# Windows login screen **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 10, 2000, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533 "2000-03-10T06:06:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fippo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/2bfe46/32.png) [@fippo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fippo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/1 "2000-03-10T06:06:00Z")
Every time I turn on my computer it will run through all the systems checks and such and begin to load Windows. However, it always asks me to log on with a username and password. I don’t want to do this, and it WON’T GO AWAY! Everything I’ve tried has failed, and every site I’ve been to either doesn’t know how, or their method doesn’t work. Is there any way to get this damnable logon window to vamoose so I can boot directly into Windows? Any help is appreciated. * * * Fippo- _Through our bleeding/We are one_ ---
**Author:** ![Cooper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@Cooper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cooper)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/2 "2000-03-10T06:26:00Z")
If it is asking you to log on for microsoft networking, you need to do this: Right click network neighborhood, set primary logon to Windows Logon. Otherwise, setting your windows logon password to null (nothing) should eliminate the prompt. Its probably the former, however. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/3 "2000-03-10T06:30:00Z")
Start \> Control Panel \> Passwords \> User Profiles: click radio button “All users of this PC use the same preferences and desktop settings”, click OK If that does not work, the BIOS has been set differently. If that is the case, are you sure that you aren’t asking us to help you break into your office computer? ---
**Author:** ![fippo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/2bfe46/32.png) [@fippo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fippo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/4 "2000-03-10T07:04:00Z")
Thanks for the ideas, you two, but they both failed. I set the primary logon to Windows Logon; nothing. I didn’t enter a password when the window came up;nothing. I set it so all users use the same settings;nothing! It really bugs me that it says on the window that if I don’t enter a password, the window won’t show up, and yet it does everytime I boot up. And yes, I’m pretty sure I’m not asking you to help me break into the office computer, seeing as I don’t even have an office to go to. Urge…to…kill…rising…rising… * * * Fippo- _Through our bleeding/We are one_ ---
**Author:** ![pmh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@pmh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pmh)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/5 "2000-03-10T07:21:00Z")
try: start\>settings\>control panel\>users: delete all users on the user list. ---
**Author:** ![fippo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/2bfe46/32.png) [@fippo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fippo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/6 "2000-03-10T07:23:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by pmh: > **try: > start\>settings\>control panel\>users: > delete all users on the user list.** I don’t have a user list. It takes me to a wizard to create one, though. * * * Fippo- _Through our bleeding/We are one_ ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/7 "2000-03-10T07:29:00Z")
I think one of the Microsoft PowerToys utilities (should be free for downloading) allows you to set a username and password, so you don’t have to enter it each time. I used to have my old Win95 box set up that way, but haven’t bothered since I “upgraded” to Win98. My vague recollection is that it was a utility for tweaking some Registry values, one of which was the default username/password. Sorry I can’t be more specific… ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/8 "2000-03-10T09:54:00Z")
What I’d like to know is what’s the point of having the password box if you can bypass it simply by pressing escape? * * * “Honey we’re recovering Christians.” –Tori Amos - _In the Springtime of his Voodoo_ ---
**Author:** ![EnigmaOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EnigmaOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnigmaOne)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/9 "2000-03-10T11:55:00Z")
{{{What I’d like to know is what’s the point of having the password box if you can bypass it simply by pressing escape?}}}—neutron star It allows for a number of users to have profiles possessing differing user preferences (desktop settings, etc), and allows for network login authentication. We use this at home for both reasons, and it works well…ok, as well as something from Micro$oft can work, but that’s beside the point. ## fippo, I’ll drop you an e-mail and we’ll see if we can resolve this via e-mail or phone…I don’t post either to the boards. More than likely it’s something simple that’s been overlooked. – **Kalél** _Common ¢ for all ages…_ “Well, there was that thing with the Cheese-Wiz…but I’m feeling **much** better now!” – John Astin, Night Court ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/10 "2000-03-10T12:55:00Z")
Fippo, When asking for tech support in this way it helps if you tell us what OS you’re running. Is it 95 or 98 or NT or 2000? Is it your stand alone home computer or is it on a LAN? * * * Sometimes you feel like a coconut, sometime you feel like a yak. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/11 "2000-03-10T12:55:00Z")
What you may want to try is looking through your files in your Windows directory for a file named with you name and the file type of PSL file (or maybe PWL file). That’s the windows password file for you. If you delete that file (actually I would recommend renaming it so you can restore it if necessary) the password thing at startup should go away. ---
