7 how to turn on automatic logon in windows xp – Optiview G0521 User Manual

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DVR Server Manual ver.5.05/rel.092507

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7.7 How to turn on automatic logon in Windows XP

View products that this article applies to.

Article ID

: 315231

Last Review : June 23, 2005

Revision

: 4.2

This article was previously published under Q315231

Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to

back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to

back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge

Base:

256986

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/) Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

INTRODUCTION

This article describes how to configure Microsoft Windows XP to automate the logon process by storing your password and

other pertinent information in the registry database. This feature permits other users to start your computer and to use the

account that you establish to automatically log on.

Important If you turn on autologon, using Windows XP becomes more convenient. However, using this feature can pose a

security risk.

MORE INFORMATION

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your

operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly.

Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

If you set a computer for automatic logon, anyone who can physically gain access to the computer can also gain access to

everything that is on the computer, including any network or networks that the computer is connected to. Additionally, if

you turn on automatic logon, the password is stored in the registry in plain text. The specific registry key that stores this

value is remotely readable by the Authenticated Users group. Therefore, only use this setting if the computer is physically

secured and if you make sure that users who you do not trust cannot remotely see the registry.

You can use Registry Editor to add your log on information. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.

2.

Locate the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

3.

Using your account name and password, double-click the DefaultUserName entry, type your user name, and then click

OK.

4.

Double-click the DefaultPassword entry, type your password under the value data box, and then click OK.

If there is no DefaultPassword value, create the value. To do this, follow these steps:

a. In Registry Editor, click Edit, click New, and then click String Value.

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