Page 1 of 1

How do I disable the startup screen

Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 3:24 am
by Guest
Its not the welcome screen, but its a less friendly version of it. It shows my username and I have to type a password, but I don't use a password so I don't need it, so does anyone know how to disable it?

WinXP Pro SP2 corporate or something.

Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 3:31 am
by Foo
That screen is *always* there in a domain environment and cannot be removed. However, in a workgroup or non-networked environment, go to control panel > user account > find the bit that says 'change the way users log on and off' and you can probably turn the welcome screen back on.

If you want to completely bypass any form of logon screen, I beleive having 1 enabled account on your machine with no password will automatically skip the screen.

Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 4:07 am
by Kills On Site
if you are the only user, or your account is hte only one used I would do this little tweak

start> run> control userpasswords2> unckeck the users must enter a username and password to use this computer> hit apply and make sure your username is in the logon box

After doing that I would disable the Welcome Screen as disabling it makes logon and logoff, or startup and shut down, faster

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 1:58 am
by Guest
That worked but all my settings were taken from the "administrator" account. Any way to transfer the settings from ToxicBug account to the admin account and erase toxicbug?

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 2:18 am
by Kills On Site
not quite sure what you mean, but if I inderstand correctly, why not just autyo logon to ToxicBug and leave the admin account alone?

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 2:21 am
by Guest
How do I autologon to ToxicBug? If I disable password checking, it used the Administrator account, and I can't remove that account.

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 5:14 am
by signa
try: start > run > control userpasswords2

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 5:37 am
by Kills On Site
when you click Apply after hitting the password checking it should give you an "Auntomatically Log On" box with a username, password and comfim password. In the username box just type in ToxicBug and hit OK. That should work

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 5:38 am
by Kills On Site
signa wrote:try: start > run > control userpasswords2
check my first post

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 8:07 am
by Dr_Watson
if you're the onlyone that uses the pc... why would you use a user other than the admin account?

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 7:25 pm
by Foo
For one, if you use the default 'administrator' account, disabling it and using your own personal logon is wise. Anyone attempting to get into your system knows your username if you're 'administrator'. Having to guess both a username and password is more difficult than just having to guess a password.

Second, it's wise to downgrade the account you use to a Power User or normal user. You can't (or shouldn't) do this to the Administrator account. A limited account is more secure for general use.

What's above is the 'good practice' stuff. Most PC users, or humans in general, don't follow precautionary practices if seems like restricting themself. I think it's an ego thing, I find myself guilty of it often.

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 9:44 pm
by Tormentius
Foo wrote: What's above is the 'good practice' stuff. Most PC users, or humans in general, don't follow precautionary practices if seems like restricting themself. I think it's an ego thing, I find myself guilty of it often.
Likewise.

Users running as an admin is one of the biggest reasons so many exploits work. Windows can be quite secure but the problem is that most people don't follow best practices.

Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 2:23 am
by Kills On Site
I'll admit I run an admin access account, mainly for the ease of being able to install everyone I want to me or all users. I have not truly found too many problems doing this, but I set other acounts at a lower setting.

Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 3:14 am
by Guest
Thats a good idea Foo. I'll look into it :)

Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 3:21 am
by glossy
toxic, download a little thing from microsoft called "tweakui", then set it to automatically log in as toxicbug => your admin account is safe, your data doesn't have to be moved over, and all's good in the world:

direct link - ms powertools

Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 3:34 am
by Guest
glossy wrote:toxic, download a little thing from microsoft called "tweakui", then set it to automatically log in as toxicbug => your admin account is safe, your data doesn't have to be moved over, and all's good in the world:

direct link - ms powertools
Aye, I had it but didn't see that option. Now I've set a password to the Administrator account, set ToxicBug as a User and put him on autologon. Owned. Thanks everyone :D

Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 3:39 am
by Kills On Site
glossy wrote:toxic, download a little thing from microsoft called "tweakui", then set it to automatically log in as toxicbug => your admin account is safe, your data doesn't have to be moved over, and all's good in the world:

direct link - ms powertools
I did do that at one time, but if you have the startup screen disabled, thus making startup and shutdown faster, then it only works once right after you set it.

Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 1:46 pm
by glossy
but at the price of less security...

*shrug* just passing it on