**Author:** ![ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ed)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/12 "2000-03-10T13:07:00Z")
You need to download TweakUI from the micrsoft web site. It allows you to configure many options for Win95/98, including the ability to set auto-logon. It’s the only way I managed to work around the same problem. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/13 "2000-03-10T16:01:00Z")
I don’t even know what version of Windoz this person is using so I can’t answer it very well. You could temp rename \*.pwl files & try again. ---
**Author:** ![fippo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/2bfe46/32.png) [@fippo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fippo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/14 "2000-03-10T16:51:00Z")
Oops, sorry guys. This is Windows98. It’s also not on a network, which is why I want it to go away. However, I downloaded a different version of TweakUI than I had, and it is able to do the auto-logon. I suppose this is good enough, it just seems stupid to have this password utility there without the option of getting rid of it. (BTW, before this I did delete the .pwl files like I’ve been told to in the past, but that does nothing, as well.) Thanks everyone for your help. * * * Fippo- _Through our bleeding/We are one_ ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/15 "2000-03-10T16:54:00Z")
I copied this from a file where I keep everything that might be useful some day. I have not read it or used it but it may solve your problem. HOW TO GET RID OF THE LOGON PROMPT del all \*.pwl files in c:\Windows del all entries under the [Password Lists] option of System.ini reboot/restart the computer You will get the LogOn prompt. Enter your name. Do not hit ESC or close this dialog. Hit the “ENTER” key or click OK. Hit the “ENTER” key or click OK. (this is not a typo.) reboot/restart the computer Are you no longer plagued with the log on prompt? If no, you’re done, if yes, keep reading. |START|SETTINGS|CONTROL PANEL|PASSWORDS icon|USER PROFILES tab |make sure that “All users of the PC use the same …” is selected |OK button |START|SETTINGS|CONTROL PANEL|NETWORK icon|CONFIGURATION tab |PRIMARY NETWORK LOGON field|select “Windows logon”|OK button (Between you,me and the fence-post, I’ve never found that step to be necessary.) reboot/restart the computer You will get the LogOn prompt. Enter your name. Do not hit ESC or close this dialog. Hit the “ENTER” key or click OK. Hit the “ENTER” key or click OK. (this is not a typo.) reboot/restart the computer Are you no longer plagued with the log on prompt? If no, you’re done, if yes, keep reading. If you have TweakUI from the powertoys installed, then: |START|SETTINGS|CONTROL PANEL|TWEAKUI icon|PARANOIA tab |uncheck “Clear Last User at logon” |NETWORK tab (in TweakUI) |uncheck "Log on automatically at system startup |APPLY button|OK button Reboot, that is, |START|SHUTDOWN|“Restart the computer?” item"|YES button You will get the LogOn prompt. Enter your name. Do not hit ESC or close this dialog. Hit the “ENTER” key. Hit the “ENTER” key. (this is not a typo.) Reboot More info on passwords : PC WORLD December 1999 page 310 ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/16 "2000-03-11T21:52:00Z")
fippo: Just enter your name (or anything you like) and click OK **without typing anything in the password box!** Windows will not show the sign-on screen again unless you tell it to. * * * _I for one welcome our new insect overlords…_ - K. Brockman ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/17 "2000-03-11T21:58:00Z")
This is why I hate Windows. ---
**Author:** ![fippo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/2bfe46/32.png) [@fippo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fippo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/18 "2000-03-11T23:09:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Hail Ants: > \*\*fippo: > > Just enter your name (or anything you like) and click OK **without typing anything in the password box!** Windows will not show the sign-on screen again unless you tell it to. > > \*\* Well, thanks for trying, but as a lot of us know, what Windows says it will do and what it actually does are two different things. Many times have entered only a name without a password, and every time the password box comes up at the next boot. Oh well. Time for a switch to Linux, maybe? * * * Fippo- _Through our bleeding/We are one_ ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2000, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/19 "2000-03-12T00:59:00Z")
Windows has a bug that won’t remember the PW combo. It’s a known issue at [Microsoft.com](http://Microsoft.com) & I think they even have a patch, imagine that! That’s why W98 has an update feature. ---
**Author:** ![fippo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/2bfe46/32.png) [@fippo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fippo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2000, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533/20 "2000-03-12T06:19:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by handy: > \*\* > Windows has a bug that won’t remember the PW combo. It’s a known issue at [Microsoft.com](http://Microsoft.com) & I think they even have a patch, imagine that! > > That’s why W98 has an update feature.\*\* ## Scrolling through the windows update page I couldn’t find any patch that addresses this problem. If it does exist, I would be much appreciative to know of it’s location. Thanks! Fippo- _Through our bleeding/We are one_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-login-screen/8533.md?page=2)