Greyman--
Power Options Locked Remedy:
Exactly how are you setting the power options? Also this could be bios
setting related. See MSKBs below. You may need to apply the regedits in
the first MSKB. Make sure you set a system restore point first and backup
the reg by using this: File>Export>Radio button lower right (entire
registry)>save to desktop or folder of your choice. But save it where you
can find it.
Also be sure to put "power options" in Help and Support and read some of the
hyperlinks.
When Windows Vista is running in audit mode for a long time, the computer is
locked after the system resumes from standby or from hibernation
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928717/en-us
You may experience power management-related symptoms on a computer that is
running Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927393/en-us
Be sure you're familiar with what I type below:
Change the function of the Power button on a mobile PC
By default, pressing the power button on a mobile PC turns it off.
Alternately, you can choose to put your mobile PC to sleep or put it into
hibernation when you press the power button. You can apply the same setting
to all of your power plans or you can apply different settings to individual
plans.
To apply the same setting to all plans
Click to open Power Options.
On the Select a power plan page, click Choose what the power button does.
On the Define power buttons and turn on password protection page, next to
When I press the power button, choose what you want your mobile PC to do
when you press the power button, both for when your mobile PC is running on
battery and when it is plugged in.
Click Save changes.
To apply a setting to a specific plan
Click to open Power Options.
On the Select a power plan page, click Change plan settings for the plan
that you want to change.
On the Change settings for the plan page, click Change advanced power
settings.
On the Advanced settings tab, expand Power buttons and lid, expand Power
button action, and then choose what you want your mobile PC to do when you
press the power button, both for when your mobile PC is running on battery
and when it is plugged in.
Click OK.
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Change what happens when you close your mobile PC lid
When you close the lid on your mobile PC, Windows can shut down, do nothing,
or enter a power-saving state, such as sleep or hibernation. You can apply
the same setting to all of your power plans or you can apply different
settings to individual plans.
To apply the same setting to all plans
Click to open Power Options.
On the Select a power plan page, click Choose what closing the lid does.
On the Define power buttons and turn on password protection page, next to
When I close the lid, choose what you want your mobile PC to do, both for
when it is running on battery and when it is plugged in.
Tip
To save battery power and quickly resume working, select Sleep. When you
wake your mobile PC, Windows restores your work session within seconds.
Click Save changes.
To apply a setting to a specific plan
Click to open Power Options.
On the Select a power plan page, click Change plan settings for the plan
that you want to change.
On the Change settings for the plan page, click Change advanced power
settings.
On the Advanced settings tab, expand Power buttons and lid, expand Lid close
action, and then choose what you want your mobile PC to do when you close
the lid, both for when your mobile PC is running on battery and when it is
plugged in.
Click OK.
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When my computer wakes, do not require a password to unlock it
To help secure your computer, Windows requires a password to unlock the
computer when it wakes from sleep. If there is confidential information on
your computer, it's a good idea to protect that information with a password.
You can change this setting if you don't want to enter a password every time
your computer wakes. For example, if you're the only one who uses the
computer at home, you may not want it to be locked every time it wakes.
If you turn off this setting, make sure that your screen saver password is
also turned off. For more information, see Use your Windows password for
your screen saver password.
Note
Some settings are managed by your system administrator. Why can't I change
some settings?
Use one of the following procedures to remove the requirement to enter a
password when your computer wakes.
To change the setting in all of your power plans
Click to open Power Options.
On the Select a power plan page, in the task pane, click Require a password
on wakeup.
On the Define power buttons and turn on password protection page, click
Don't require a password.
Click Save changes.
To change the setting in a specific power plan
Click to open Power Options.
On the Select a power plan page, click Change plan settings under the plan
that you want to change.
On the Change settings for the plan page, click Change advanced power
settings.
On the Advanced settings tab, expand Additional settings, expand Require a
password on wakeup, and then click No, both for when your computer is
running on battery and when it's plugged in.
Click OK.
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Change, create, or delete a power plan (scheme)
A power plan is a collection of hardware and system settings that manages
how your computer uses and conserves power. You can use power plans to save
energy, maximize system performance, or balance energy conservation with
performance. You can change specific settings in any of the three default
power plans—Balanced, Power saver, or High performance. Or you can create
your own plan by using one of these plans as a starting point. These default
plans are designed to meet the needs of most people. If a default plan
doesn't meet your needs (even if you change some settings), you can create
your own plan by using a default plan as a starting point.
To change an existing plan
Click to open Power Options.
On the Select a power plan page, click Change plan settings under the plan
that you want to change.
On the Change settings for the plan page, choose the display and sleep
settings that you want to use when your computer is running on battery and
when it's plugged in.
If you don't want to change any more settings, click Save changes.
-or-
To change additional power settings, click Change advanced power settings,
and then complete steps 5 and 6.
On the Advanced settings tab, expand the category that you want to
customize, expand each setting that you want to change, and then choose the
values that you want to use when your computer is running on battery and
when it's plugged in.
Click OK, and then click Save changes.
To create your own plan
Click to open Power Options.
On the Select a power plan page, in the task pane, click Create a plan.
On the Create a power plan page, select the plan that's closest to the type
of plan that you want to create.
For example, if you want your plan to conserve energy, select the Power
saver plan.
In the Plan name box, type a name for the plan, and then click Next.
On the Change settings for the plan page, choose the display and sleep
settings that you want to use when your computer is running on battery and
when it's plugged in, and then click Create.
If you're using a mobile PC, your plan appears under Plans shown on the
battery meter. If you're using a desktop computer, your plan appears under
Preferred plans. The plan that you based your new plan on is moved, and
appears under Additional plans.
Note
The plan that you just created automatically becomes the active plan. To put
a different plan into effect, select that plan.
To delete a plan
If you created power plans that you no longer use or need, delete them. You
can't delete any of the three default power plans (Balanced, Power saver, or
High performance).
Caution
After you delete a plan, you can't restore it.
Click to open Power Options.
If the active plan is the one that you want to delete, make a different plan
the active plan.
On the Select a power plan page, click Change plan settings under the plan
that you want to delete.
On the Change settings for the plan page, click Delete this plan.
When prompted, click OK.
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Good luck,
CH
