# PC question: require login

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-require-login/518771>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 24, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-require-login/518771 "2009-11-24T14:31:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-require-login/518771/1 "2009-11-24T14:31:32Z")

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I am trying to set up a PC: XP using Parallels on a Mac, and have a simple question. How can I get the OS to start up requiring the user to log in? I can create accounts, but every time the OS boots it starts as “administrator”. I want to set it so that in routine use it will be operated by a named user with more limited access rights. I am sure it is a simple step, but I am not used to setting up a PC.  
Thanks

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**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-require-login/518771/2 "2009-11-24T14:32:58Z")

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In XP, that setting is under your control panel -\> User Accounts.

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**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-require-login/518771/3 "2009-11-24T15:16:54Z")

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Go to Start, Run, and enter “control userpasswords2” without the quotes.

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**Author:** ![pan1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@pan1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pan1)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-require-login/518771/4 "2009-11-24T15:22:39Z")

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You first have to set up a User for the non-administrator account. - See Todderbob’s post.

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**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-require-login/518771/5 "2009-11-24T15:25:01Z")

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If you check and apply the “Require…” box and then uncheck it you can put the limited username and password (leave blank if the password’s blank) in as the automatic login.

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**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-require-login/518771/6 "2009-11-27T02:00:12Z")

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> [@yoyodyne](#):
>
> Go to Start, Run, and enter “control userpasswords2” without the quotes.

worked great!  
thanks