Screensaver asking for a password?

Here's a pretty common Windows question: what do you need to modify so that your screensaver doesn't automatically prompt you for a password each time you want to go back to using your computer after it's kicked off? And, for that matter, how do you fix it if the screensaver starts up way too fast, just minutes after you stop using your computer? Both are answered here:

    Configuring your Windows screensaver

The solution is simple, but if you don't know how to modify it, this kind of thing can definitely drive you crazy!