I can’t make my laptop password protected

I am using Windows XP professional edition. I went into control panel and I opened user accounts and I set the administrator account (the only account on my laptop) to be password protected. It says that it is password protected. However, whenever I start up my laptop, it logs in automatically and doesn’t ask me for a password. However, if I press “windows + L” (switch user), it asks me for a password if I want to log back on. Also, if I put the computer on standby and then open up the laptop, it asks me for a password. It only doesn’t ask me for a password when I reset the computer or turn it on and off.

What is going on here? How can I make it so that it asks me for a password?

Thanks.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

It also has an option called "set password." If I disable auto logon but I don't set a password, will I not be able to log on? I have already set the password in control panel.

There's nowhere I can't reach.