Windows 7 Forums Search
Welcome to Windows 7 Forums. Our forum is dedicated to helping you find solutions with any problems, errors or issues you are experiencing with Windows 7. The Windows 7 forum also covers news and updates and has an extensive Windows 7 tutorial section that covers a wide range of tips and tricks.


Windows 7 - Switch User Shortcut - Create



 

Switch User Shortcut - Create

How to Create a "Switch User" Shortcut in Windows 7
Published by Brink
02-05-2010
Default Switch User Shortcut - Create

How to Create a "Switch User" Shortcut in Windows 7

information   Information
Fast User Switching or Switch User is a feature in the Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions that allows you to switch to a different user account on your computer without having to close any programs and files first in the user account that you are currently logged on to, and then be able to switch right back where you left off. This makes it easier to share a computer with other users on the same computer.

This will show you how to create or download a Switch User shortcut. You can also Pin to Taskbar or Pin to Start Menu this shortcut, or move where you like for easy use.
Tip   Tip
If you would also like to create a keyboard shortcut key to use to open this shortcut with, then see: How to Create a Keyboard Shortcut for a Program
warning   Warning
The Windows 7 Starter edition does not support this shortcut since it does not have the Fast User Switching feature included in it.

The only alternative for the Windows 7 Starter edition is to log off the user account from the Start Menu arrow menu, then select another user account in the log on screen to log on to instead.

EXAMPLE: Switch User
Switch User Shortcut - Create-switch_user.jpg




BEFORE doing OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO below

If you have the Windows 7 Home Basic or Home Premium Edition

Note   Note
If you have the Windows 7 Home Basic or Home Premium edition installed, then you will need to download the tsdiscon.exe file to add it. These editions do not have the C:\Windows\System32\tsdiscon.exe file that is required for this shortcut to work in them.

If you have the Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, or Enterprise edition installed, then you need to skip this section and go directly to OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO below. These editions have the C:\Windows\System32\tsdiscon.exe file included by default.
1. Click on the download button below to download the latest tsdiscon.zip file version to use with your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 Home Basic or Home Premium edition.
NOTE: Use the latest version first. If it does not work for you, then try one of the other older versions.
Windows 7 - tsdiscon.exe 6.1.7600.16385 version
download

Windows 7 - tsdiscon.exe 6.1.7601.16562 version
download

Windows 7 - (latest) tsdiscon.exe 6.1.7601.17514 version
download
2. Click on Save, and save the .zip file to the desktop.

3. Open the .zip file and extract the tsdiscon.exe file to the desktop.

4. Right click on the tsdiscon.exe file, and click on Properties, General tab, on the Unblock button, and on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you do not have a Unblock button under the General tab, then the shortcut is already unblocked and you can continue on to step 5.
Switch User Shortcut - Create-unblock.jpg
5. Move the tsdiscon.exe file into the C:\Windows\System32 folder.

6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .zip file on the desktop if you like, or save it to use again.

7. You can now proceed to do either OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO below to get the Switch User shortcut.





OPTION ONE

To Download the "Switch User" Shortcut
1. Click on the Download button below to download the Switch_User.zip file.
download
2. Click on Save, and save the .zip file to the desktop.

3. Open the .zip file and extract the Switch User shortcut to the desktop.

4. Right click on the Switch User shortcut, and click on Properties, General tab, on the Unblock button, and on OK. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you do not have a Unblock button under the General tab, then the shortcut is already unblocked and you can continue on to step 5.
Click image for larger version

Name:	Unblock.jpg
Views:	256
Size:	74.0 KB
ID:	52276
5. Move the shortcut to where you like for easy use.

6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .zip file on the desktop if you like, or save it to use again.






OPTION TWO

To Manually Create the "Switch User" Shortcut
1. Right click on a empty area on desktop, and click on New and Shortcut.

2. Copy and paste the command below into the location area, and click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)
%windir%\System32\tsdiscon.exe
Switch User Shortcut - Create-step1.jpg
3. Type Switch User for the name, and click on the Finish button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You can name this anything you would like though.
Switch User Shortcut - Create-step2.jpg
4. Right click on the new Switch User shortcut on the Desktop and click on Properties.

