Windows 10 unexpectedly getting locked

Grzegorz · 14 Dec 2016

I got a problem since like a week or two - my windows gets locked without any reason, even in the middle of myself doing something. It seems like loosing totally the video signal (similar to a long inactivity effect). I recover the screen by doing whatever (pressing a key, moving the mouse etc), enter the password and keep on working. But it keeps on happening and I am afraid of something wrong going on.

On the moment it happened only 6 events appear in event viewer (some are doubled).
It is in Security section:
4648 Logon
4624 Logon
4624 Logon
4672 Special Logon
4634 Logoff
4634 Logoff

Any ideas, what could be the reason?

Caledon Ken · 14 Dec 2016

There is a thread similar to yours here

https://www.tenforums.com/general-support/38337-my-computer-will-randomly-go-lock-screen-2.html?

Have you run a Malware scan. Recommend malwarebytes from malwarebytes.com. Run scan in Safe Mode if possible.

If nothing found then you could look at other solutions like restoring from an Image, if you have, or restoring from a restore point from three weeks ago.

Grzegorz · 26 Dec 2016

I run a malware scan - no find outs. Neither does antivirus find anything. And the issue gets more frequent, unfortunately :'(

Caledon Ken · 27 Dec 2016

Are your restore points enabled? Can you do a system restore from a time before issue started? You r posts was a week hold when I responded and in your post you said a week ago. Patches were release December 13th for sure. Need a restore point prior to this.

Grzegorz · 27 Dec 2016

Seems that I had system protection off on C:\, so no restore points there

I do have a system image made a year ago. C drive is only a system partition so it is not that much of a disaster, anyhow, it would be a huuuge pain in the *** if I had to restore it from that image... :'(

joeandmarg0 · 27 Dec 2016

Have a look at Reliability History and if there are any red flags,then view the Tech Details.If that option is greyed out,right click on it anyway and then you will be able to access it.The details should give you enough information to find a solution.Display freezing is often a display adapter problem and can often be fixed by manually downloading the latest driver from the maker's website.
A helpful tool is "whocrashed" from Resplendence.com [free] if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself.

Grzegorz · 28 Dec 2016

I got no red flags related in the Reliability History.. Just two of them in last month - one related to Adobe Reader crush, another to incorrect Windows closure, none of them related...

Caledon Ken · 28 Dec 2016

May I also suggest looking into Macrium Reflect. Free to home users and you can keep multiple versions. Very reliable and a very easy route to get you out of such trouble. Recommended an used by several forum members.

I'm going to recommend something a little opposite. As this started two / three weeks ago I think its tied to automated updates, not Windows but drivers. That said did you recently update your video driver or chipset as it is likely all integrated. You may wish to head to device manager and see what driver you have. Then head to Intel and see what the latest driver is. If they are a match then may I suggest trying to roll back your drivers.

Before doing this install and execute a Macrium Reflect Image backup and ensure your restore points are enabled and that you've allowed enough space to keep a few. Should you decide you want to try this you need to have a way to restore to where you are now should the unexpected happen. If you roll back drivers ensure in Device Manger they are rolled back.

If it turns out your drivers are the issue then we will want to tell Windows, "No thanks, you will handle".

Grzegorz · 09 Jan 2017

so far so good - I see the drivers are very fresh ones, and for the last week I experienced no issues with the screen. Maybe the problematic driver got updated exactly while I was posting here? Let's hope the problem is over...