Err Msg: "Workstation Is Locked" with Invalid Screen Saver Program

After you restart a computer running Microsoft Windows NT Server and no one has logged on, you are unable to log on to the computer (locally or to the domain) and the following error message is displayed: If you try to unlock the computer, the following error message is displayed: Or, if a user has logged on and off, you are unable to log on to the computer (locally or to the domain), and the following error message is displayed: If you try to unlock the computer, the following error message is displayed:

This problem occurs in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4 when you change the default screen saver program to a nonexistent screen saver program or to one that is corrupted.

The registry location for screen saver program information is HKEY_USERS\.Default\Control Panel\Desktop.

To resolve this problem, use another screen saver program (such as Logon.scr) that has password functionality.

To work around this problem and still be able to log on when the error message states that it is locked by \:

1. When the logon screen appears, clear the Username box.
2. Clear the Domain Name box, and then clear the Password box.
3. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, and log on normally.

To work around this problem and still be able to log on when the error message states that it is locked by domain\user:

1. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to unlock the computer.
2. Type the logon information for the last logged on user, and then click OK.
3. When the unlock computer dialog box disappears, press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, and then log on normally.

NOTE: If you do not use one of these methods to log on, you must restart the computer and log on before the screen saver program starts. You can use the Shutdown utility in the Windows NT Resource Kit to shut down the computer.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: