Vista - installing without setting up log in ID and password

[Bob Petruska]

I just bought Home Premium upgrade and before I start the installation I
would like to know if it is posssible to install Vista without setting up a
log in ID or password? Simply, I just wish to turn on my computer to boot
up while I'm away from it as I do in Windows XP Pro every morning (takeds5
minutes to boot). I don't wish to wait there for the Vista log in. I'm the
only home user and won't need additional accounts. IOW, when you perform a
Windows XP Pro install you can leave the log in ID and password blank and
will not require the ID and Password to boot every time. Does Vista have
this?

 

[Michael]

Bob,

Not having an administrative user (besides the default one ) is a really bad
idea you WILL regret it but you can do it.
Create an administrative account, give it a password, and make a password
reset disk. Life will be a lot less interesting this way.

You can set the system to automatically logon to a particular user (with or
without password) on startup.
You turn it on, it logs itself in and you are at the desktop of the
specified user.

I would recommend that you normally not turn off your Vista, instead put it
to sleep or hibernate. These functions work much better than they did in XP.
On my Vista home premium the time from Sleep -> usable is about 10 seconds
(would be 4 seconds but my CRT monitor needs to warm up).

Michael
Vista home premium

 

[David Morgan \(MAMS\)]

I just bought Home Premium upgrade and before I start the installation I
would like to know if it is posssible to install Vista without setting up a
log in ID or password?

Yes. That's the default if you watch your install.

Simply, I just wish to turn on my computer to boot
up while I'm away from it as I do in Windows XP Pro every morning (takeds5
minutes to boot).

You should repair your XP.... Boot time for XP Home as a single user
should be less than 45 seconds.... for single user XP Pro, even less.

IOW, when you perform a
Windows XP Pro install you can leave the log in ID and password blank and
will not require the ID and Password to boot every time. Does Vista have
this?

Yes.

But you should fix your XP. Obviously there's far too much in the
start-up menu and there are basic maintenance issues that need
to be addressed. I'd pull my hair out if the boot time were over
60 seconds.... there's no excuse for it.

 

[David Morgan \(MAMS\)]

Bob,

Not having an administrative user (besides the default one ) is a really bad
idea you WILL regret it

Explain.

 

[Michael]

One example:

Install with only the default administrator account.

Install a program that requires a net.asp. This program will generate a
ASPNET account that is an administrator.
The presence of an administrator account (the asp.net account) disables the
default administrator account.
You now can no longer login as there is no account available to you.



I have also read that the IUSR_NMPR account does the same (media sharing
adds this account).
(to see if you have a NETASP or IUSR_NMPR account on your system: at the
command prompt type net users)

Michael

 

[David Morgan \(MAMS\)]

One example:

Install with only the default administrator account.

Install a program that requires a net.asp. This program will generate a
ASPNET account that is an administrator.

What is MS doing about that issue?

The presence of an administrator account (the asp.net account) disables the
default administrator account.

That is vile and unacceptable. Where can I find information regarding
what MS is doing about that less than minor anomaly? (Bug)

You now can no longer login as there is no account available to you.

Can you seriously not delete that account when the program installs?
(Again, I work without UAC lurking in the background - disabled that
nightmare immediately on install - on a single user PC).

I have also read that the IUSR_NMPR account does the same (media sharing
adds this account).

Surely you can DELETE that account.

(to see if you have a NETASP or IUSR_NMPR account on your system: at the
command prompt type net users)

Michael

Thanks for the heads up.... I've seen printers related software do this
regularly, but it's a simple matter to delete those accounts immediately.

This is a single user PC here... if these fraudulently created accounts can
not be deleted, I'd say that both MS and the OEM software builders have
some 'issues' to deal with.

SO.... can the OP set up an administrator account with NO password
to bypass logon and boot straight to the desktop?


Cheers,

 

[Richard G. Harper]

If you install Vista correctly, with only one user account, it should start
up and go directly to your desktop anyway. There's no way NOT to set up a
user in Vista since the built-in Administrator account is disabled, so you
HAVE to set up one user.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

 

[Guest]

Just install leaving admin name and password blank.

