Securing your computer from prying eyes or mischief when you are away from your computer can be important no matter where your computer resides. In a work environment, it can be important to maintain the confidentiality of information contained on your computer. At home, you may want to keep your children off of your computer while working on important documents. No matter the need for security, locking your desktop when you step away from your computer can be an important function. This Windows 7 guide provides a step-by-step overview on how you can quickly lock the screen on your computer.

Save all open documents before you lock your computer. This step will ensure your documents are the same when you return to your computer as when you left them. Power fluctuations or forced reboots from automatic updates may make your computer restart while you are away from your computer. These acts may cause you to lose any unsaved work. It is a good habit to save all documents before you step away from your computer to minimize potential data losses.

Lock your desktop using two quick keystrokes. Press and hold the "Windows" key (the key adorned with the windows flag icon) and then press the" L" key on your keyboard. This keystroke combination will quickly lock your screen in Windows 7.

Unlock your desktop when you return to your computer. Simply enter your standard Windows password and hit the "Enter" key to regain entry to your computer. All programs and open files should appear exactly as you left them.

Check out the how tos below to learn other tips for the Windows 7 Operating System:

1. How to Burn Disk Images in Windows 7
2. How to Change the Taskbar Clock Setting in Windows 7
3. How to Change What the Power Button Does in Windows 7
4. How to Combine Apps and Make the Taskbar Smaller in Windows 7
5. How to Create a Full Search in Windows 7
6. How to Create a Virtual Hard Disk in Windows 7
7. How to Display Empty Drives in Windows 7
8. How to Dock Window from Left to Right to Center in Windows 7
9. How to Encrypt a USB Drive in Windows 7
10. How to Magnify the Screen in Windows 7
11. How to Make Your Background a Slideshow in Windows 7
12. How to Minimize Hide Expand Browse Windows in Windows 7
13. How to Quickly Arrange Icons in Windows 7
14. How to Quickly Create a New Instance of a Program in Windows 7
15. How to Quickly Lock the Screen in Windows 7
16. How to Remove or Add Run Command in Start Menu in Windows 7
17. How to Run an Application as Administrator in Windows 7
18. How to Run An Application As Another User in Windows 7
19. How to Show or Hide the Preview Side Bar in Windows 7
20. How TO Stretch a Window Vertically in Windows 7
21. How To Turn On and Off Security Settings in Windows 7
22. How to Use the App Locker in Windows 7