Creating and auto-loading a "Main" user account

[DataWhat]

I have a (Windows XP Home) laptop that I bought for home use but
occasionally use for work. I have created a second user account that
has the handful of Work-related apps on it that I can switch users and
get to if need be.

My question is: Is there a way that I can have my laptop auto-load to
my main (home) account every time I boot up (instead of giving me the
screen that makes me choose between my home and Work user names)?

Thanks,
Zac

 

[JS]

Download Tweak UI from Microsoft
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Then expand the Logon option and select Autologon and Check the Autologon
box.

OR

Start/Run and enter: CONTROL USERPASSWORDS2
On the User tab: pick (highlight) the account you want to automatically log
on
Then uncheck: Users must enter username and password
Next click Apply and enter the password (if the account you pick has a
password)
Finally click OK until your completely out

JS

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have a (Windows XP Home) laptop that I bought for home use but
occasionally use for work. I have created a second user account that
has the handful of Work-related apps on it that I can switch users and
get to if need be.

My question is: Is there a way that I can have my laptop auto-load to
my main (home) account every time I boot up (instead of giving me the
screen that makes me choose between my home and Work user names)?

Yes.

Go to Start | Run, and type "control userpasswords2" Select the
account you want to logon to automatically. Then uncheck the box
"Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer."

Or do the same thing with TweakUI.

 

[DataWhat]

Thanks, this did the trick.

One thing that wasn't clear (but I discovered via trial and error) is
that I didn't need to fill in a password for my main user account
(since that account doesn't use a password).

Once I left that field blank, it worked like a charm.

Zac

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Thanks, this did the trick.

One thing that wasn't clear (but I discovered via trial and error) is
that I didn't need to fill in a password for my main user account
(since that account doesn't use a password).

Once I left that field blank, it worked like a charm.

Zac

Note that there can be unwanted side effects of not having user account
passwords.

In particular, the Windows Scheduler can require a password on local
accounts for scheduled tasks to run.

A prime example of the symptom is that scheduled backups don't run.

HTH
-pk