 

[Bob Petruska]

Michael,

So you are saying that I should ...

1. Make sure that I set up an Administrative Account with password?

2. Create an Administrator User?

Is this Administrator User the same one that I'm asked to supply a User Name
and Password during the installation or do I do this after I complete the
install?

 

[Bob Petruska]

So Vista is just like the XP install, leave the User Name and Password blank
and I should be fine.


I have 40 items in my startup menu and they are are all required as my daily
work functions nicely with them. I don't mind the 5 minute boot time as I
make a cup of coffee during that.

 

[Bob Petruska]

Please explain that one user requirement? In XP if I set up a User Name and
Password during the XP install then on boot I always needed to type in the
password to contiue on to the desktop. If you leave the User Name and
Password blank during the XP install then you just boot right to the desktop
without the password input.

Are you saying that I need to set up at least one Vista Administrator
account? Is that done during the Vista installation or later? If I do set
up an Admin account will I then be required to enter the password at each
boot to get to the desktop or will I only need to use the Admin password
when I'm doing Admin functions?

If you install Vista correctly, with only one user account, it should
start up and go directly to your desktop anyway. There's no way NOT to
set up a user in Vista since the built-in Administrator account is
disabled, so you HAVE to set up one user.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

I just bought Home Premium upgrade and before I start the installation I
would like to know if it is posssible to install Vista without setting up
a log in ID or password? Simply, I just wish to turn on my computer to
boot up while I'm away from it as I do in Windows XP Pro every morning
(takeds5 minutes to boot). I don't wish to wait there for the Vista log
in. I'm the only home user and won't need additional accounts. IOW, when
you perform a Windows XP Pro install you can leave the log in ID and
password blank and will not require the ID and Password to boot every
time. Does Vista have this?

 

[Bob Petruska]

Just install leaving admin name and password blank.

As I haven't installed Vista yet, does the install ask for Administrator
Name and Password or User Name and Password? I just want to get it straight
during the first install so I don't have to repeat the install.

 

[Michael]

As you are upgrading (if I understand you correctly), if the upgrade finds
an account with administrator privileges that is not the default account
then it will use that account name (and password if there is one). I do not
know exactly how it words the request for an account if there is none
already in the XP machine (my install was an OEM not an upgrade). Removing
an account is a simple matter so accidently creating an extra account is no
big deal.

Vista has administrator users and standard users.
My recommendation is that you create an administrator user account if one is
not created for you during the upgrade.
Do not use the built in administrator account whose name is Administrator as
your normal account.

1 and 2 are part of the same.
During an upgrade it will create account to match those in your XP. If at
least one of those accounts has administrator type privileges (likely as
that is the only way you could do anything useful in XP) then Vista will
disable the built in administrator account named Administrator. If as I
think I understand , you have never created an account on the XP and use the
built in account on the XP I believe you will be given an opportunity to
create an account. DO SO the account should be created as an administrator
account at which time the built in administrator account named Administrator
will be disabled.

You have also received advise that you need not create an account/password.
While I don't agree, you are confronted with the problem of free advice! -
Is any of it worth the price.

The point is that you should not run a system in which the only
administrator account is the built in one named Administrator.

Michael

 

[Bob Petruska]

Michael,

Thanks for the reply.

I was going to perfrom an upgrade, but found that the Vista Home Premium
can't upgrade Win XP Pro. So I will be doing a clean install.

I believe that you are then telling me to create a User Name and User
Password on the initial install and then creat an Aministrator Name and
Administrator Password later. Can both the User and Aministrator names and
paswords be the same? Such as bobp for name, and pass123 for passwords in
both accounts as an example.

Tell me if I'm wrong.

It yes to the above then is there a way to boot directly to the desktop
without entering the User or Admin password?

 

[Michael]

Bob,

You only need to create one account/password. If asked be sure to say it is
to be an administrator account (I am pretty sure that it simply defaults
that way so no such question asked).

The system will create folder at c:\users\account name so you can see that
accounts cannot have the same name (they would overlap).

