Have account automatically chosen at login

[EpicMonolith]

Hi,
I have different question, but close to subject of this tutorial. I have 3 different accounts on my PC, on it's Windows 7 part. 2 of them are rarely used. So I would like that one of them was automatically chosen at startup, but still asking me for providing password. I would like to simply avoid clicking in user accounts icons each time. If other user (than myself) would like to log-in, he would need to first press "Switch user" button under icon of my account. Of course if this is possible to set Windows 7 to work in such way...
I remember that similar thing was possible in Windows XP. I remember that I even have to disable it once for some reason, but I don't remember more details (that was 11 years ago...). Is something like I described possible in Windows 7?

Thank you in advance for any answer.
E

 

[RolandJS]

I think there is a way using WindowsClub's Ultimate Windows Tweaker 2. If you install UWT2, only click what is necessary to give you what you want -- your chosen account is what appears first and foremost. Leave everything else alone -- unless you have a need to reach for your Windows install dvd or factory recover partition

 

[EpicMonolith]

OK, maybe I will give it a try, however I rather prefer not to use 3rd party solutions for system config. For me it is better to manually fiddle with registry or some Group Policy, than to use nice GUI that is not telling me exactly what is changed in the background...

 

[Eric3742]

Normally if you shutdown, it could warn you that other users account is still open.
No need to check each users if they are log-in already.

You can remove your password and just click on your acct picture to login.

If you really need to auto log in your account, there is 1 method i did use before.
It can be found in the Registry setting.
If you need, let me know i need to check which section of the registry.



RolandJS
Do you know about the method that i just mentioned.
More likely is the 1 or 0 inside the registry.

 

[EpicMonolith]

To be exact - I don't want to be automatically logged in. I want to be automatically chosen amongst other users, but still system should ask for a password.

 

[Eric3742]

To be exact - I don't want to be automatically logged in. I want to be automatically chosen amongst other users, but still system should ask for a password.

This is possible, if i am not wrong.
But it is inside the Registry setting.

To understand better;

Upon system boot up to Windows, it auto select your account and ask for the password to input.

Is this what you want.

I may try to find which setting in the Registry.
In the past, i did a lot of setting to my own customize.
All these points to the registry.

For registry, don't ever try unless you are very sure.
I see what i can do, but it may take times.

 

[EpicMonolith]

Yes, this is exactly what I would like to achieve on my Windows 7
Thank you in advance for any investigations and results.

 

[RoasterMen]

I would rather play it safe. Create a backup of the unused user accounts and store them in the account that you often use then you can go ahead and delete it.

 

[RolandJS]

"...RolandJS -- Do you know about the method that i just mentioned. More likely is the 1 or 0 inside the registry..."
Nope, never used that method. I rely on UWT2 for some thingies.

 

[Eric3742]

"...RolandJS -- Do you know about the method that i just mentioned. More likely is the 1 or 0 inside the registry..."
Nope, never used that method. I rely on UWT2 for some thingies.

Actually i don't like to touch on the registry.
I discovered it many many years ago, during XP and Vista.
After that and up to now, i never never like to play with registry.
As the same, using simple tools to do it.

Thanks.
Eric.

 

[RolandJS]

"...RolandJS -- Do you know about the method that i just mentioned. More likely is the 1 or 0 inside the registry..."

I forgot to add this: I do lots of registry editing from time to time! I just never knew about the cool idea the earlier poster gave.

 

[Eric3742]

To be exact - I don't want to be automatically logged in. I want to be automatically chosen amongst other users, but still system should ask for a password.

For the sake of your computer safety, it is best to do a completed registry backup.

1. Start -> input "regedit.exe" and at the elevated prompt right-click select Run as adminstrator.
2. Now you are inside the registry, and select the "Computer" at the top.
3. With the Computer is highlighted, select File -> Export.
4. Location to save, you can opt for the backup drive &or other folder, as it can use up to 1GB file size.
5. Input the filename such as FullBackup and Save as Type you can change to txt (default .reg), Save it.
Files size for mine is 791,063 KB.
By using file end in .txt is a way to avoid sudden click on the filename.reg which it will auto run to the active.


From here, do it carefully and check if unsure.
Do read thru first before you proceed.
If unsure, stop and let me know which you do not understand.

1. Go to and select HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

2. The next is to create a new string value. Value: DefaultUserName
First, select the word 'default..name' exactly and do copy to clipboard, proceed to 3.
3. On the Winlogon, right click and select: New -> String Value: do paste here, meaning DefaultUserName.

Next is;
Type: REG_SZ is already defaulted.
Data: username <-- This should be your exact name, do the copy it from the users folder, to clipboard.
4. Right click on the DefaultUserName and select Modify.. and paste your username.
End.

As you want to input the password, so the password part is not included here.
As for the website regrading to what you want to customize, link;

Top 5 registry keys for Windows 7

I provided you is the point 5, and as there is no administrator account active.
In theory it will work perfectly.
But if it is not working as expected, then let me know, i will re-look again.

 

[Eric3742]

If it do not work, do confirm the exact word on your username.
This may not do anything to your system, as it search according to the DefaultUserName as correct string value.

These type customize by using registry is simple, as long as you follow the correct string value names and other terms.

Hope you enjoy it.

Regards
Eric.

 

[Eric3742]

"...RolandJS -- Do you know about the method that i just mentioned. More likely is the 1 or 0 inside the registry..."

I forgot to add this: I do lots of registry editing from time to time! I just never knew about the cool idea the earlier poster gave.

Hope this add on to your registry editing knowledge based.

Regards
Eric.