If you want to automatically log on to Windows and still have account privileges for your domain or other network share credentials here's how. You should keep in mind however this is a bad idea if there are more then just you that have access to your machine or if you are in a corporate environment.
Windows XP had a neat little utility called TweakUI as part of their power tools collection. One of the neat things this neat tool would do is configure the registry for auto-logon. As of this writing no such tool exist for Vista. This can still be done by modifying the registry and if you have had any time logged on Windows you know:
"WARNING: Modifying the Registry incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your OS. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Modify the Registry at your own risk."
But since I don't work for Microsoft and I'm not your system administrator I can tell you: it's cool man; you don't need no stink'n log in prompt if ya don't wanna. So here's how:
- Create a new text file.
- Copy the Following text into the new file:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"AutoAdminLogon"="1"
"DefaultUserName"="YourLogonName"
"DefaultPassword"="YourPassword"
"DefaultDomainName"="YourDomain"
- Replace YourLogonName, YourPassword, and YourDomain with you know your name, your password, and your domain name. If you don't have a domain put the name of your machine there.
- Save this file as AutoLogon.reg (or anything you want so long as it is .reg)
- Double click this file once it is saved, blow past the warnings and you should get a message that the registry has been updated. Now if you got the name, password, and domain right your machine will automatically boot into your account without the log in screen.
And for the undo:
- Create a new text file.
- Copy the Following text into the new file:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"AutoAdminLogon"=-
"DefaultUserName"=-
"DefaultPassword"=-
"DefaultDomainName"=-
- Save the file as RemAutoLogon.reg (or anything you want so long as it is .reg)
- Double click this file once it is saved, blow past the warnings and you should get a message that the registry has been updated. Now your machine will NOT automatically boot into your account without the log in screen.
Happy booting.
