XP sp3: change user not allowed

[Big House]

Hello

first of all, I have to say that all worked fine since this morning. I
haven't changed anything, maybe it depends on one of the latest
automatic update.

Before today, when I clicked on change user (start > disconnect >
change user) and chose another user, xp would let me in the other
account. Now the account is loaded for a second and then I am sent to
the initial screen again (the one where all account are shown): it's
like XP won't allow more than one user desktop to be open at a time.

Another thing that I noticed is that there is no more indication of
how many programs are running under a certain account (before it would
say "x programs are running" and "y mail messages are waiting" or such
things).

Basically, XP won't let me in other accounts unless I completely
disconnect the first user.

How can I solve this?

Thanks

 

[C]

Hello

first of all, I have to say that all worked fine since this morning. I
haven't changed anything, maybe it depends on one of the latest
automatic update.

Before today, when I clicked on change user (start > disconnect >
change user) and chose another user, xp would let me in the other
account. Now the account is loaded for a second and then I am sent to
the initial screen again (the one where all account are shown): it's
like XP won't allow more than one user desktop to be open at a time.

Another thing that I noticed is that there is no more indication of
how many programs are running under a certain account (before it would
say "x programs are running" and "y mail messages are waiting" or such
things).

Basically, XP won't let me in other accounts unless I completely
disconnect the first user.

How can I solve this?

Thanks

Just curious, why do you need more than one account?

C

 

[Big House]

Just curious, why do you need more than one account?

each employee has his own account and when they use the computer, they
load their own profile/account.

Obviously we are talking about xp professional

 

[Gordon]

Hello

first of all, I have to say that all worked fine since this morning. I
haven't changed anything, maybe it depends on one of the latest
automatic update.

Before today, when I clicked on change user (start > disconnect >
change user) and chose another user, xp would let me in the other
account. Now the account is loaded for a second and then I am sent to
the initial screen again (the one where all account are shown): it's
like XP won't allow more than one user desktop to be open at a time.

Presumably you mean "Start-LOG OFF- SWITCH user"?
Please use the correct terms as otherwise we might be led to believe you
have other software installed....

Can you access this other User account first, i.e. when you first power up
the machine?

Another thing that I noticed is that there is no more indication of
how many programs are running under a certain account (before it would
say "x programs are running" and "y mail messages are waiting" or such
things).

Basically, XP won't let me in other accounts unless I completely
disconnect the first user.

What do you mean by "disconnect"? Please use the correct term for whatever
you are doing.

 

[Big House]

thanks for reply

Presumably you mean "Start-LOG OFF- SWITCH user"?
exactly

Can you access this other User account first, i.e. when you first power up
the machine?

yes. I can access all users accounts, at the first power up or
anything BUT I need to disconnect any other open account to do so. If
any just switch user, xp will try to load it but it will go back to
the initial screen (where you can select the user)

What do you mean by "disconnect"? Please use the correct term for whatever you are doing.

disconnect = log off

Thanks

 

[Gordon]

each employee has his own account and when they use the computer, they
load their own profile/account.

Obviously we are talking about xp professional

Then if this is a work environment you shouldn't be using Fast User
Switching in the first place. If that indeed is what you ARE doing....

 

[Big House]

Presumably you mean "Start-LOG OFF- SWITCH user"?

sorry I have a non-english xp version (italian)

 

[Big House]

let me recap

- I start the PC
- initial windows login screen pops up
- I choose any user and I log on perfectly
- start > change user
- initial windows login screen. Now I choose another user: XP will
start loading it but after a while I am again to the initial windows
login screen. It's like that, since an account is open, it won't let
me log on another account.
- still in the windows login screen: I re-log on to the first/open
account: it works
- I disconnect this user: so at this moment there are no sessions
active
- I am sent to the windows login screen: I select any account and I
can log on normally

 

[Big House]

I need fast user switching to be enabled to be able to use Remote
desktop (which doesn't work either)

 

[Richard Urban]

Fast user switching requires a large amount of RAM to hold the inactive
account in memory when you switch users. How much RAM do you have installed
in the computer?

 

[Big House]

found the problem (yet no solution):

the terminal server is not running and if I try to run it, it will say
that it's been stopped again (like I said I have a non english version
of xp so I don't know how to precisely translate the message)

Any clue?

 

[Big House]

the error in english is

The terminal services service on local computer started and then
stopped

 

[Bernd]

-------- Original-Nachricht --------

Hello

first of all, I have to say that all worked fine since this morning. I
haven't changed anything, maybe it depends on one of the latest
automatic update.

Before today, when I clicked on change user (start > disconnect >
change user) and chose another user, xp would let me in the other
account. Now the account is loaded for a second and then I am sent to
the initial screen again (the one where all account are shown): it's
like XP won't allow more than one user desktop to be open at a time.

Another thing that I noticed is that there is no more indication of
how many programs are running under a certain account (before it would
say "x programs are running" and "y mail messages are waiting" or such
things).

Basically, XP won't let me in other accounts unless I completely
disconnect the first user.

How can I solve this?

Thanks

Try:

1. Disable Fast User Switching
2. Reboot
3. Re-enable Fast User Switching

Bernd

 

[Big House]

the terminal server now it's working but the situation about logging
to multiple account (one at the time) still doesn't work...

 

[Bernd]

-------- Original-Nachricht --------

the terminal server now it's working but the situation about logging
to multiple account (one at the time) still doesn't work...

Service "Fast User Switching Compatibility" is running ?

Bernd

 

[Big House]

yes, fast user switching compatibility is running...

 

[Big House]

It looks like XP thinks that an open session (which is not logged on
though) counts as one user and won't allow to open other sessions.

This usually happens when using Terminal Server (one session only can
be opened) but here we are talking of local sessions that are logged
on ONE AT A TIME.

 

[Bernd]

-------- Original-Nachricht --------

It looks like XP thinks that an open session (which is not logged on
though) counts as one user and won't allow to open other sessions.

This usually happens when using Terminal Server (one session only can
be opened) but here we are talking of local sessions that are logged
on ONE AT A TIME.

Is

System Key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
Value Name: AllowMultipleTSSessions
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Data: (0 = Disable Fast User Switching, 1= Enable)

set to "1" ?

Bernd

 

[Bernd]

-------- Original-Nachricht --------

It looks like XP thinks that an open session (which is not logged on
though) counts as one user and won't allow to open other sessions.

This usually happens when using Terminal Server (one session only can
be opened) but here we are talking of local sessions that are logged
on ONE AT A TIME.

Please look into system log under System AND Application, if there is an
event exactly at the time you try to switch user.
Possibly a failed load of a DLL ...

Bernd

 

[Big House]

Value Name: AllowMultipleTSSessions

Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Data: (0 = Disable Fast User Switching, 1= Enable)

set to "1" ?

yes it is set to 1

you can see the whole winlogon section of my regedit here:

http://yfrog.com/7eregeditj

thanks for your help!