Using Group Policy Object Preferences to modify the Screen Saver Grace Period
Using Group Policy Object Preferences to modify the Screen Saver Grace Period
Within the operating system there is a delay from when the screen saver activates and the system actually locks the display requiring you to enter a password to continue working. This period of time is known as the screen saver password registration interval. During this period, a user can move the mouse or press any key to prevent the password protection to activate. The default time is configured to be 5 seconds but the time can be configured any whole number between 0 and 2,147,483 (default entry is 5). A value of 0 results in no password protection delay.
To reduce the screen saver grace period you can use Group Policy Object Preferences to modify the Screen Saver Grace Period locally by creating the following new key and value in the registry. HKEY-LOCAL-MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\ScreenSaverGracePeriod with a REG_SZ value of the desired grace period.
1. Create a new GPO to contain your desired settings.
2. In the GPMC edit the newly create GPO.
3. Decide if this setting is going to be a computer or users setting. Computer will be all computers in a given OU, whereas a User will follow the user from computer to computer.
Note: Once configured by a user setting on a computer, it effect all users on the computer.
4. Expand Computer Configuration.
5. Expand Preferences.
6. Expand Windows Settings.
7. Right click on Registry – New – Registry Item.
8. In the New Registry Properties dialog box, in the Action dropdown select Create.
9. Ensure HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE is selected. Click on the ellipse. Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
10. Expand SOFTWARE.
11. Expand Microsoft.
12. Scroll down and expand Windows NT.
13. Expand CurrentVersion.
14. Expand Winlogon and click on Select.
15. In the Value name box type ScreenSaverGracePeriod.
16. Leave the Value type as REG_SZ, in the Value data box enter your desires grace period in seconds. For this example I will use 2. Click OK.
17. Exit the GPO editor and link the newly created GPO to the desired OU. During the next GPO refresh the new Registry setting will be applied.
This setting can also be created using REGEDIT locally if the computers are not members of a domain. Click on the following link to accomplish this through a REGEDIT.
Until next time, RIDE SAFE!
Rick Trader
Windows Server Instructor – Interface Technical Training
Phoenix, AZ
You May Also Like
Change Screen Saver Server 2012, CurrentVersion, Extend Time before Screen Saver, GPMC, GPO, Group Policy Object Preferences, HKEY-LOCAL-MACHINE, New Registry Item, REG_SZ, regedit, screen saver password registration interval, Screen Saver Timeout, ScreenSaverGracePeriod, Winlogon
How to Build in a PSMethod to your PowerShell Code
0 71 0In this video, PowerShell instructor Jason Yoder shows how to add Methods (PSMethod) to your code using free software that’s added into the PSObject. For instructor-led PowerShell courses, see our course schedule. Microsoft Windows PowerShell Training Download the Building Methods PowerShell script</a> used in this video. <# ╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ ║ ║ Building Methods ║ ╟──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╢ … Continue reading How to Build in a PSMethod to your PowerShell Code
Configuring Windows Mobility Center and How to Turn it On and Off
1 1433 1Video transcription Steve Fullmer: In our Windows training courses, we often share information about the Windows 8.1 Mobility Center. Mobility Center was introduced for mobile and laptop devices in Windows 7. It’s present and somewhat enhanced in Windows 8. Since we don’t have mobile devices in our classrooms, I decided to take a little bit … Continue reading Configuring Windows Mobility Center and How to Turn it On and Off
How to create a Cisco IOS Banner – Login and MOTD Message of the Day
0 4289 4In this video, Cisco CCNA instructor Mark Jacob shows how to create a Login and Message of the Day (MOTD) banners in Cisco IOS. The Banner is an interesting feature of the Cisco IOS. You could probably get by without it, but in a commercial environment you want to have it.