# Getting Rid of Windows log-in **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 30, 2004, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-windows-log-in/252880 "2004-06-30T14:00:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-windows-log-in/252880/1 "2004-06-30T14:00:34Z")
I have Windows XP Pro, and would like to delet a screen that comes on at startup. In the beginning, IIRC, when booted up, XP would take you to its DeskTop. But then, I must have gotten an update that included a screen saver which is not listed in the Screen Saver directory. The background is blue. On the left it says **Windows** **To begin, Click your User name.** On the right, since I didn’t register a User name, is the title, **Administrator** Bottom left reads **Turn off your computer** (which you can do by clicking the icon to the left of the text) Bottom right reads: **After you log on you can add or change accounts. Just go to Control Panel and check User Accounts** If anyone can help, I would vastly appreciate it. I wouldn’t be too surprised if a lot of other single Users would like to rid themselves of this screen. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-windows-log-in/252880/2 "2004-06-30T14:26:32Z")
If yours is the only user account set up for the machine (except the guest account), XP will log you in automatically. I understand that installing the .net framework sets up an additional user account that should not be deleted though, so it may not be a good idea to solve it this way. There are other workarounds though; detailed [here](http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Autologon.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-windows-log-in/252880/3 "2004-06-30T14:43:56Z")
Well, Windows NT\2000 and XP are multi-user OSes, so you can’t really _get rid_ of the logon screen, but you can use autologon from Microsoft’s [TweakUI](http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp) power toy to setup auto logon. Download the software (it’s free and pretty small) and go to Logon \> Autologon. And in case no one ever told you, using the Administrator and\or root account for everyday use is typically **not** a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-windows-log-in/252880/4 "2004-06-30T15:31:38Z")
The control userpasswords2 thing that’s mentioned in **Mangetout** ’s link works fine. I use this myself at home. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-windows-log-in/252880/5 "2004-06-30T16:09:22Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > The control userpasswords2 thing that’s mentioned in **Mangetout** ’s link works fine. I use this myself at home. But not for me. So, I tried Rex’s solution - downloaded TweakUI, went to Logon-Autologon and voila! The Welcome screen is gone. However, I think I still autologon as Administrator and wish I didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-windows-log-in/252880/6 "2004-06-30T19:28:15Z")
> [@Rex Fenestrarum](#): > > … And in case no one ever told you, using the Administrator and\or root account for everyday use is typically **not** a good idea. no one ever told me. i imagine security is the issue, but exactly how _not_ a good idea is it?