Tip #2274 - Welcome Screen
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Welcome
Screen
If you have Windows
XP, you have two choices of how your computer logs you in each time you
boot up your computer. You can either use the traditional method of using
a username and password or you can use what is called the Welcome Screen
to log on.
If you want to change
the way your computer logs you in each time, you can either disable or
enable the welcome screen any time you feel like it. The welcome screen
is attached to another XP feature called fast user switching. This is
great for anyone who has multiple users of the same PC. The fast user
switch method allows one user to leave all of their programs up and running
while another person uses the computer. So, then once the second user
is done, the first one can go right back to where they left off.
Basically what happens
is that when the first user is done, they leave everything the way it
is and then they log off for that session. Then they switch the user back
to the welcome screen, so it's like a fresh start for the second user.
Now, keep in mind
that if this pertains to you, you're going to want to keep the welcome
screen feature active. If you happen to have the welcome screen inactive
and would like to turn it back on, just go to Start,
Control Panel and click on the User Accounts
link twice. Choose "Change the way users log on or off" and
make sure both the Welcome Screen and Fast User Switching boxes are checked.
Then click Apply Options and that part is done.
Now, what if you're
just a single user? You may want to disable the welcome screen, because
you just may not really need it. The directions for this are almost identical
to the ones mentioned above. To disable, make sure you're logged in as
the administrator and then go to Start, Control
Panel and click on the User Accounts link twice.
Choose "Change the way users log on or off" and just uncheck
the Welcome Screen box. This will automatically uncheck the Fast User
Switching box as well. Then click on Apply Options and
exit out of everything else.
Then you're all set.
The next time you start up your computer, the traditional method of logging
on that was mentioned above will be used, so if you're going to use this
method, make sure you're certain you know your username and password.
Now, there's one more
option for you. If you don't want the welcome screen or the traditional
option, you can disable both of those. To login automatically to a user
account and bypass the rest of the prompts, click on Run,
type in control userpasswords2 and click OK.
Highlight the account
you want to change and then uncheck the box that says "Users must
enter a username and password to use this computer."
Once you have done
all of that, the next time you reboot your computer, you won't have to
worry about the welcome screen or the traditional prompt. You will just
be logged in automatically and you'll be set to go.
~ Erin
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