TweakUI Log-in Problem

[Craig Williams]

The basic question is how to get Windows XP Pro to log-in to me, not to
Administrator, when I power on the PC. That is how it worked until . . .



Let me start by saying that this is a self-inflicted wound, caused by my
ignorance and useless tinkering. I installed TweakUI power toy on Sunday
(Windows XP Pro on my home PC), and everything seemed to be OK. The next
day, when I started my PC, it came up to a log-in screen for
"Administrator." There was no drop-down for selecting another user (my
previous user name), and I guess I panicked a little when the desktop had
none of my settings, Internet connection, etc. I could log-in, but it wasn'
t as me.



Figuring that TweakUI had done something to my log-in, I uninstalled it, but
still no change. So as my anxiety level went up, I decided to reinstall
Windows. Still no change (except on restart I got BSOD due to "serious
hardware problems" and by trial and error I figured out that the modem was
the cause, eventually fixed by changing drivers to an older version - go
figure!).



Finally, I overtyped the log-in of "Administrator" with my own user name
and, voila, there it was. Everything was back to "normal," except I still
have to overtype "Administrator" with my user name when I turn on the PC.



How do I undo this and have the PC boot up to my desktop, no log-in
required, just like it used to be? Any suggestions are welcome, except
those recommending self-flagellation - I've already done that plenty!



Thanks,

Craig

 

[Jeff Rebeiro]

Check under Users Accounts in Control Panel and make sure your user is
there. I apologize if I am not very specific I am currently on a domain and
might not have the same settings as you. There may be a setting for your
user account to display on the Welcome Screen.

If not there is a registry hack that would get them back. Check the
following key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \
Winlogon \ SpecialAccounts \ UserList \

Look for your username in that key. If its there then remove it. Your
account should show up in the welcome screen again.

If you want the machine to log you in automatically then reinstall TweakUI.
Go to Logon > Autologon and check the box to Log on automatically at system
startup. Type in your username, password, and domain if applicable.
Although I personally would hunt you down if you were using autologon on my
network. Hopefully this is a personal system and no domain is necessary.

Hope this helps,

Jeff Rebeiro

 

[Rich Barry]

Craig, check at Kelly's http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm Select
U and scroll to User
Profiles.

 

[Craig Williams]

Follow-up:

This suggestion worked. I tried to "change the way users log on and off" in
User Accounts, but that didn't solve the problem. I reinstalled TweakUI and
in the Auto-Logon options I typed in my user name. The default was
"Administrator" and that's what got me thrown off - I didn't change it to my
user name when I checked the Auto Logon box.

Thanks for the tips.
Craig

"Jeff Rebeiro"