Microsoft's recommendation is that after the installation is complete that
you sign in as the new user, and from there create a new (different name)
account as a 'standard' rather than an 'administrator' and that that
standard account be used for most activities. I don't do that, I login as my
administrator account name.

Note that in Vista the differentiating label is 'administrator' and
'standard' , in XP those labels are 'Computer administrator' and 'Limited'.
So you would create an account with a name, password, and type (of
administrator or standard).
The phrasing 'create a user account' and 'create an administrator account'
is confusing at best.

After you have everything set up you change 'how users login' you turn off
'require user name/password' and select the account and password to be used
for the automatic login. Reboot and that account and password is now used to
automatically login.

I now mount my soapbox...
I am a fan of Vista, I like it.
I would NOT upgrade a box more than a year old with any version of XP to any
version of Vista unless there was something that I had to run and it only
ran in Vista. That is mostly a version of if it ain't broke don't fix it,
but on an older box vista drivers for the hardware my be hard to get or
unavailable, also Vista requires more hardware (esp memory) and speed to
function as well as the XP did. Vista is nicer, more secure but not vastly
better.
Are you sure you really want to convert an XP pro box to Vista???

I now fall back off my soapbox.

Michael

 

[Richard G. Harper]

Vista will set up the Administrator account no matter what you do. When you
create your first account (this will be the first thing you do after Vista
is installed), enter a name and no password. That's it. Don't put a
password on it and don't create any further accounts when done.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Please explain that one user requirement? In XP if I set up a User Name
and Password during the XP install then on boot I always needed to type in
the password to contiue on to the desktop. If you leave the User Name and
Password blank during the XP install then you just boot right to the
desktop without the password input.

Are you saying that I need to set up at least one Vista Administrator
account? Is that done during the Vista installation or later? If I do
set up an Admin account will I then be required to enter the password at
each boot to get to the desktop or will I only need to use the Admin
password when I'm doing Admin functions?

If you install Vista correctly, with only one user account, it should
start up and go directly to your desktop anyway. There's no way NOT to
set up a user in Vista since the built-in Administrator account is
disabled, so you HAVE to set up one user.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

I just bought Home Premium upgrade and before I start the installation I
would like to know if it is posssible to install Vista without setting up
a log in ID or password? Simply, I just wish to turn on my computer to
boot up while I'm away from it as I do in Windows XP Pro every morning
(takeds5 minutes to boot). I don't wish to wait there for the Vista log
in. I'm the only home user and won't need additional accounts. IOW,
when you perform a Windows XP Pro install you can leave the log in ID and
password blank and will not require the ID and Password to boot every
time. Does Vista have this?

 

[Bob Petruska]

Michael,

Thanks again and you made it very clear. I don't think I will have any
issues in doing what you stated and that's what I was looking for in account
management and booting.

Im keeping my XP Pro system active as my main system as I understand the
Vista pitfalls of the drivers and such with older hardware. The XP system
is fairly new with an Asus MB, 3200+ AMD cpu 1 GB ram, and 850 gig of hard
drives. This system has been upgraded since DOS 3.2, with Win 95, 98 and XP
Pro . Yes there are residuals of DOS and the other Window OS's on the HD.
But it runs flawlessly and I have 50 to 60 applications, tweaks, patches,
etc that I can't afford to give up.

Soooooo.....

I built another Asus MB system with an AMD 5200" X2 CPU, 2 GB memory, and
1T HD for Vista clean install. The Vista system will sit next to the XP
system and I will run Vista everyday to tweak it and buy new hardware such
as scanner, etc and look for drivers where missing for the next year or so
until I get it to the level of performance where the XP system is. I have
run the RC2 trial many months ago and didn't do much with it for less than a
day as it didn't impress me. The major complaint was the fuzzy Vista fonts
on my CRT monitor which I prefer in my daily work with photos. I understand
that these fonts are optimized for LCD and not CRT and that the only way to
improve the font resolution is to buy a LCD. I haven't found an LCD panel
yet that gives the sharpness, resolution, color gamaut, black level and
non-motion blur like my Sony CRT! Yes I will by an LCD for the Vista system
but it won't be looked at very often.

