How to Lock Down a PC Through the Registry

Lock down your PC with a simple key command.

You can easily lock a Windows PC with a multiple-key command and unlock it with a password. The "Lock Workstation" command is enabled for users by default. However, administrators can set registry keys to restrict users from locking down a PC. If this is the case, the key can be easily configured to allow the locking of a local machine. Proceed with caution when making changes to the registry, since an error could severely impair your system's stability and functionality. This procedure requires administrative access.

Instructions

1. Log into the system with an administrator account.

2. Launch the Registry Editor. Click "Start," type "regedit" in the "Start Search" text field and press "Enter" if using Windows Vista or 7. Click "Start," click "Run," type "regedit" in the dialog box and press "Enter" if using Windows XP.

3. Expand "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" for changes to affect the local machine and its users. Expand "HKEY_CURRENT_USER" if you want the changes to affect the current user.

4. Expand "Software," "Microsoft," "Windows," "CurrentVersion" and "Policies."

5. Double-click the "DisableLockWorkstation" value on the right pane, if present. Enter the number "0" in the "Value data" text field and click "OK."

6. Press the "Windows" and "L" keys simultaneously. The workstation is now locked.

References

• Technet Microsoft: Disable Lock Workstation
• PC Tools: Disable the Lock Workstation Button
• How to Geek: Disable or Enable Lock Workstation Functionality