Creating a desktop shortcut for locking your computer

If you use your computer in an area where others may have access to it, and there are things on your system you would



rather have kept confidential, locking your desktop when you leave the computer is an essential task. Here’s a recipe


for a desktop shortcut that will lock your computer in two easy clicks:


Right click on an empty area of the desktop


choose ‘new’ then 'shortcut'.


The create shortcut wizard will open.


in the first text box, type:


%windir%\System32\rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation

then give your shortcut an


appropriate name on the next page, and hit ‘finish.’


You will notice that the shortcut you created has a blank icon.


To select a more appropriate one, right click on the


shortcut and hit ‘properties.’ In the ’shortcut’ tab, click the ‘change icon’ button.


In the ‘look for icons in this file’ box


type:


%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll


then click ‘ok’ to see a range of


icons for your new shortcut.


Choose an appropriate icon.


Your desktop locking shortcut is now ready for use.


Test it out.