XP Log-on Question

[Ksyrup]

I've never really understood the various user accounts that can be created and used on XP to begin with, since we just want to use the freakin' computer, regardless of which one of us it is. When I start my computer, it goes straight to my desktop...at least it did, until I installed my new printer/scanner this morning. Now, every time I start the computer, I have to choose my "account" (Owner is the only option), or alternatively, I get the user name/password prompt.

I've been to the user settings, and these are my only two choices. How do I get back to what I had before - which was no prompt, just load up windows and go straight to my desktop?

[kcchief19]

Can you delete the "Owner" account? I believe if there is not an account available, it will open with the logon prompt. My guess is that when you installed the new hardware some gremlin in there created an account for you.

Can't imagine that -- a Microsoft product doing something you didn't want it to do automatically without your knowledge?

[Fritz]

go back to 3.1 and marvel at the UI.

[Ksyrup]

I was thinking of doing that, but I was afraid that I'd get locked out of my own computer. I'm not even sure if there was an Owner account before, that's how little I know about accounts. If I delete it, will I still be able to get to my desktop?

[MJ4H]

I dont have much knowledge on the subject but I think I can contribute a little. From my understanding if there is networking involved XP will go to the account log in screen and there is no way around this. Since printers are sometimes used on a network installing your printer software may have activated some networking feature in XP which caused the login procedure. In reality, this is a guess, and you can take it at that face value, but it might help you figure out how to undo whatever your printer software did to cause this.

[MikeVic]

I don't know if this is the simplest way, but...

-Right-click My Computer, and click on Manage.
-Under System Tools, click the '+' beside Local Users and Groups.
-Click the Users folder.

I believe if you delete everyone from there, it'll automatically logon....

[MizzouRah]

For XP Home,

Try, Start - Control Panel - User accounts. Select Change an account, click on the owner account and delete it, if you can. I use multiple accounts for me and my wife, so I don't have the owner account option, but that should work.


Todd

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by MikeVic

I don't know if this is the simplest way, but...

-Right-click My Computer, and click on Manage.
-Under System Tools, click the '+' beside Local Users and Groups.
-Click the Users folder.

I believe if you delete everyone from there, it'll automatically logon....

I have no Users folder there.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

For XP Home,

Try, Start - Control Panel - User accounts. Select Change an account, click on the owner account and delete it, if you can. I use multiple accounts for me and my wife, so I don't have the owner account option, but that should work.


Todd

It won't let me delete an account without having another account do the deleting. So no matter what, I end up with at least one account.

[MizzouRah]

You forced me to 'Google".


How to turn on automatic logon in Windows XP

View products that this article applies to.
This article was previously published under Q315231
Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry


INTRODUCTION

This article describes how to configure Microsoft Windows XP to automate the logon process by storing your password and other pertinent information in the registry database. This feature permits other users to start your computer and to use the account that you establish to automatically log on.

Important If you turn on autologon, using Windows XP becomes more convenient. However, using this feature can pose a security risk.
MORE INFORMATION

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
If you set a computer for automatic logon, anyone who can physically gain access to the computer can also gain access to everything that is on the computer, including any network or networks that the computer is connected to. Additionally, if you turn on automatic logon, the password is stored in the registry in plain text. The specific registry key that stores this value is remotely readable by the Authenticated Users group. Therefore, only use this setting if the computer is physically secured and if you make sure that users who you do not trust cannot remotely see the registry.

You can use Registry Editor to add your log on information. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK to start Registry Editor.
2. Locate the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
   
3. Using your account name and password, double-click the DefaultUserName entry, type your user name, and then click OK.
4. Double-click the DefaultPassword entry, type your password under the value data box, and then click OK.
   
   If there is no DefaultPassword value, create the value. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. In Registry Editor, click Edit, click New, and then click String Value.
   2. Type DefaultPassword as the value name, and then press ENTER.
   3. Double-click the newly created key, and then type your password in the Value Data box.
   If no DefaultPassword string is specified, Windows XP automatically changes the value of the AutoAdminLogon registry key from 1 (true) to 0 (false) to turn off the AutoAdminLogon feature.
5. Double-click the AutoAdminLogon entry, type 1 in the Value Data box, and then click OK.
   
