Introduction:

Let’s face it security usually isn’t much of an issue for a lot of home users.

Most of us just want to turn on the PC and get to the desktop as quickly as possible.

This HOWTO tells you how to make Windows XP log in automatically and therefore prevent Windows from showing the login window or even from showing the Welcome Screen so you can just switch on, walk away, make tea, come back and see your desktop loaded and ready to go!

Here’s how to do it:

Warning:  This tutorial involves editing the Windows Registry.

Steps:

1. Click Start > Run
2. Type regedit > Click OK
3. In the left pane, browse to the following key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

 

4. In the right pane, locate the value DefaultUserName > Double click it to edit
5. In the popup dialog (as shown below – I’m using Administrator which is my username), enter the username you would like Windows to log on with automatically > Click OK
   
6. In the right pane again, locate the value DefaultPassword > Double click to edit
   • If you can’t find the DefaultPassword key then don’t worry we can create it as follows:
     1. In the same window, click Edit > New > String Value
     2. Enter the name as DefaultPassword > hit Enter
     3. Now double click the new value and continue the steps below
7. In the popup dialog, enter the password for the username that you entered in step 5 > Click OK
   
8. In the right pane again, locate the value AutoAdminLogin > Double click to edit
9. In the popup dialog, enter the value 1 > Click OK
   
10. Close Registry Editor by clicking the X in the top right hand corner
11. Restart Windows