Alternative to Bypassing AutoLogon with Shift Key

[news.microsoft.com]

I manage a small computer lab, where all the XP Pro SP2 machines logon to
the same ADI-GP locked-down account, with a mandatory profile.

The local machine registry has the AutoAdminLogon key set, as well as other
keys to allow automatic bootup to this account, you know the drill.

To do maintenance, I must logon as the local machine admin, so I have to
hold the left-shift key down forever until the logon prompt appears. I've
tried weights and clamps, but there's a timeout value that locks the logon
screen, so sometimes I get to a machine, hit CTRL+ALT+DEL and it logs in the
auto-account...

I want to know if there is a USB flash drive work-around, wherein, with the
USB flash drive plugged in, it will log me in to the local administrator
accout? Conversely, without the USB flash drive, the system will boot to
the account set with AutoAdminLogon. It has to work perfectly, i.e. logging
in with one method doesn't break the other method.

Anyone know of a "credentials on a stick" way of bypassing the
AutoAdminLogon.

Sorry for the verbage, I had two Monster energy drinks and I'm listening to
"The Mikado"...

 

[Harry Johnston]

I want to know if there is a USB flash drive work-around, wherein, with the
USB flash drive plugged in, it will log me in to the local administrator
accout?

No. In principle you could implement this by writing a custom GINA, but that
requires extensive system programming experience.

Assuming the machines are on a network, and if I've understood what you're
trying to do, your best bet is probably to write some scripts that automate the
process of changing the AutoAdminLogon setting across the lab.

Harry.

 

[AnotherYou]

I think I got you... Script a remote registry editing process across those
machines.

That is a completely viable solution that I had not yet thought of, so thank
you very much...