Leaving your computer in a hurry but you don’t want to log off? You can double-click a shortcut on your desktop to quickly lock the keyboard and display without using CTRL+ALT+DEL or a screensaver.

To create a shortcut on your desktop to lock your computer:

1. Right-click the desktop.
2. Point to New, and then click Shortcut.
3. The Create Shortcut Wizard opens. In the text box, type the following:
rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation
4. Click Next.
5. Enter a name for the shortcut. You can call it “Lock Workstation” or choose any name you like.
6. Click Finish.

You can also change the shortcut’s icon (my favorite is the padlock icon in shell32.dll).

To change the icon:

1. Right-click the shortcut and then select Properties.
2. Click the Shortcut tab, and then click the Change Icon button.
3. In the Look for icons in this file text box, type:
Shell32.dll.
4. Click OK.
5. Select one of the icons from the list and then click OK

You could also give it a shortcut keystroke such CTRL+ALT+L. This would save you only one keystroke from the normal command, but it could be more convenient.

To add a shortcut keystroke:

1. Right-click the shortcut and then select Properties.
2. Click on the Shortcut tab.
3. In the Shortcut key text box, type any key and Windows XP will convert it to a shortcut, usually in combination with the CTRL+ALT keys.

To lock your keyboard and display, double-click the shortcut or use the Shortcut keys.

Information for USB stick owners:

Whenever the user temporarily leaves the computer, he can temporarily lock the computer by simply disconnecting the USB stick drive (flash drive).

In additional Rohos Logon can be configured to perform Log Off, turn off or Hibernate your computer when you unplug your USB storage device.

How to configure USB removal behavior:

  • Go to Start menu -> Programs -> Rohos and select Rohos Logon Key.
  • Point to Windows logon tab, and then click Configure Options.
  • Choose option under “USB removal behavior” label.

How to use a USB stick drive to automatically lock or suspend your PC when you step away in a hurry?