Autologon set, but doesn't stick

Terry Pinnell · External Since: Jun 14, 2004 Posts: 509

For years I've always had Autologon enabled (via TweakUI). But
recently this XP Pro PC has started re-setting that somehow. It
insists on booting up to the Welcome screen offering me a choice of
user accounts. When I check TweakUI again, sure enough that checkmark
has disappeared again.

Anyone have any ideas why please?

In case it's relevant, a while ago I did setup a new user account,
Test', as a trouble-shooting aid.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

TaurArian · External Since: Jan 30, 2009 Posts: 8

Terry Pinnell wrote:
:: For years I've always had Autologon enabled (via TweakUI). But
:: recently this XP Pro PC has started re-setting that somehow. It
:: insists on booting up to the Welcome screen offering me a choice of
:: user accounts. When I check TweakUI again, sure enough that checkmark
:: has disappeared again.
::
:: Anyone have any ideas why please?
::
:: In case it's relevant, a while ago I did setup a new user account,
:: Test', as a trouble-shooting aid.
::
:: --
:: Terry, East Grinstead, UK

From an Administrator account, click Start, Run and enter CONTROL
USERPASSWORDS2 Remove the check mark from Users must enter a username and
password and click Apply. Follow the prompts.

Or

.. Go to the Start Menu and the Run box.
.. Type in the following:
control userpasswords2
.. now click OK
.. In the new Windows that appears select the account you wish to make the
primary logon.
.. Now uncheck the "Users must enter a username and password..." box.
.. Hit Apply and a dialog box will appear asking you to confirm the
selected users password.

Click OK.
The changes will work the next time you restart your computer.

Also see if appropriate -
How to Enable Automatic Logon in Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315231

--

TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2009 - Update Services
http://taurarian.mvps.org
======================================
Disclaimer: The information has been posted "as is" with no warranties
or guarantees and doesn't give any rights.

Terry Pinnell · External Since: Jun 14, 2004 Posts: 509

"TaurArian" <taurarian.TakeThisOut@gmailREMOVE.com> wrote:

>Terry Pinnell wrote:
>:: For years I've always had Autologon enabled (via TweakUI). But
>:: recently this XP Pro PC has started re-setting that somehow. It
>:: insists on booting up to the Welcome screen offering me a choice of
>:: user accounts. When I check TweakUI again, sure enough that checkmark
>:: has disappeared again.
>::
>:: Anyone have any ideas why please?
>::
>:: In case it's relevant, a while ago I did setup a new user account,
>:: Test', as a trouble-shooting aid.
>::
>:: --
>:: Terry, East Grinstead, UK
>
>
>From an Administrator account, click Start, Run and enter CONTROL
>USERPASSWORDS2 Remove the check mark from Users must enter a username and
>password and click Apply. Follow the prompts.
>
>Or
>
>. Go to the Start Menu and the Run box.
>. Type in the following:
> control userpasswords2
>. now click OK
>. In the new Windows that appears select the account you wish to make the
>primary logon.
>. Now uncheck the "Users must enter a username and password..." box.
>. Hit Apply and a dialog box will appear asking you to confirm the
>selected users password.
>
>Click OK.
>The changes will work the next time you restart your computer.
>
>
>Also see if appropriate -
>How to Enable Automatic Logon in Windows
>http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315231

Thanks TaurArian, appreciate the help. I've followed the first of your
two suggestions. I had a bad moment when asked for a password; I never
assigned one so I tried just pressing Enter and was relieved that it
seemed to work OK.

It had occurred to me since my post that perhaps the reason for this
happening was that I'd made a new user account, Test, and I should
have also used TweakUI to set *that* to Autologon. Does that sound a
likely explanation please?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Tim Meddick · External Since: Feb 16, 2009 Posts: 128

You could always use the small utility from Sysinternals (a division of
Microsoft) called Autologon.exe available [free] to download from:

http://live.sysinternals.com/Autologon.exe

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. Smile

"Terry Pinnell" <terrypinDELETE.TakeThisOut@THESEdial.pipex.com> wrote in message
news:17tk15l5d4ppj7a7f2vtetm7t67bi4u98l@4ax.com...
> For years I've always had Autologon enabled (via TweakUI). But
> recently this XP Pro PC has started re-setting that somehow. It
> insists on booting up to the Welcome screen offering me a choice of
> user accounts. When I check TweakUI again, sure enough that checkmark
> has disappeared again.
>
> Anyone have any ideas why please?
>
> In case it's relevant, a while ago I did setup a new user account,
> Test', as a trouble-shooting aid.
>
> --
> Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Terry Pinnell · External Since: Jun 14, 2004 Posts: 509

"Tim Meddick" <timmeddick.TakeThisOut@gawab.com> wrote:

>You could always use the small utility from Sysinternals (a division of
>Microsoft) called Autologon.exe available [free] to download from:
>
>http://live.sysinternals.com/Autologon.exe

Thanks Tim, I'll try that if it happens again. My first re-boot after
applying TaurArian's suggestion loaded me to my surprise into an
unfamiliar and basic 'Administrator' account. Not sure what happened
there; presumably my error somewhere. Anyway, when I went to TweakUI I
then found 'Administrator' specified. I changed that back to 'Terry'
and the next re-boot happily not only by-passed the Welcome screen but
also took me to the correct user account.

If you'll excuse a different question, I assume that when I'm running
in my account in this direct logon way, no CPU activity is being used
by any other user account? (I'm trying to isolate an elusive
performance issue and want to be sure that at least I don't need to
look beyond my account!)

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Tim Meddick · External Since: Feb 16, 2009 Posts: 128

Terry,
Yes, that's right, no other *user* accounts will be running
anything with only you logged on.
However, there maybe other named 'users' if you were to open up the
Task Manager (Alt+Ctrl+Del) under the 'Processes' tab under the 'User Name'
column you may see the 'LOCAL SERVICE' account the 'SYSTEM' account and the
'NETWORK SERVICE' account listed along with your own named account (also, if
you allow, and are accepting, remote help at a given time, you may also see
the 'HelpAssistant' account). These are all types of system accounts, and
there may be others on your system.
Check what system accounts are on your PC by going to your
'Administrative Tools' folder on the 'Start Menu' and clicking on the 'Local
Users and Groups' shortcut.
(or type: mmc.exe c:\windows\system32\lusrmgr.msc into the 'Run' box
on the 'Start Menu' instead)

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. Smile

"Terry Pinnell" <terrypinDELETE.DeleteThis@THESEdial.pipex.com> wrote in message
news:n34n15ppl27l96au1sep0feajkq137f4fe@4ax.com...
> "Tim Meddick" <timmeddick.DeleteThis@gawab.com> wrote:
>
>>You could always use the small utility from Sysinternals (a division of
>>Microsoft) called Autologon.exe available [free] to download from:
>>
>>http://live.sysinternals.com/Autologon.exe
>
> Thanks Tim, I'll try that if it happens again. My first re-boot after
> applying TaurArian's suggestion loaded me to my surprise into an
> unfamiliar and basic 'Administrator' account. Not sure what happened
> there; presumably my error somewhere. Anyway, when I went to TweakUI I
> then found 'Administrator' specified. I changed that back to 'Terry'
> and the next re-boot happily not only by-passed the Welcome screen but
> also took me to the correct user account.
>
> If you'll excuse a different question, I assume that when I'm running
> in my account in this direct logon way, no CPU activity is being used
> by any other user account? (I'm trying to isolate an elusive
> performance issue and want to be sure that at least I don't need to
> look beyond my account!)
>
> --
> Terry, East Grinstead, UK