[mike one]

hey gang, i'm in need of help to fix this problem:

I just updated to 10.4.6 and the auto screen lock feature no longer works after the screen saver kicks in. when i move the mouse, the regular desktop comes up---no login panel!!! i've double checked the security preferences window and the correct box is checked. unchecking and re-checking it doesn't fix the problem. fixing permissions doesn't fix the problem. going to the "lock screen" icon on the finder bar (you can put it there using keychain access) doesn't lock the screen! it works less than 10% of the time, restarting or logging out does not fix the problem.

thoughts on how to fix this?

[proton]

Are you waiting a few seconds after the screen saver activates before attempting to wake it?

Mac OS X 10.4 allows you to wake the machine without a password in the first few seconds after it falls asleep so you can avoid typing your password if it drops into the screen saver while you're actually still in front of the computer.

Are there any messages printed to the either the Console Log or System Log (viewed in Console)?

- proton

[mike one]

yeah, i've been waiting a few seconds.
it also doesn't work when you use the drop down "lock screen" menu.

i logged into the other account on this computer and it works fine.... i wonder if there is a pref file i can delete to fix this... thoughts? :/

[proton]

This setting is stored in ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.screensaver.XXXXXXXXXXXX.plist (~ is your home folder).

- proton

[mike one]

actually i deleted the login pref and that fixed it too
thanks so much for your help!