Bottom line, I'm just preparing for the eventual "must change to Vista" two
or three years down the road to survive.



Bob P.

 

[Bob Petruska]

Richard,

Thanks.....that clarifies my concerns and issues!

Bob P.

Vista will set up the Administrator account no matter what you do. When
you create your first account (this will be the first thing you do after
Vista is installed), enter a name and no password. That's it. Don't put
a password on it and don't create any further accounts when done.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Please explain that one user requirement? In XP if I set up a User Name
and Password during the XP install then on boot I always needed to type
in the password to contiue on to the desktop. If you leave the User Name
and Password blank during the XP install then you just boot right to the
desktop without the password input.

Are you saying that I need to set up at least one Vista Administrator
account? Is that done during the Vista installation or later? If I do
set up an Admin account will I then be required to enter the password at
each boot to get to the desktop or will I only need to use the Admin
password when I'm doing Admin functions?

If you install Vista correctly, with only one user account, it should
start up and go directly to your desktop anyway. There's no way NOT to
set up a user in Vista since the built-in Administrator account is
disabled, so you HAVE to set up one user.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


I just bought Home Premium upgrade and before I start the installation I
would like to know if it is posssible to install Vista without setting
up a log in ID or password? Simply, I just wish to turn on my computer
to boot up while I'm away from it as I do in Windows XP Pro every
morning (takeds5 minutes to boot). I don't wish to wait there for the
Vista log in. I'm the only home user and won't need additional
accounts. IOW, when you perform a Windows XP Pro install you can leave
the log in ID and password blank and will not require the ID and
Password to boot every time. Does Vista have this?

 

[Michael]

Bob,

Your new machine should run fine with Vista. As far as the fuzzy display of
fonts in Vista: In the released version that feature can be turned off or
you can optomize it to your particular display. The optimization used
depends on the pattern of the color dots which varies form crt to crt and
from lcd to lcd. I find that if it is set correctly then there is an
improvement even with my CRT. If set wrong it looks bad althogh I cannot
exactly say how it is wrong. (the optimization shows a set of pictures and
you select which one is 'better').


I also have two machines, an XP home laptop and a Vista desktop. A piece of
advice: at least try using the Micorosft defaults on security and networking
for a while. Some people have no trouble at all getting XP <-> Vista
networking well, that was my experience. Others have had a terrible time. I
suspect that those like me who pretty much accepted the defaults, made
accounts of both machines with the SAME names AND passwords and did not
immediatly go in bypassing the security setting are the ones having the good
experience.


Good Luck,
Michael

 

[Richard G. Harper]

Glad I could help out.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Richard,

Thanks.....that clarifies my concerns and issues!

Bob P.

Vista will set up the Administrator account no matter what you do. When
you create your first account (this will be the first thing you do after
Vista is installed), enter a name and no password. That's it. Don't put
a password on it and don't create any further accounts when done.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Please explain that one user requirement? In XP if I set up a User Name
and Password during the XP install then on boot I always needed to type
in the password to contiue on to the desktop. If you leave the User
Name and Password blank during the XP install then you just boot right
to the desktop without the password input.

Are you saying that I need to set up at least one Vista Administrator
account? Is that done during the Vista installation or later? If I do
set up an Admin account will I then be required to enter the password at
each boot to get to the desktop or will I only need to use the Admin
password when I'm doing Admin functions?



If you install Vista correctly, with only one user account, it should
start up and go directly to your desktop anyway. There's no way NOT to
set up a user in Vista since the built-in Administrator account is
disabled, so you HAVE to set up one user.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


I just bought Home Premium upgrade and before I start the installation
I would like to know if it is posssible to install Vista without
setting up a log in ID or password? Simply, I just wish to turn on my
computer to boot up while I'm away from it as I do in Windows XP Pro
every morning (takeds5 minutes to boot). I don't wish to wait there
for the Vista log in. I'm the only home user and won't need additional
accounts. IOW, when you perform a Windows XP Pro install you can leave
the log in ID and password blank and will not require the ID and
Password to boot every time. Does Vista have this?