Is XP Mode causing this issue when I lock my workstation? (Win7 64-bit)

[Ichinisan]

At work, I have to assist people over the phone. They are often using Windows XP / Outlook Express / etc...so I installed the virtualized "XP Mode" (free download from Microsoft) on my Win7 Pro 64-bit workstation...and it does what it's supposed to do. I can use the virtual machine when I need to walk someone through something in Windows XP.

Around the same time I installed that, I noticed an issue with my workstation. I lock the workstation when I leave my desk and unlock it when I return. When I leave for a little while, I unlock and find that some of my applications are no longer connected to the local server and I have to close / reopen these applications. I've also found that I can no longer access my workstation remotely when this happens. It seems that the network connection on my workstation shuts-off when I leave the workstation locked for a while. It only started recently. Our IT / desktop support doesn't know of any recent changes that could have triggered it...so I can only imagine that Windows XP Mode is responsible.

Has anyone else experienced this?

I just thought I should check before I remove XP Mode or start messing with sleep/hibernate settings.