How do I remove the start-up password?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tom
  • Start date Start date
T

Tom

Since I'm the only person who uses this laptop (Windows XP Business
Edition) I would like to just turn it on and have it start Windows
without prompting me for a password. Right now the password is <null>
but I have to click on "Go" (or whatever the prompt is) without entering
anything.

I am the only user as well as the administrator.

Thanks, Tom
 
Tom said:
Since I'm the only person who uses this laptop (Windows XP Business
Edition) I would like to just turn it on and have it start Windows without
prompting me for a password. Right now the password is <null> but I have
to click on "Go" (or whatever the prompt is) without entering anything.

I am the only user as well as the administrator.

Thanks, Tom
Click to expand...



Go to START | RUN. Type in:

control userpasswords2

In the resulting window, uncheck the box that requires users to log-in and
note the exact spelling of the principle users name. In the next window,
type in that users name in place of "Administrator". If required, then put
in the user's password. Now when you startup, you will still see the word
"Welcome" but the computer will go directly to your desktop when all
startup programs are complete.
 
Hackers and malware purveyors are hoping you'll find an answer to your
question, to say nothing of the odd guest or relative who may use your
computer.
 
Since the OP's original password was <null> your warning makes no sense.
Further, the "Hackers and malware purveyors" don't rely on the login password either.
You email address says it all: invalid - invalid

| Hackers and malware purveyors are hoping you'll find an answer to your
| question, to say nothing of the odd guest or relative who may use your
| computer.
| ---
| Leonard Grey
| Errare humanum est
|
| Tom wrote:
| > Since I'm the only person who uses this laptop (Windows XP Business
| > Edition) I would like to just turn it on and have it start Windows
| > without prompting me for a password. Right now the password is <null>
| > but I have to click on "Go" (or whatever the prompt is) without entering
| > anything.
| >
| > I am the only user as well as the administrator.
| >
| > Thanks, Tom
 
Since I'm the only person who uses this laptop (Windows XP Business
Edition) I would like to just turn it on and have it start Windows
without prompting me for a password.  Right now the password is <null>
but I have to click on "Go" (or whatever the prompt is) without entering
anything.

I am the only user as well as the administrator.

Thanks, Tom
Click to expand...

Tweak UI is also popular and useful for this and has many other little
time saving tweaks.

It is free and lots of other goodies on this page:


http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/Downloads/powertoys/Xppowertoys.mspx
 
Leonard Grey said:
Hackers and malware purveyors are hoping you'll find an answer to your
question, to say nothing of the odd guest or relative who may use your
computer.
---
Click to expand...

No they aren't. The necessary tools for bypassing Windows passwords have
been around for quite a while.
 
Tom said:
Since I'm the only person who uses this laptop (Windows XP Business
Edition) I would like to just turn it on and have it start Windows
without prompting me for a password. Right now the password is
<null> but I have to click on "Go" (or whatever the prompt is)
without entering anything.

I am the only user as well as the administrator.
Click to expand...

Get TweakUI and use it to setup an automatic logon.
(You likely installed the .NET Framework.)

Automatic Logons:
------
Microsoft method:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315231
(Essentially the same... but different place:
http://www.pctools.com/guides/registry/detail/13/ )


Microsoft Method 2:
TweakUI from:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx


control userpasswords2 method:
1) Go to the Start Menu and the Run box.
2) Type in the following:

control userpasswords2

now click OK
3) In the new Windows that appears select the account you wish to make the
primary logon.
Now uncheck the "Users must enter a username and password..." box.
4) Hit Apply and a dialog box will appear asking you to confirm the selected
users password.
Click OK when you are done...
------

Hopefully that gets you where you are wanting to be.

It is a *good* thing in the user arena to:
1) Have strong passwords.
2) Have more than one administrator level account (with strong passwords).
 
On the contrary, Richard, the hackers and purveyors have no need to
break the OP's password if there is no password in the first place.
Neither does anyone who uses the OP's computer. Is it real hot there in AZ?
 
Since I'm the only person who uses this laptop (Windows XP Business
Edition) I would like to just turn it on and have it start Windows
without prompting me for a password.  Right now the password is <null>
but I have to click on "Go" (or whatever the prompt is) without entering
anything.

I am the only user as well as the administrator.

Thanks, Tom
Click to expand...

Removing a password and bypassing the entry of a password are not the
same things.
 
Get TweakUI and use it to setup an automatic logon.
(You likely installed the .NET Framework.)

