Showing posts with label Login. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Login. Show all posts

21 October, 2011

Employing Windows XP Logon Screen in Windows 7

The welcome screen in Windows 7 beta, which is...Image via Wikipedia
21-October-2011

Yesterday, I spent some 2 hours at our End User Support area, and one of the things that our main guy, the one doing all the OS installation and setup of individual and production PCs and laptops, was the user acceptability of Windows 7 for the general user group.

Mainly, the big difference between Windows 7 and Windows XP is right from the start: the Logon screen.

In Windows XP, users are so used to seeing 3 boxes:
In Windows 7, you don't see the boxes, but you either see the name of the last logged user, and a box for the password, or you get 2 choices: the last logged user, and 'switch user'. Now, laying aside all questions of intelligence and common sense, an average user (and sometimes even a geek) would never try to guess and attempt clicking on the 'switch user' icon. Especially if that is their orientation, don't play-play.

So now you get the picture - will Windows 7 be accepted easily? It is like saying, go into that new house, there are better things there - and the average tenant can't even figure out how to open the gate...


Keystroke Logger and Computer Monitoring Software


Is there a workaround?

I told him I didn't knew about this problem, since in out team, we are on 99.9% single-user PC/laptop usage ratio. But things are different in the production line. And I said I would look it up in the web.
I did find some very simple solutions, applicable to both Windows Vista and Windows 7, and while the approach may be different between the flavors of Windows 7, the effect is the same.

Here goes:
  1. Click on Windows 7 pearl (hey, it isn't a button anymore).
  2. Type secpol.msc and hit [Enter] (that's for Security Policy).
  3. At the left side, click on Local Policies, then on Security Options.
  4. Then at the right side, click any item, then press "i". That brings you to the list of items beginning with "I".
  5. The main item to Enable is: "Interactive logon: Do not display last user name".
  6. Enabling this is optional: "Interactive logon: Do not require CTRL + ALT + DEL". Enabling this means users will immediately see 2 boxes at the logon screen: username and password.
  7. Close window, and we are done.


Applicability:

I managed to apply these to 2 desktop PCs, and my laptop. I'm just happy that with this simple solution, the objective can be met.

As for the laptop, it isn't exactly the same screen, because there is an additional option for logging in: biometrics sensor.

Hopefully, we are helping to get Windows 7 less resisted but more accepted in the line.
Till then!

12 July, 2010

XP Welcome Screen and Fast User Switching

Windows XP ProI was testing a new network connection from my cable modem since it is supposedly free. And I'm not that very familiar with this task, I know a bit of it here and there. I happen to install a network driver, and what happened next is something that I did not want: the login screen was changed, and it was asking now for a password.

I had a problem, since that computer was used primarily by my kids...

I searched the web, and for a time and a season it seems, I did not find what I was looking for - how to restore the XP Welcome Screen and the Fast User Switching function.

All that is being thrown up is either disabling the login screen or restoring it - which is not what I want.

What I was looking for is help on how to remove the now-unwanted login screen that asks for a password, when there isn't, and restore the Welcome Screen and Fast User Switching function.

I stopped searching. Tried the next day, and still failed to get an answer. Some search results seem to be a promise, but the moment you click on the link, you are 'offered' a trial membership, blah-blah-blah. I'd close that page immediately!

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition FULL VERSION with SP2The third day, I think I got the answer.I tried typing for NetWare and XP login screen, but what it should be is "Welcome Screen and Fast User Switching" search text. That is what gave me the help I needed.

So I was able to fix the problem with the following steps:

1. Go to Settings, if you have it, then Control Panel.
2. Click on Network Connections.
3. Right-click on every network connection that you have, then on Properties.
4. Perform an uninstall for Client Services for Netware.

When this is done, go back to Control Panel.
1. Click on User Accounts.
2. Tick, as per your choice, the two options:
a. Use the Welcome Screen
b. use Fast User Switching
3. Click on Apply Options.

And we're all set!
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27 April, 2010

Auto log-in in XP

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Full Version with SP2I wanted to be automatically logged in to my PC when I turn it on, and I searched from the web how to do that. Of course, primary source will be Microsoft websites, but a lot of users appear to have a more user-friendly instruction set.

Take for example this instruction set from one of Microsoft's site: Auto Logon to Windows XP.

Try it first. Here is what it says:
  1. Click Start, click Run, and type control userpasswords2.
  2. Clear the Users must enter a username and password to use this computer check box.
  3. Click Apply.
  4. Enter the user name and password you wish to automatically log on with, and then click OK.
  5. Click OK again and you're all done.
Find anything missing?

Microsoft Windows 7 Home PremiumOf course, there is. Some assumptions on the user knowledge may be the reason. But you wouldn't be searching the web if you knew exactly what to do.

Anyway, to complete the instruction set, see below:
  1. Click Start, click Run, and type control userpasswords2.
  2. Click on Advanced tab
  3. Clear the Users must enter a username and password to use this computer check box.
  4. Click Apply.
  5. Enter the user name and password you wish to automatically log on with, and then click OK.
  6. Click OK again and you're all done.
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition FULL VERSION with SP2Actually, for my case, this is what works:
  1. Click Start, click Run, and type control userpasswords2.
  2. Click on Advanced tab
  3. Clear the Require users to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete check box.
  4. Click Apply.
I guess I'm connected to a domain. That is. At least it should be covered. I hope your case will be covered by this short article.

Let me hear from you then.
Thanks!

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