Defer desktop lock for a few seconds

[swiftie]

I've recently migrated from XP to Windows 7.
My keyboard has a "Lock Desktop" button. Under XP, if I moved my mouse within a few seconds after I'd (accidentally) pressed that button, the desktop would unlock without my having to enter my password.
Windows 7 always asks for my password in this scenario.

Is there a way to get the XP behaviour back?

 

[AddRAM]

Is this your home desktop ?

 

[swiftie]

Yes, it's my home desktop, whatever difference that makes...

 

[AddRAM]

Well, I was going to suggest to get rid of the password, no reason to have one IMO on a home pc and make sure ON RESUME is unchecked in the screensaver settings.

And it makes a lot of difference as I would never tell someone to remove their password from a work pc.

 

[swiftie]

Ah, I see. I've spent too many years working in IT to remove my password. I have enjoyed relaxing some of the rules imposed by my employer, since retiring (having to change my password every 90 days, in order to comply with Italian law, even though I'm UK resident, for example. I could understand 92 days, as you could then change it on the first day of each quarter).

I don't recall whether the 5 seconds of grace before the desktop locks was a default in XP, or if I'd turned it on somehow. I suspect it was a default, as I'm unlikely to have come across it otherwise. I found it useful on occasions, and it represented zero risk, as I worked from home, so no one was around to sneak in during those few seconds.