Computer keeps locking automatically

Anonymous
2019-11-17T16:41:28+00:00

My computer keeps locking up. Ill try to run something and a blue screen will pop saying "locking..." And it will completely shut down. How do i fix this?

***Modified title from: my computer (dell, windows 10) keeps locking up, how do I fix it?***

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2019-12-05T19:26:00+00:00

Solved!!!!!

I have confirmed my critical battery level action suspicion I described before.  To test it I set my critical battery level higher and unplugged my PC to run it down to that level.  As soon as it reached that point, the blue "Locking" screen popped up and it went into hibernation just like it's set to do.  There was also another very quick notification screen/message but I'm not certain what it said.  I think it might have said something about critical battery level but, again, I'm not certain.  I am 100% certain that I saw the mysterious "Locking" message on a blue screen exactly as I'd been seeing it before all those times. 

So anyone else who is having this same problem, you most likely have a really old battery that drains super fast when you're working your PC hard and using a lot of energy.  Or your battery may be malfunctioning but leading to the same issue.  It's draining so quickly there's no time for the other power level notifications and it's going straight to the critical battery level action. 

There is another thread somewhere else where the Windows "expert" states that he is not aware of any screen or message that says "Locking" in Windows 10, which we now know is incorrect, and that is probably causing a lot of confusion for those of us that are experiencing this rare issue.  I even noticed that the font for this "Locking" message was the same Windows font we're so familiar with.  And since I read somewhere else someone was having this same issue on a Dell laptop, we can be certain that it is indeed a function of Windows 10. 

Now that I've confirmed it myself, I can stop worrying about malware or a virus causing it.  That would be a very weird thing to be causing anyway since there's no other issues related and I can always restart, or bring out of hibernation, my laptop no problem.

Well, I hope anyone else that's having this same, strange issue reads this and finally finds some clarity.  If you do happen to read this all and changing the battery does solve the problem, please post a response here if you don't mind.  Even though I'm 100% now that I've found the answer, I'd still like to get outside confirmation and also know if my efforts have helped anyone else.  This is such a rare, weird issue that even the Windows experts have been stumped.  It would be great for my ego to know I did, indeed, solve this mystery.

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-02-24T08:25:35+00:00

    Thanks for the detail you've posted.  My laptop, 10 yrs old, shut down tonight for the first time with the same locking message.  FINALLY found your messages & know what's probably causing the problem.  But so far I havent been able to restart it, so the old battery may be completely dead.  Thanks again!

    I have a Dell computer, several years old.  It's battery is dead, but I have been keeping it plugged in.  I think that heat is the problem.  If I leave it off for several hours it comes back, always, up to this point.

    I don't see the point in trying to replace the battery.  Luckily I have another, newer Dell laptop and I use them both, gradually transferring my necessary files to the new one.  Good Luck.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-02-24T05:06:42+00:00

    Thanks for the detail you've posted.  My laptop, 10 yrs old, shut down tonight for the first time with the same locking message.  FINALLY found your messages & know what's probably causing the problem.  But so far I havent been able to restart it, so the old battery may be completely dead.  Thanks again!

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-02-22T12:13:53+00:00

    That's what mine was doing some of the time.  If I was running it hard, doing 3 or 4 things at once.  I think it needed some battery power, even a little, but sustained for just long enough to run my old, really bad battery down right to critical.  Always the "Locking" message on the blue screen then instantly hibernation. 

    How old is your battery?  If not too old can you run a diagnostic on it?  Some PC manufacturers have a free tool in their site's product support area that you can run to check your battery's condition.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-02-19T00:55:02+00:00

    My computer keeps locking. I understand it may be the battery. But I don't use the battery. I'm plugged into an electric outlet at all times. Would I still be getting locked out due to the battery?

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