Automatic Logons:
------
Microsoft method:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315231
(Essentially the same... but different place:
   http://www.pctools.com/guides/registry/detail/13/)

Microsoft Method 2:
TweakUI from:http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

control userpasswords2 method:
1) Go to the Start Menu and the Run box.
2) Type in the following:

control userpasswords2

now click OK
3) In the new Windows that appears select the account you wish to make the
primary logon.
Now uncheck the "Users must enter a username and password..." box.
4) Hit Apply and a dialog box will appear asking you to confirm the selected
users password.
Click OK when you are done...
------

Hopefully that gets you where you are wanting to be.

It is a *good* thing in the user arena to:
1) Have strong passwords.
2) Have more than one administrator level account (with strong passwords)..
Click to expand...

You do not have to set up automatic logon whenever .NET is installed.
You just have to uncheck the .ASP user from Logon section. You can
not normally login with .ASP user.
 
That was my point. If the OP has no password, why stop at the login window and make him/her click
on their logo to finish the boot up. Just make it automatic.

| On the contrary, Richard, the hackers and purveyors have no need to
| break the OP's password if there is no password in the first place.
| Neither does anyone who uses the OP's computer. Is it real hot there in AZ?
| ---
| Leonard Grey
| Errare humanum est
|
| Richard in AZ wrote:
| > Since the OP's original password was <null> your warning makes no sense.
| > Further, the "Hackers and malware purveyors" don't rely on the login password either.
| > You email address says it all: invalid - invalid
| >
| > | > | Hackers and malware purveyors are hoping you'll find an answer to your
| > | question, to say nothing of the odd guest or relative who may use your
| > | computer.
| > | ---
| > | Leonard Grey
| > | Errare humanum est
| > |
| > | Tom wrote:
| > | > Since I'm the only person who uses this laptop (Windows XP Business
| > | > Edition) I would like to just turn it on and have it start Windows
| > | > without prompting me for a password. Right now the password is <null>
| > | > but I have to click on "Go" (or whatever the prompt is) without entering
| > | > anything.
| > | >
| > | > I am the only user as well as the administrator.
| > | >
| > | > Thanks, Tom
| >
| >
 
I see your point. After all, that burglar is going to get into your
house one way or another, so might as well leave the door open. Makes it
easier to bring in the groceries that way.
 
If you have nothing to steal, why make them break the door to get in?
But this dumb exchange has gone far enough. <plunk>

|I see your point. After all, that burglar is going to get into your
| house one way or another, so might as well leave the door open. Makes it
| easier to bring in the groceries that way.
| ---
| Leonard Grey
| Errare humanum est
|
| Richard in AZ wrote:
| > That was my point. If the OP has no password, why stop at the login window and make him/her
click
| > on their logo to finish the boot up. Just make it automatic.
| >
| > | > | On the contrary, Richard, the hackers and purveyors have no need to
| > | break the OP's password if there is no password in the first place.
| > | Neither does anyone who uses the OP's computer. Is it real hot there in AZ?
| > | ---
| > | Leonard Grey
| > | Errare humanum est
| > |
| > | Richard in AZ wrote:
| > | > Since the OP's original password was <null> your warning makes no sense.
| > | > Further, the "Hackers and malware purveyors" don't rely on the login password either.
| > | > You email address says it all: invalid - invalid
| > | >
| > | > | > | > | Hackers and malware purveyors are hoping you'll find an answer to your
| > | > | question, to say nothing of the odd guest or relative who may use your
| > | > | computer.
| > | > | ---
| > | > | Leonard Grey
| > | > | Errare humanum est
| > | > |
| > | > | Tom wrote:
| > | > | > Since I'm the only person who uses this laptop (Windows XP Business
| > | > | > Edition) I would like to just turn it on and have it start Windows
| > | > | > without prompting me for a password. Right now the password is <null>
| > | > | > but I have to click on "Go" (or whatever the prompt is) without entering
| > | > | > anything.
| > | > | >
| > | > | > I am the only user as well as the administrator.
| > | > | >
| > | > | > Thanks, Tom
| > | >
| > | >
| >
| >
 
Leonard said:
Hackers and malware purveyors are hoping you'll find an answer to your
question, to say nothing of the odd guest or relative who may use your
computer.
Click to expand...

Hackers and malware usually exploits the computer while the user is
logged on with the current credentials. So...
 
Tom said:
Since I'm the only person who uses this laptop (Windows XP Business
Edition) I would like to just turn it on and have it start Windows
without prompting me for a password. Right now the password is
<null> but I have to click on "Go" (or whatever the prompt is)
without entering anything.

I am the only user as well as the administrator.
Click to expand...

Shenan said:
Get TweakUI and use it to setup an automatic logon.
(You likely installed the .NET Framework.)

