Frustrated Newbie

  • Thread starter Thread starter jam6444
  • Start date Start date
J

jam6444

O.K. several months ago I got a new Dell at work. had WinXP on it. Fast
and never a problem.
Cut the machine on, a minute later it AUTOMATICALLY gets to the
desktop. Everytime. Works great. (I checked the local user settings in
Admin Tools and nothing has the red x on it.)

Now, at home I had to replace the HD and bought a copy of WinXP pro.
I'd like it to do the same thing on start up. However, I have to make
a choice bewtween My user account and the admin account. Disabling the
admin account wreaks all kind of havoc. I can disable that screen that
gives me a choice but it will start up in Admin account. my kids can't
handle that. switching back and forth is not really something I want
to be doing. I've gone to the control user passwords2 screen and
unchecked the box there. Still no luck. Bottom line is I'd like the
machine to startup and go to the desktop and already be logged on to MY
account Any help would be appreciated.

JM
 
O.K. several months ago I got a new Dell at work. had WinXP on it. Fast
and never a problem.
Cut the machine on, a minute later it AUTOMATICALLY gets to the
desktop. Everytime. Works great. (I checked the local user settings in
Admin Tools and nothing has the red x on it.)

Now, at home I had to replace the HD and bought a copy of WinXP pro.
I'd like it to do the same thing on start up. However, I have to make
a choice bewtween My user account and the admin account. Disabling the
admin account wreaks all kind of havoc. I can disable that screen that
gives me a choice but it will start up in Admin account. my kids can't
handle that. switching back and forth is not really something I want
to be doing. I've gone to the control user passwords2 screen and
unchecked the box there. Still no luck. Bottom line is I'd like the
machine to startup and go to the desktop and already be logged on to MY
account Any help would be appreciated.

JM
Click to expand...

- Run control userpasswords2
- Tick the box that requires users to enter a password.
- Single-click the preferred user name.
- Untick the box that requires users to enter a password.
- Click OK and enter the correct password.
BTW, if you wish to attract the attention of the right
newsgroup respondents, try to compose a meaningful
Subject line for your next post.
 
O.K. several months ago I got a new Dell at work. had WinXP on it. Fast
and never a problem.
Cut the machine on, a minute later it AUTOMATICALLY gets to the
desktop. Everytime. Works great. (I checked the local user settings in
Admin Tools and nothing has the red x on it.)

Now, at home I had to replace the HD and bought a copy of WinXP pro.
I'd like it to do the same thing on start up. However, I have to make
a choice bewtween My user account and the admin account. Disabling the
admin account wreaks all kind of havoc. I can disable that screen that
gives me a choice but it will start up in Admin account. my kids can't
handle that. switching back and forth is not really something I want
to be doing. I've gone to the control user passwords2 screen and
unchecked the box there. Still no luck. Bottom line is I'd like the
machine to startup and go to the desktop and already be logged on to MY
account Any help would be appreciated.

JM
Click to expand...


Start | Run <type in>
control userpasswords2
<enter>

Click on your profile, unselect user must enter....

You should be asked for a password, apply
 
Now, at home I had to replace the HD and bought a copy of WinXP pro.
I'd like it to do the same thing on start up. However, I have to make
a choice bewtween My user account and the admin account. Disabling the
admin account wreaks all kind of havoc. I can disable that screen that
gives me a choice but it will start up in Admin account. my kids can't
handle that. switching back and forth is not really something I want
to be doing. I've gone to the control user passwords2 screen and
unchecked the box there. Still no luck. Bottom line is I'd like the
machine to startup and go to the desktop and already be logged on to MY
account Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Another way to set up the system to login automatically is to use TweakUI,
one of the MS powertoys.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp
 
O.K. several months ago I got a new Dell at work. had WinXP on it. Fast
and never a problem.
Cut the machine on, a minute later it AUTOMATICALLY gets to the
desktop. Everytime. Works great. (I checked the local user settings in
Admin Tools and nothing has the red x on it.)

