Performing time intensive tasks on your computer can be a bit of a bind, especially when you have to physically sit there until the process has finished. Usually tasks which take time, quite often use at least a reasonable amount of processing power. There are quite a few pieces of software that come equipped with a ‘Shut down when done’ button, but what happens if you don’t want to shut down the machine? There are other things you might want to do instead of shutting down the machine, such as simply turning the screen off, or logging off from your account. Or you might simply want to shut the system down after the task has ended and the option to do so is not available directly from the software.
Sometimes having your PC running longer than you really want it to and not being around should anything untoward happen, could also potentially pose a security risk. Even if you do not want to shutdown a PC after a task has finished, a similar thing might be needed such as restating the PC or logging off in a certain amount of hours and minutes from now. There are a few utilities around to do this kind of thing, but they are often full of other features you might not want. A very easy to use and simple utility is designed to do this and this alone. Auto Lock is a very tiny, compact and portable tool of only 120k so can be placed anywhere you like.
The program comes with two different ways of performing one of the specific actions. The first is ‘If Idle’ which will wait for the computer to be idle for some specified time. Once the system is idle, the countdown you have specified (default is 10 seconds) will begin and the lock/restart action will trigger if the timer reaches zero. The timer will reset if the CPU becomes active during the countdown. ‘Forced’ mode will simply apply the action at the end of the specified countdown period after pressing the ‘Start’ button.
The more astute users will no doubt be aware that waiting for the system to become idle is definitely not foolproof and just because the application you are monitoring has finished its work, the system might quickly start another processor intensive task such as scanning from your security software. Not perfect, but is still useful if you know there is not likely to be any more high CPU usage afterwards.
The initial action on starting the utility will be ‘Screen Off’ and ‘Lock PC’ when the PC is idle. The main function options are locking the PC, logging off, restarting the system and shutting down the system. The ‘None’ option will only turn the screen off. The ‘Mute system sound’ option can be used when the machine is setup to be locked.
If you minimize Auto Lock then it will disappear to the system tray and give you the countdown status by hovering over it. A small and simple tool to do a simple task.
Compatible with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7
no harm intended, but a simple command line does the trick:
rundll32.exe user32.dll, LockWorkStation
We use that on servers (in StartUp) where a user has to log on for some software that doesn’t run (reliably) as service.
Hi, Raymond:
I am using Eset NOD32 V5 and this webpage is blocked as “dangerous”. If I turn of Eset NOD32 anti virus, I have a question about “Auto Lock”, what happens if I just check off, “Lock My PC”, and shut down, how will I be able to unlock upon boot-up.
Kaspersky says sites fine. It’s usually poor ad’s that AVs block for maliciousness.
Hay Ray
I go ti the web site and my eset smart security 5 blocked url as dangerous website
@Aris. I submitted this file to numerous on-line scanners and the program always comes up clean. Softpedia also has the file to download. (softpedia.com/get/Security/Lockdown/Auto-Lock.shtml)
Hi Ray,
I visit the website and download link, it was block by Hotspot Shield.
Thanks hal9000! Each day I visit this site and I find exactly what I’m looking for. Wow! As for this utility – works just fine…