You know how after you boot up your computer, or come out of a screensaver, you come to that screen where you pick out of the usernames? Does anyone know how to disable that altogether? I've been searching through all the settings, and the closest I've come across to removing it has been an option to substitute it with the "2000" version where you have to type in your username and password.
I've ALWAYS had one account on this computer, so I'm the admin. It never used to make me click on my name, but just a week or two ago, it started (this is after 2.5 years of it automatically signing me right in). Any help is appreciated, thanks.
Posted by xtownaga (Member # 7187) on :
This site gives instructions to do what you're trying to do. There are two sets, the first involves editing the registry, the second just uses a control panel. I'd go with the second, it looks easier (but won't work if you're computer is "joined to a domain," but if it's a home computer, it probably isn't).
Hope that helps.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
quote:I've ALWAYS had one account on this computer, so I'm the admin.
Great Googily-Moogily, man! That's not how you treat your computer nowadays.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
Take your computer and unplug all the peripherals. Now this part is tricky. You will need either a gallon of gasoline or 2 pints of lighter fluid.
Douse the inards of the computer with enough gas so that they drip and a strong steamy gas smell arises. Now, Drop in a number of lit matches simultaneously to ensure an equal burn all around. THis whole process should take about 8 seconds. You will never have to see the login screen again. Ever. Worked for me.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
quote:Originally posted by TomDavidson: Great Googily-Moogily, man! That's not how you treat your computer nowadays.
Eh? Why not? That's what I've always done, too, and I don't see why I should do it any other way.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Malware.
That's why.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Make an admin account. Never use it except when installing software.
When browsing the web, use a reduced-privilege account that -- at the VERY least -- does not have modify rights to the registry.
When you need to install something, just run the installer under the other account with "runas," or use Fast User Switching to log on quickly as the admin user.
This is such a basic standard that Microsoft is FINALLY incorporating it by default in Windows Vista, although it'll take the form of the implementation we see in OS X: where, even if you ARE logged in as the admin user, you're actually running in a low-privilege mode and will be prompted every time you try to run something or install something that requires elevated privileges. It means having to type your password more times, but that's a minor inconvenience.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
quote:Originally posted by quidscribis: Malware.
That's why.
Ah. That makes sense.
Posted by Hamson (Member # 7808) on :
Thanks xtownaga, I just did what it said, and we'll see if it works.
So Tom, if I did what you said, would I still be able to have an auto log-in with the non-admin user? And would I still be able to download things from off the web and install them?
Also, would this be necessary if I have a router and 2 or so other firewalls, along with virus protection and spyware removal software?
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
quote:Originally posted by TomDavidson: Great Googily-Moogily, man!
Oh! I LIKE that! Say it again!
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
quote: So Tom, if I did what you said, would I still be able to have an auto log-in with the non-admin user? And would I still be able to download things from off the web and install them?
You'd be able to auto-login with the non-admin user if you really wanted, yes. And you could download things. But you couldn't install them, which is the way it should be.
As to whether or not it's necessary, that depends entirely on whether you're comfortable relying on AV companies to update their definitions in time to catch every recently-discovered Windows exploit. The two most recent major holes discovered (in Exchange and in WMF files) weren't addressed by AV software for some time after exploits were released for them, and neither would have been stopped by a firewall. Both would have done no damage to someone logged on as a non-administrative account
Again, though, Windows Vista is thankfully going to make this whole conversation academic.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
So if I've set up my machine to just use the one account, how do I go about changing it?
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Log on using your existing account, create a new non-administrative account under "Accounts" in Control Panel, and never log on as your administrative account again.
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