Automatic Logons:
------
Microsoft method:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315231
(Essentially the same... but different place:
http://www.pctools.com/guides/registry/detail/13/ )


Microsoft Method 2:
TweakUI from:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx


control userpasswords2 method:
1) Go to the Start Menu and the Run box.
2) Type in the following:

control userpasswords2

now click OK
3) In the new Windows that appears select the account you wish to
make the primary logon.
Now uncheck the "Users must enter a username and password..." box.
4) Hit Apply and a dialog box will appear asking you to confirm the
selected users password.
Click OK when you are done...
------

Hopefully that gets you where you are wanting to be.

It is a *good* thing in the user arena to:
1) Have strong passwords.
2) Have more than one administrator level account (with strong
passwords).
Click to expand...
You do not have to set up automatic logon whenever .NET is
installed.

You just have to uncheck the .ASP user from Logon section. You can
not normally login with .ASP user.
Click to expand...

Why are you telling *me* this? ;-)
 
Bruce said:
Go to START | RUN. Type in:

control userpasswords2

In the resulting window, uncheck the box that requires users to log-in
and note the exact spelling of the principle users name. In the next
window, type in that users name in place of "Administrator". If
required, then put in the user's password. Now when you startup, you
will still see the word "Welcome" but the computer will go directly to
your desktop when all startup programs are complete.
Click to expand...

Bruce, I did exactly what you said and I'm locked out of Windows. When
I attempt to log on I get the following error message:

The system could not log you on. Make sure your user name and domain
are correct. Then type your password again. Letters in passwords must
be typed using the exact case.

Then I can not go any further. All windows will let me do is shut down.

Thanks, Tom
 
Tom said:
Bruce, I did exactly what you said and I'm locked out of Windows. When
I attempt to log on I get the following error message:

The system could not log you on. Make sure your user name and domain
are correct. Then type your password again. Letters in passwords must
be typed using the exact case.

Then I can not go any further. All windows will let me do is shut down.
Click to expand...

In oder to be able to Autologon the account must be password protected,
I'm not sure why the system even let you configure the unprotected
account for Autologon.

At the logon screen try hitting Ctrl+Alt+Del *twice* and see if you can
logon normally, if you can't try loging on to Safe Mode.

John
 
John said:
In oder to be able to Autologon the account must be password protected,
I'm not sure why the system even let you configure the unprotected
account for Autologon.

At the logon screen try hitting Ctrl+Alt+Del *twice* and see if you can
logon normally, if you can't try loging on to Safe Mode.
Click to expand...

PS: Booting to the Last Known Good Configuration might get you out of
this predicament, try that before Safe Mode.

John
 
I suspect that you forgot to change the user name to your logon name,
by default the "control userpasswords2" program puts the Administrator in the user name slot and you
have to change it back to your name before clicking the "next" button.

| Bruce Hagen wrote:
| >
| > | >> Since I'm the only person who uses this laptop (Windows XP Business
| >> Edition) I would like to just turn it on and have it start Windows
| >> without prompting me for a password. Right now the password is <null>
| >> but I have to click on "Go" (or whatever the prompt is) without
| >> entering anything.
| >>
| >> I am the only user as well as the administrator.
| >>
| >> Thanks, Tom
| >
| >
| >
| > Go to START | RUN. Type in:
| >
| > control userpasswords2
| >
| > In the resulting window, uncheck the box that requires users to log-in
| > and note the exact spelling of the principle users name. In the next
| > window, type in that users name in place of "Administrator". If
| > required, then put in the user's password. Now when you startup, you
| > will still see the word "Welcome" but the computer will go directly to
| > your desktop when all startup programs are complete.
|
| Bruce, I did exactly what you said and I'm locked out of Windows. When
| I attempt to log on I get the following error message:
|
| The system could not log you on. Make sure your user name and domain
| are correct. Then type your password again. Letters in passwords must
| be typed using the exact case.
|
| Then I can not go any further. All windows will let me do is shut down.
|
| Thanks, Tom
 
John said:
PS: Booting to the Last Known Good Configuration might get you out of
this predicament, try that before Safe Mode.

John
Click to expand...

When I reboot and press F8 the menu that comes up only presents two
choices: Windows XP and IBM Recovery. As far as I know, the latter
will get me in to IBM Rescue and Recovery. And since I haven't saved my
current C drive to an external drive since I began the setup process
three days ago, I don't think I can use IBM Recovery.

I also tried Ctrl+Alt+Del *twice* and I might as well have peen pushing
on the Page Down key. It totally ignored me.

Tom
 
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