autologon

autologon

Once you join a server to a domain, Windows will automatically delete the AutoAdminLogon value from the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon registry key. This causes the userpasswords2 control to hide the “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer” checkbox shown above.

Here’s how to get the missing checkbox back and configure Autologon:

  • Open a CMD prompt and enter the following (all on one line):

reg add “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon” /v AutoAdminLogon /t REG_SZ /d “1” /f

  • Click Start, Run and enter control userpasswords2
  • Clear the checkbox for Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer and click OK
  • Enter the user name and password that will be used for Autologon and click OK

When the computer starts up the account you specified will be logged in automatically. Note that the password is encrypted on the computer.

This tip works for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2.