Anyone get winexit.scr to work in Win7?

[dockster]

Trying to get an idle-timed auto log out. In Win XP, was able to use Winexit.scr. however, can't get it to work in Win7. has anybody had any luck?

I tried editing the applicable registry settings as indicated here: Logoff Screen Saver Does Not Function in Windows NT


Please see my permissions screenshot below.

Why wont this work?

Tried this on WIn7 Ultimate and Home Premium, both 64 bit versions.

 

[logicearth]

Why do you need a special screensaver for something built in?
(You could also create a scheduled task to do the samething.)

 

[dockster]

This only "locks" the user's workstation and doesn't actually log the user out. Winexit allowed me to:

1) Log out the user entirely.
2) Displayed a message to the uesr.
3) Allowed me to set a countdown in seconds...like 30 seconds, etc.

These three items is what I'm looking for. Haven't found a solution. shutdown.exe /l doesn't work with -t -c flags. And setting that to the idle trigger in task scheduler -- I can't get idle trigger to work in task scheduler.

I'm looking for some help I guess in getting the idle trigger to work. Then I'd just set two tasks, one that displays a message @ 15 minutes, and one that logs the user out at 17 minutes using the shutdown.exe /l.

 

[akira6968]

this taken from How can I: Auto log user off after xx minutes? Shutdown.exe doesn't work with -l -t -c (why not!)

In order for non-administrators to be able to use WINEXIT, you must add Set Value and Create Subkey permissions for the group Everyone on the following registry key: HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\IniFileMappings\Control.ini
To do this, use the following steps:

NOTE: You must be logged on with administrative rights to make these changes.
1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
2. Open the following key [by right-clicking control.ini]:
HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\IniFileMappings\Control.ini
3. click Permissions.
4. In the Name box, click or add Everyone, and then click the ADVANCED box for special permissions.
5. Click to select the Set Value and Create Subkey check boxes.
6. Click OK, and then click OK.
7. Quit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/156677


I have personally confirmed this to work on a windows 7 32bit htpc...lovin it
now to figure out how to change the message in the logoff box...

 

[dockster]

In case someone else searches, please see the solution below:

Those instructions are not quite correct for Windows 7-64bit (Enterprise)
2. Open the following key [by right-clicking control.ini]:
HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\IniFileMappings\Control.ini

Here is the correct key for which you need to change permissions:
HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\IniFileMappings\Control.ini

The rest of the instructions are fine.

I've just done it, and it got rid of the the "Error encountered while creating registry key." problem.

 

[macsupport]

What worked here

1) Copied:
WinExit.scr
WinExit.hlp
to
C:\Windows\System32.
You have to have local admin rights to do this.
2) Change Registry as posted above:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\IniFileMappings\Control.ini
3) Reboot
4) Login, change your screensaver to LogOff Screen Saver and configure settings.
5) Copy:
C:\Users\<YourProfile>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Windows\Control.ini
to
C:\Windows
You have to have local admin rights to do this.
Contents of my control.ini file is:
[Screen Saver.Logoff]
ForceLogoff=1
CountDownTimer=180
DialogMessage=No user activity is being detected. Preparing to log off the
user. ANY UNSAVED WORK WILL BE LOST !!
This seems to apply to all users who have winexit as their screen saver.
Best of Luck

 

[ShadowT]

I found winexit.scr to be a bit inadequate for my needs so I put together a better version of it and it's now available for free at http://www.grimadmin.com/staticpages/index.php/ss-operations.

It's quite customizable and can be locked down as needed. No need to mess with registry permissions or control.ini.

 

[dockster]

I know the last time the poster above posted, it was deleted. Mods, please don't delete. I tried it, its actually a good program and is freeware.

 

[ShadowT]

Thanks for the thumbs up. I do a lot of this stuff for work (scripts, utilities, weird workarounds) and I like to share my work!

 

[thomasjj]

For those that find this page, as I did, years later You can use the following Powershell to automate the Registry Permissions necessary to make Winexit work under Windows 7x64 and Server 2008 R2 x64

# WINEXIT.SCR NECESSARY ACLS
$WinExitAcl = Get-Acl "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\IniFileMapping\control.ini"
$WinExitAcl
$rule = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.RegistryAccessRule("Users","SetValue, CreateSubKey","ContainerInherit, ObjectInherit","None","Allow")
$WinExitAcl.AddAccessRule($rule)
Set-Acl "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\IniFileMapping\control.ini" $WinExitAcl