When I click on Start->Logoff, rather than logging off and going back to the CTRL+ALT+DEL logon screen, the entire computer shuts down and powers off. This doesn't happen with other accounts (even other domain accounts) so it's something specific to my user.
This is on Windows XP. Is there a registry setting that controls this sort of behavior? Thanks!
Updates:
As for virus scan, there is a virus scanner running on the computer. If I try to exit it, it wants a password. If I try to terminate the process using Task Manager, I get an "Access Denied" error (It's running as SYSTEM). So I can't test if that's the culprit.
Using the Shutdown command actually works. Running shutdown.exe -l will log me off and take me back to the logon screen – so this means it's something with the actual Logout button the Start Menu itself. I guess I can use this as a workaround.
I also looked in C:\WINDOWS\system32\GroupPolicy\User\Scripts\Logoff and there are no files in that directory.
Best Answer
Try this to rule out the "log off" button being the actual problem.
create a new shortcut on your desktop (right-click -> new -> shortcut)
enter this as the location %windir%\system32\shutdown.exe -l -t 0
enter a name for the shortcut
click finish
double-click on your newly minted shortcut to log out. If your computer still shuts down completely, the log off button itself is not the issue.
If it still shuts down all the way, there may be some script on log-off that is telling the system to shut down upon logoff. check this folder for a bat file or some other script. C:\WINDOWS\System32\GroupPolicy\User\Scripts\Logoff
If there is something there, chances are your domain policy admins have put it there for some reason.
now, if it only happens to your user account, the policy may be scoped to only apply to YOU.