Administrator unable to unlock locked computer

SYMPTOMS

After you restart a computer running Windows and no one has logged on, you may be unable to log on

to the computer either locally or to the domain.

The following error message may be displayed at logon:

This computer is in use and has been locked.

Only or an administrator can unlock this computer.

Press Ctrl + Alt + Del to unlock this computer.

If you try to unlock the computer, the following error message may be displayed:

This computer is locked. Only or an administrator can unlock this computer.

If a user has logged on and logged off, you may be unable to log on to the computer (locally or to the

domain) and the following error message may be displayed:

This computer is in use and has been locked.

Only

Press Ctrl + Alt + Del to unlock this computer.

domain\username or an administrator can unlock this computer.

If you try to unlock the computer, the following error message may be displayed:

This computer is locked. Only

computer.

domain\username or an administrator can unlock this

NOTES

•

server and

 

CAUSE

This behavior can occur for either of the following reasons:

•

When the default screen saver is set to use a non-existent screen saver program.

•

 

RESOLUTION

WARNING

you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that

result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To resolve this problem, use another screen saver program (such as Logon.scr) that is installed locally

on the system or that is not corrupted.

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).

: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require

Administrator unable to unlock a "locked" computer http://support.microsoft.com/kb/242917

2 of 2 10/12/2007 12:15 PM

2. Locate the Scrnsave.exe value under the following registry key:

HKEY_USERS\.Default\Control Panel\Desktop

3. On the

4. Locate the ScreenSaverIsSecure value.

5. On the

6. Quit Registry Editor.

Edit menu, click String, type logon.scr, and then click OK.Edit menu, click String, type 0, and then click OK.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use the appropriate method.

Method 1: When the Error Message States the Computer Is Locked by

domain

\username

1. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to unlock the computer.

2. Type the logon information for the last logged on user, and then click

3. When the

normally.

OK.Unlock Computer dialog box disappears, press CTRL+ALT+DELETE and log on

Method 2: When the Error Message Does Not State Who Locked the Computer

1. Use the Shutdown tool in the Microsoft Windows Resource Kit and attempt to shut down the

locked computer. The

the computer does not restart.

2. When the shutdown timer expires, the

3. Before the screen saver becomes active, press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, and log on normally.

System Shutdown dialog box is displayed on the locked computer, butWelcome to Windows dialog box is displayed.

NOTE

before the screen saver program starts.: If you do not use one of these methods to log on, you must restart the computer and log on

When you use a corrupted screen saver that is password protected.

In the error messages above, domain is the domain name of the last user who logged on to theusername is the name of the user who last logged on to the server.