. That's the main reason I use WIN+L all the time.
  • Large download files. It's easy to leave the computer downloading something overnight but can I trust nobody will mess with my stuff or even close the download software?

What is a good tool or software to protect the keyboard and mouse but still show whatever is running?

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  • win+L does not stop sound for me.
    – Simon Sheehan
    Commented Jul 30, 2011 at 1:21
  • Windows Media will turn off sound if you turn off Fast User Switching
    – surfasb
    Commented Jul 30, 2011 at 1:29
  • What OS are you using @Renan? The version of Windows is relevant.
    – nhinkle
    Commented Jul 31, 2011 at 6:38
  • @nhinkle Windows 7 Home 32bits
    – Renan
    Commented Jul 31, 2011 at 13:32

2 Answers 2

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Take a look at Kid-Key-Lock. It locks your keyboard/mouse and unlocks them with a password.

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You can bind a hotkey to a screensaver. Go under Personalization/Screensaver. Select one like Blank Screen and select "On Resume, show Login screen."

Next, you want to bind a shortcut to the screensaver.

http://www.binaryturf.com/windows-7-start-screensavers-ondemand/

Right-click desktop and select New > Shortcut.

Paste the following location in Type the location of item field in the resulting dialog. %systemroot%\system32\Bubbles.scr /s Note: You can replace “Bubbles.scr” with the screensaver of your choice. Double-click the desktop icon Bubbles.scr to activate the screensaver.

You can also right click it and assign it a hotkey.

Now, you get a screen saver AND a login screen.

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  • The Bubbles screensaver takes a picture of the current screen and keeps the sound running. I'm looking for one that doesn't hide the screen activity but only prevents anyone else from inputting data.
    – Renan
    Commented Jul 30, 2011 at 1:48
  • You don't have to use the Bubble Screen saver. That's just a place holder. Search under your System32 folder (SysWOW64 if you are running x64) and there are all your installed screensavers.
    – surfasb
    Commented Jul 30, 2011 at 6:32
  • But does any of them allow me to see what's going on instead of a static picture?
    – Renan
    Commented Jul 30, 2011 at 17:12
  • Oh, I didn't see that part. AFAIK, that is technically impossible. The login screen runs in a separate secure account. And that is the only account that can capture CTRL ALT DEL. Short of finding a free Winlogon replacement(none that I am aware of) no program will be able to do this.
    – surfasb
    Commented Jul 31, 2011 at 0:13

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