Log In Problems. Help NEEDED.

I am running Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition on an HP Pavilion a220n computer.

What happens is that when I try to Switch Users, Windows goes into Lock Mode "This computer has been locked by.." So I push OK (since my Windows XP Account does not require a password). I then go to Log Off and it logs me off correctly but it does not show the Welcome Screen, it shows the classic logon prompt (the pop-up thing that makes you type in an account name). Though in User Accounts (in Control Panel) it indicates by the checked box that the Welcome Screen is on.

Early this morning, before I went to bed I turned on a program known as Switch Off (downloaded from download.com). It is a free program that shuts down, logs off, restarts, lock, etc. at a certain time when you set. I set it to shut down at 5:15 AM this morning. I have been using the program for about 1-2 weeks now without any problems. When I came down here this morning (about 10 or 11 am) Windows was locked and I couldn't type anything to unlock it so I had to turn off the computer and re-turn it back on. That's when everything started (above).

Also, since this computer is shared by 6 other people...I have a major problem.

 

Not sure what to tell you other than it sounds like you got what you paid for. Actually, if you read the program's help files, I'd bet its behaving exactly the way its supposed to. I don't mean to sound like a wise guy, but have you thought of contacting the company you got this from? Have you read the help files? Have you considered getting up about five hours earlier tomorrow?

 

Yes I have read the Help Files (to the program, if that's what you are referring to). I had it on Shut Down this morning. The only reason I use the program is because I am trying to download a relatively big file and I want to keep it on without anyone else knowing about it (well that's shot now..). What I don't get is that I've been using this program for maybe more than a month now, and if it was the program that did this, why it decided to do it now.

On another note, there were 2 other programs installed on the computer that morning also. One of them is Alcohol 120% (a CD burning program, I think) and SimCity 4 Deluxe.