did you install the .Net "recommended" update recently? That's probably
why.
When your welcome screen comes up, is there just your name, no others?
Good, then .Net is most likely the reason.
1) get TweakUI:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp
[get any other powertoys you want too, but tweakUI is GREAT, everyone
should have it].
After install it will appear in start menu under "powertoys for Windows
XP", not in control panel like previous version did; however there is a
patch file you can get that will add it to control panel too:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_addtweak.htm
2) using tweakui, do this:
in left pane, highlight LOGON (not autologon; not yet anyway).
is there a line that says "show ASPNET on welcome screen"? Is it
checked? if so UNCHECK it. Now the only "show...on welcome screen" item
checked should be your account name. if so you're set. click ok and
reboot, it should go right past the welcome screen since 1) your account
is the only account, and 2) it has no password.
If this does not work for you, then you can go on and use TweakUI's
"autologon" feature.
-------
note: using control panel | users and groups, you could also disable the
ASPNET account, but it's not necessary if you do the above. That account
is there for some (ie, few) .NET applications that might need it; it is
not a secrity hole, I would just leave it as is.
