Getting XP to boot to a default user

[Muse]

Been using Win2000 for 5 years or so and just installed XP Pro. I set up an account with administrator status and then an account for myself with limited user status, for additional security. Problem is, the machine boots to a screen that gives me a choice between both accounts that I created. There's an additional account, the original Administrator account, but Windows doesn't show that on the user choice screen that the machine is booting to.

I'm using the Award BIOS to automatically boot the machine at a certain time of day and carry out scheduled tasks. Thing is, it won't do that unless I can get the machine to boot all the way to my (the limited user) account. How can I set that up? Thanks.

 

[hasu]

Use Tweak UI from Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: hasu
Use Tweak UI from Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP

Once I install Tweak UI (I just did), what do I do? I hit Finish and, well, I don't know what to do...

I did a quick look at the icons in Control Panel and didn't notice anything...

Edit: I see Power Toys and Tweak UI under Programs.

 

[Aqualize]

Well it's easy to do without using powertoys. Just type this in "run":
control userpasswords2
And in the window, select your account that you want to autologon, then uncheck "Users must enter...."-checkbox.

About scheduled tasks, you have a option to in their properties so run without being logged on. Of course it causes some problems like GUI programs not beeing seen when you log on to turn them off. But I used winamp nicely with this approach for waking me up each morning. Now I have my laptop put to standby so it wakes up because I put the scheduled task to wake the computer from stand by.

A tip, because you seem to be new to XP. In the "welcome screen" you can press ctrl+alt+dell twice to get the old logon prompt (good in situation where you want to access the original administrator account). Btw the original admin account is shown if there aren't any other account in the administrators group.
I you want your old logonprompt (and "windows security" when you press ctrl+alt+del) you have to disable "use welcome screen" in the controlpanel->user accounts ("change the way users log on and off"-link). But you miss the fast user switching ability then.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Aqualize
Well it's easy to do without using powertoys. Just type this in "run":
control userpasswords2
And in the window, select your account that you want to autologon, then uncheck "Users must enter...."-checkbox.

About scheduled tasks, you have a option to in their properties so run without being logged on. Of course it causes some problems like GUI programs not beeing seen when you log on to turn them off. But I used winamp nicely with this approach for waking me up each morning. Now I have my laptop put to standby so it wakes up because I put the scheduled task to wake the computer from stand by.

A tip, because you seem to be new to XP. In the "welcome screen" you can press ctrl+alt+dell twice to get the old logon prompt (good in situation where you want to access the original administrator account). Btw the original admin account is shown if there aren't any other account in the administrators group.
I you want your old logonprompt (and "windows security" when you press ctrl+alt+del) you have to disable "use welcome screen" in the controlpanel->user accounts ("change the way users log on and off"-link). But you miss the fast user switching ability then.

Great post! Thanks for these tips!!