   If there is no AutoAdminLogon entry, create the entry. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. In Registry Editor, click Edit, click New, and then click String Value.
   2. Type AutoAdminLogon as the value name, and then press ENTER.
   3. Double-click the newly created key, and then type 1 in the Value Data box.
6. Quit Registry Editor.
7. Click Start, click Restart, and then click OK.

After your computer restarts and Windows XP starts, you can log on automatically.

If you want to bypass the automatic logon to log on as a different user, hold down the SHIFT key after you log off or after Windows XP restarts. Note that this procedure applies only to the first logon. To enforce this setting for future logoffs, the administrator must set the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Value:ForceAutoLogon
Type: REG_SZ
Data: 1

You can also use turn on automatic logon without editing the registry in Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition and in Microsoft Windows XP Professional (not joined to a domain). To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type control userpasswords2, and then click OK.
3. In the dialog box that appears, click to clear the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer check box, and then click OK.

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition

[Grid Iron]

Editing the registry can be dangerous. You should try this method first.

Here is how I get an auto logon:

1. Download the TweakUI Powertoy for WinXP, available at Microsoft.
2. Install the TweakUI porgram
3. Start the program, and expand the "Logon" tree
4. Click on "Autologon" and put a check in the top box
5. Restart your machine.

Give it a shot. It works for me.

[sterlingice]

MizzouRah's post brings up a great point. Like or hate Microsoft, their knowledge base is an exceptionally useful tool provided you have a decent idea what you are looking for. If you know the terminology of what you're looking for, it's a great place to start.

SI

[Ksyrup]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try it tonight. I guess this would be easier if I had a clue about how I got it the way I wanted it before, but I don't recall ever having to do anything to get it to auto-logon before now. Wierd.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try it tonight. I guess this would be easier if I had a clue about how I got it the way I wanted it before, but I don't recall ever having to do anything to get it to auto-logon before now. Wierd.

Yesterday, I accidentally copied my desktop folder into another programs download folder. You wouldn't believe all the sheet this caused me. Everytime I would download to my desktop, it would go into that folder instead of on my desktop. I tried to delete the folder, but it would say I couldn't delete a windows system folder, even though I had another desktop folder in my documents and settings folder. Took me hours to figure out how to fix it.

I know how frustrating stuff like this is....


Todd

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by Grid Iron

Editing the registry can be dangerous. You should try this method first.

Here is how I get an auto logon:

1. Download the TweakUI Powertoy for WinXP, available at Microsoft.
2. Install the TweakUI porgram
3. Start the program, and expand the "Logon" tree
4. Click on "Autologon" and put a check in the top box
5. Restart your machine.

Give it a shot. It works for me.

TweakUI is good.

[rkmsuf]

leave the computer on

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

leave the computer on

The CPU is too noisy while the baby sleeps.

Really, this isn't anything other than an annoyance, but if I can get rid of it rather than have to deal with it, I'd be happier. At least the damn thing still works.

[rkmsuf]

suggesting the increased use of ball bearings at this point seems obvious

[hukarez]

I noticed, after having installed SP1, that I've been getting that logon screen too. I'd like for it to automatically log me in, as before...I'll probably try the aforementioned tips above. I'll probably go for that TweakUI program first...but, I'm a bit leery about applications running in the background from the get go..

[FrogMan]

I started getting that logon screen in which I simply had to click on "owner" (no password required) to go through, after installing the .NET package. I also had to click on that darn "owner" logo whenever the screensaver would go on...

I went to the user list and deleted the .NET framework user that had been created there, and the logon disappeared...

FM

[Grid Iron]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

I started getting that logon screen in which I simply had to click on "owner" (no password required) to go through, after installing the .NET package. I also had to click on that darn "owner" logo whenever the screensaver would go on...

I went to the user list and deleted the .NET framework user that had been created there, and the logon disappeared...

FM

Same thing with me. I think I read somewhere else on FOFC a while back that the .NET framework pulls up that logon screen.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

TweakUI is good.

Let me reiterate since more questions about this are coming through: TweakUI will fix this for you. Download TweakUI. It has a utility that lets you set all kinds of options that Windows likes to tweak behind your back, including having the log on screen appear. So get TweakUI if you want to make the logon screen go away and automatically log on a particular user.