[eufouria]

We only have one user for this Windows 2000 operating system machine that we inherited from someone else. There's no need for multiple users/sign ons, but when I reboot it makes me do a user sign on (Name: user; no password necessary, I just click 'ok') -- but it's now telling me that the password is going to expire in 6 days. Is there a way to get rid of that and not require the password at all? Since we inherited this machine from someone else so maybe they had it set up with multiple users.

Thanks!

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Double-click the Users icon in Control Panel, and choose the Users tab.
Turn off the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer option, and click Ok.

[dsenette]

Double-click the Users icon in Control Panel, and choose the Users tab.
Turn off the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer option, and click Ok.

[eufouria]

Well that's simple enough!!! I'll give it a try when I get back home this evening... thank you!

[eufouria]

Good evening! I did the step to remove the password requirement, and now I have a different problem that's stemmed from that I'm sure.

In the user list in the control panel, there are three user names listed: Administrator; Guest; user

The 'user' was the automatic log in that always came up and had the desktop settings and files that we use. Now when I reboot, the Administrator is the login the starts, and I have to log off the Administrator and type in 'user' in the login box (no password needed since I shut that off). Is there a way to fix this so that the user settings is the one that always comes up without having to go through this extra hassle? It hadn't happened before I changed it to uncheck teh password box.

Thanks!

[dsenette]

option #2

go Here and download Autologon...it comes in a ZIP file...so just unzip it to your desktop (nothing to install it's just a program that modifies the registry for you so you don't have to do it)....you run the EXE....then type in the user you want to always logon (i gather you want USER)...then that user's password (if the password is blank...leave it blank)...restart your PC....does the correct user logon now?

[eufouria]

Morning!

When I ran the autolog on and entered 'user' as the automatic login - it gave me an error message that it doesn't support null passwords.

What next?

[dsenette]

easy way? set a password (something easy) on the user in question...then run it again

[eufouria]

Thank you - that's kinda what I thought, but figured I'd double check with you before I just did that (yes, I need validation.. heh! I'll run it again from home tonight and drop a note back in here with the results.

[eufouria]

Well.... crap!

I re-ran the autolog exe and added a password - now when I reboot, it attempts to auto login, but it's giving me an error message that the password is incorrect. I say ok to the error message and now have to remove the encrypted password at the log on prompt and leave the password there blank in order for it to log in. What happened? Shouldn't it just automatically login with the password I set running the exe?

[dsenette]

....yes...it should....i've used this program on A LOT of computers...this is annoying...let me do a little looking....

[dsenette]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/234562

ok...the first part of the first step...you've tried...the bottom half of this article involves modifying the registry....be very carefull when modifying the registry...if you mess with the wrong thing...your system can be broken....so only modify what's suggested in the article (this is basically what that autologon deal does...)

[eufouria]

My apologies - been a horrendous week here!

Do you recommend I do the registry change, or should I just run the autolog file again and disable it? Or does that disable the user all the way around?

[eufouria]

Ok - scratch that last posting. I went to controls/settings/users one more time just to make sure the boxes were unchecked - I checked them again, unchecked them and applied - and for whatever reason, it worked this time. I rebooted and it autologged on the correct user.

Bizarre. Truly. I didn't mess with any of the registry and I didn't rerun the autolog exe. But I'll take it! It works, and I guess I don't need to know why, just that it does!

[dsenette]

when it comes to windows....don't ask why..just be appreciative that it does

[eufouria]

Ain't that the truth?! And grateful I am.

Thanks for your help with this!