Windows 7 opening screen.
 

When I put my laptop to sleep, when I open it up again I have to click on the middle of the screen, even though I don't have it password-protected.

How can I disable this 'feature' so that W7 automatically resumes without me needing to acknowledge and click?

Wanted to know this for myself in the past, various ways to achieve but follow this for starters:

Start button >> type 'run'

enter control userpasswords2 (exactly like that)

Untick 'users must enter password....'

On advanced tab, make sure 'users must press ctrl alt delete' is unchecked too.

Apply & ok and that should do the trick!

Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Power Options\

Laptop shows different from PC.

On the left - 'require a password on wakeup' gives system settings.

Under the selections for battery and mains power sleep etc., is an unusual heading.

'Change settings that are currently unavailable' And there it is.