Now, at home I had to replace the HD and bought a copy of WinXP pro.
I'd like it to do the same thing on start up. However, I have to make
a choice bewtween My user account and the admin account. Disabling the
admin account wreaks all kind of havoc. I can disable that screen that
gives me a choice but it will start up in Admin account. my kids can't
handle that. switching back and forth is not really something I want
to be doing. I've gone to the control user passwords2 screen and
unchecked the box there. Still no luck. Bottom line is I'd like the
machine to startup and go to the desktop and already be logged on to MY
account Any help would be appreciated.

JM
Click to expand...


If you've got kids, then I strongly suggest you do NOT use autologin. Sooner
or later you will find that they've installed all sorts of rubbish, deleted
system files and at worst, reformatted the HDD.
DON'T DO IT. Stick with users and passwords.

BTW, I'm EXTREMELY surprised that they allow you to do Autolog-in at work.
Security of data and all that?
 
All you MVPs are recommending that someone with KIDS uses Auto-login?

Jeeeze! Wait for the flack......
Click to expand...

LOL, yep, bad idea, even if not kids but a roommate or anyone else.
Heck, I even have logon time restrictions for my kids, and enforce
"strong" passwords.
 
Gordon said:
All you MVPs are recommending that someone with KIDS uses Auto-login?

Jeeeze! Wait for the flack......
Click to expand...
It depends how old the "kids" are, and how knowledgeable they are about
computers.
If the kids should be monitored, forcing a password entry is one good idea,
assuming you enter the password for them.
If the "kids" are over 18, autologin should be fine..

You don't have to worry about them installing crap if you don't give them
rights to.. letting them autologin does not make them admin..
 
Eric said:
It depends how old the "kids" are, and how knowledgeable they are about
computers.
If the kids should be monitored, forcing a password entry is one good
idea, assuming you enter the password for them.
If the "kids" are over 18, autologin should be fine..

You don't have to worry about them installing crap if you don't give them
rights to.. letting them autologin does not make them admin..
Click to expand...


But you can only have ONE autolog-in - are you telling me your autolog-in is
as a LIMITED user?
And it doesn't matter WHAT age your kids are, they will STILL (trust me)
screw up your machine in fairly short shrift.
 
Gordon said:
But you can only have ONE autolog-in - are you telling me your autolog-in
is as a LIMITED user?
Click to expand...

I'm not telling you that, the OP did.
"choice bewtween My user account and the admin account"
If you select an auto-login, you can still switch to other user?
If you need admin, you can always do "run as".
And it doesn't matter WHAT age your kids are, they will STILL (trust me)
screw up your machine in fairly short shrift.
Click to expand...

That is always a risk you take if you leave anyone alone at your PC, whether
you sign them in or they autologin, but the damage should be limited if
their account access is limited.
 
O.K. several months ago I got a new Dell at work. had WinXP on it. Fast
and never a problem.
Cut the machine on, a minute later it AUTOMATICALLY gets to the
desktop. Everytime. Works great. (I checked the local user settings in
Admin Tools and nothing has the red x on it.)

Now, at home I had to replace the HD and bought a copy of WinXP pro.
I'd like it to do the same thing on start up. However, I have to make
a choice bewtween My user account and the admin account. Disabling the
admin account wreaks all kind of havoc. I can disable that screen that
gives me a choice but it will start up in Admin account. my kids can't
handle that. switching back and forth is not really something I want
to be doing. I've gone to the control user passwords2 screen and
unchecked the box there.
Click to expand...

Why not teach your kids good computing habits to start with by setting the
example? Instead of trying to disable logins, leave them enabled and
create a restricted account for everybody who uses that machine (they're
going to have to get used to logging in as themselves for school anyway),
and only use Administrator for changing system-wide settings and system
maintenance. Teaching your kids to misconfigure Windows for three seconds
of convenience and introducing 24-hour insecurity doesn't do you, them, or
the rest of the Internet any good.
 
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