Windows 7: Reverting to PW input

Using new Dell Vostro with Windows 7:

I recently downloaded the latest version of FireFox. Prior to that, my system stayed up unless I chose to close it but now, when I'm away for a while the system is reverting back to having me enter the PW. Once the PW is entered I'm taken right back to where I left off.



In other words, the system is not shutting down, it's just recognizing that I'm away and going to this "enter PW" thing before I can get back on line. Is this a Windows thing going on or a FireFox function?

Thanks

check the screensaver password resume option to make sure it isn't checked.

Screen Saver Password Protection -Enable or Disable

The second involves going into power options in the control panel.
on balanced click change plan settings
then change advanced settings
There will be a setting there that says require a password on wake, make sure that is disabled then ok out of the windows.

Password - Require on Wakeup

Hey thanks a bunch. It was the second option that did the trick. It was set to require a PW on wake. Interesting though--I've been using this computer for several weeks now and this was never happening before I installed the new FireFox update. I have no idea how this setting got changed.

Thanks again

doesn't make any sense to me either, at least it's solved.