Recently, when Windows 10 returns to the lock screen, all of my programs (e.g. Excel) are closed, any unsaved information is lost, and I must restart the programs upon entering my password at the lock screen. The behavior is as if, by leaving the computer idle, I clicked the "sign out" option (which I have not).
- Reverting to an old system restore point did not work.
- Using Win-L and then immediately entering my password does not close my programs. I don't know how long the delay is between going to the lock screen and my programs being closed
- I have no screen saver; the screen goes blank after 10 minutes; I have - to my knowledge - unchecked all instances of returning to the lock screen
- I do want the lock screen, as this is an office computer
- When booting to safe mode, the problem does not appear.
In response to comments
- My office computer is not on the institution's domain, although they do have one.
- I can confirm that the computer is not rebooting by checking that no events with IDs 6005 or 6006 occur at times when my programs close
- Starting the lock screen witn Win-L and waiting 15-20 minutes does not cause my programs to close. I not yet been able to check longer times; however, this is the only clue I have thus far to suggest that the program closing issue may not be attached to the lock screen.
I am not sufficiently familiar with the event viewer or task scheduling to check these systems for additional diagnostic information.
How do I continue to diagnose, and ultimately resolve, the issue of the Windows-10 lock screen apparently forcing all of my programs to close?