Problem with logout of second user

I recently had the HelpAssistant virus. I did the steps I found in the malware removal forum and it fixed my problem. (woo-hoo!!! and MAJOR THANKS!!!!!)

Unfortunately now I've got a little problem and I am not sure if it is a side effect of the clean-up activities or what.

When I login to my PC I have no problem..but if I switch user to another account after about 5 mins the first account is completly logged off (I hear the logout chime and everything)

This is more annoying to my wife than anything else as one of the kids hops on and everything she was in the middle of is lost.

After doing some google searches I have seen some others with the same exact problem but there was no solution posted for the problem.
http://www.computing.net/answers/windows-xp/xp-logs-off-2nd-user-after-5-minutes/181095.html

I put in a thread in the malware removal forum but after looking at my logs they said I was clean and that I should come over here to post my problem.

Any info would be appreciated!

 

I suppose you could check for a log off policy for your wife's account. Start>Run, type in gpedit.msc, expand User Configuration, Windows settings, Scripts (logon/logoff), click on Logoff>Properties and see if there are any scripts in there.

Also check power options in Display Properties>Screen Saver.

Also do a search in Windows Explorer for Winexit.scr.

 

I did the gpedit and there were no scripts. Also I think I may not have been clear in my earlier post the logoff happens to whomever is logged in first (not just my wifes account she just happens to login first in the morning so when someone logs on she gets bumped after 5 mins).

As for the power settings
Turn off monitor -> After 20 mins
Turn off Hard Disks -> Never
System Standby -> Never

I did not find a winexit.scr

Got any other ideas?

 

Maybe wait for Kestrel to get back to you.
Other than that, you might need to try a Repair Install, unless someone else has a suggestion.

 

Kestrel came back with nothing. Do you have any other ideas about a setting that would logout a user?

 

A long shot, but easy to try:
Go into your Power Options (Control Panel), Advanced tab, and uncheck 'Prompt for password when computer resumes from standby'

 

Hey, I just got an idea..

Check and see if your user accounts (everyone's) are set to administrator's, that could be a problem.. (I don't even know if that's possible, since I only have one account)
Only one account should be admin (I'm sure you know that though), and if you really want to be sure, make an account, set it to admin, and let noone login to that account except yourself if you really need to change something, and set the accounts that you're using to Standards.. (I don't know what it says in english since my version is swedish, but you probably understand what I mean)

I think that might be something to try if you haven't already!

 

Good to have some fresh ideas here. However, I think you will find that it's OK to have more than one Admin account, as far as general computing goes. It is only considered less-than-ideal from a security point of view, as it exposes one to a risk of being extensively hacked (as opposed to mildly hacked if using a limited account).

 

Yeah that's about what I was thinking from the start ;P
But since we all know, by experience, that some windows-glitches has nothing to do with anything.. did that sound right? Ah, whatever..

It wouldn't hurt to try though? =)

And considering that he recently cleaned up his harddrive, couldn't that have something to do with it?

Well, I'm gonna look into it a little more, actually pretty intresting since I've never heard of this problem before

Btw, what OS? ___________ EDIT : Never mind =) I noticed it was like.. the first line in the other forum ^^ "XP Pro SP2."

 

I just checked on my old pentium D 2.8Ghz, win xp sp2 .. There is a box you can check in User Accounts - Options , mine is in swedish so I don't know the correct translation, but when you enter the User Accounts setup, there is 3 marked text's,

1. Account setup (or something)
2. Create new account
3. "Login-options/settings" or something like that.. if you go in there, there is this box that says something like "Use Quick/fast account switch" or something like that, haha sorry for my translation

Well, both of those boxes are checked on mine, the other box is "Welcome screen" somethingsomething..

Are you sure you have that "Quick/fast" checked?

 

I think you're talking about fast user switching. I'm not sure that that will help.

 

Well I don't see you coming up with any ideas?

Since I checked it out on my own XP SP2, and read the following (trying to translate correctly):

"With fast user switcher, you can switch to another account quickly without closing any programs. When the other User is finished, you can go back to your account" ..... something like that, but it sounds better in swedish

And I was just thinking that it might be a glitch or something, I don't know... just trying to come up with some basic setups, it doesn't always have to be the "most advanced thing" you expect it to be

 

Guilty as charged.:-o

Oh, all right then...

 

Ok, here's a bit of diagnostic work to try.
Create a third user account, and see if the same behaviour occurs, either when you switch TO that account, or FROM it. That might tell us whether the problem is with the system or with the accounts.
You might also have a look at your Event Viewer (under Control Panel > Admin Tools) and see if there is any information there at the time the logoff occurs.