5. Click on the Shortcut tab, then click on the Change Icon button. (See screenshot below)
Switch User Shortcut - Create-switch_user3.jpg
6. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)
Switch User Shortcut - Create-switch_user4.jpg
7. In the line under "Look for icons in this file", copy and paste the location below and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
%windir%\System32\imageres.dll
Switch User Shortcut - Create-switch_user5.jpg
8. Select the icon highlighted in blue above and click on OK. (See screenshot above)
NOTE: You can use any icon that you would like instead though.

9. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)
Switch User Shortcut - Create-switch_user6.jpg
10. Move the shortcut to where you like for easy use.
That's it,
Shawn





Published by
Administrator

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 34,826
Brink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond repute
Brink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond repute

Tutorial Tools
02-13-2010   #1
Signetring54


Windows 7 Starter Edition
 
 

Lock Computer/Switch User Tutorial, Windows 7 Starter

I tried the short cut mentioned for the Windows 7 Starter OS and discovered that the user switch function only appears at initial start-up only. By adding the Lock Computer short cut and executing this function while the OS is already running, does not give the ability to switch users. The button to switch users does not appear. Am I missing something?

It is a shame that my wife and I can't switch users with this OS without doing a whole system restart. This is brainless to me who ever designed this feature.


Last edited by Signetring54; 02-13-2010 at 12:55 PM.. Reason: Added comment!
My System SpecsSystem Spec
02-13-2010   #2
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


Hello Signetring,

It appears that the only alternative for these editions is to log off the user account from the Start Menu arrow menu, then select another user account in the log on screen to log on to instead.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
06-29-2010   #3
derekimo


Windows 7 Pro 64 SP1
 
 


Hey Shawn,

I can't seem to find C:\Windows\System32\tsdiscon.exe

anywhere on my home premium. I have an admin account and a standard

user account, I was going to try this shortcut out an it comes up with this

below, so I searched the system 32 folder and it's not there at all.

Any ideas? I don't use reg cleaners, Ccleaner lightly.

I just looked for it on my install disc (using this Extract Files from Windows 7 Installation DVD ) and it's not there either,

It's an OEM disc from newegg. I'm out of ideas.

*This is the error I got trying to use the shortcut*
Attached Thumbnails
Switch User Shortcut - Create-switch-user.jpg  
My System SpecsSystem Spec
.


06-29-2010   #4
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


Hello Derek,

The shortcut may be able to work in the Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium editions, but they do not have the C:\Windows\System32\tsdiscon.exe file included with them. Here's a copy of the tsdiscon.exe file from my system that you can use to see if the shortcut may work for you after extracting it and moving it into the C:\Windows\System32 folder.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

UPDATE: See updated tutorial instead.

Last edited by Brink; 06-29-2010 at 10:33 AM..
My System SpecsSystem Spec
06-29-2010   #5
derekimo


Windows 7 Pro 64 SP1
 
 


Thanks Shawn,

I'll give that a shot and let you know.


Update: That did the trick Shawn, Thanks!

Last edited by derekimo; 06-29-2010 at 09:20 AM..
My System SpecsSystem Spec
06-29-2010   #6
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


That's great news Derek.

The tutorial has been updated so the Switch User shortcut will work in the Windows 7 Home Basic and Home Premium editions.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
06-29-2010   #7
derekimo


Windows 7 Pro 64 SP1
 
 


Excellent, a good thing made even better!

Thanks Shawn!
My System SpecsSystem Spec
06-29-2010   #8
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


You're most welcome Derek.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
08-20-2010   #9
Metallo


Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
 
 


Hi folks,

I followed your instructions to the letter but I get a message saying that the version of tsdiscon.exe is not compatible with the version of windows I am running.
I am on Windows 7 Home Premium OEM 32 Bit, is the file you put for download 64 Bit?
If yes, can anybody provide me the 32 Bit one?
Actually, I have two laptops, one runs 64 Bit, the other 32 Bit, but I have different accounts on the 32 Bit version.

Many thanks!
Alex
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Comment

Switch User Shortcut - Create problems?



Tutorial Tools



Similar Threads for: Switch User Shortcut - Create
Windows 7 Tutorial Category
Run as Different User Shortcut - Create for Specified Program and User Tutorials
Switch User - Cool Desktop Shortcut Customization
Display Switch Shortcut - Create Tutorials
Advanced User Accounts Shortcut - Create Tutorials
User Accounts Shortcut - Create Tutorials


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:01 PM.



Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized,
sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation.
"Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
© Designer Media Ltd
  

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30