Automatic login of multiple user accounts

[Greenfire]

My apologies if this is in the wrong forum.

Is there a way for me to set up automatic logging in at start up of, lets say, 4-5 user accounts? The accounts serve no purpose other than running different instances of a program that I could then manage from my main account, but for each instance to initialize, I have to manually log in to each account on system startup. (I'm also seeking to find a way to hide those accounts, but I can't do so yet because I have to log in to each account every time I restart my computer.) So a program or registry edit of some sort would be most helpful

I've done some research, but as of now, I've only found a way to auto-log in one account (presumably intended for main accounts) so this is useless to me. ("control userpasswords2" in Run)

Just to clarify, all of my accounts are password protected, though the additional accounts have very basic passwords (which is required). I do want to keep a password on my main account, and I don't want to auto log in my main account.

Thanks!

 

[richc46]

I think this tutorial will answer your question

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/377-log-automatically-startup.html

Good Luck

 

[Greenfire]

Yeah I took a look at that already. Seems that only applies to one account. I might have explained myself wrong, but I don't actually need to see the log in, I just want the user accounts to sign on and initialize their autorun programs. (that tutorial also requires you to delete the passwords) If I don't make sense I'll gladly clarify

 

[WindowsStar]

You can do this with Windows Server 2003, 2008 or 2008 R2 and Terminal Services. Depending on how many accounts you need to log on. ~ $1850 USA for server and about ~ $750 USA for 10 Users on Terminal Server.

 

[Greenfire]

Oi. I'm just a home user. Is there a free alternative?

 

[WindowsStar]

If you are willing to give more information we might be able to find a work around. I am not sure what you are trying to do.

 

[Greenfire]

Sure. I have a program that's in the "Startup" folder for each of my user accounts. So basically, all I need is for the program to start running in each of the user accounts. I installed the program on the C drive for each of the user accounts, so with a shortcut for each instance I basically have the benefit of running the program five times.

All that I need to do for this to work is to sign on to each of the alternate accounts, the Startup folder runs everything in it, and then get back to my main account using "switch user." So in essence, all of my alternate accounts and my main account are logged in at the same time. What I'm looking for is a way around having to sign into each of the user accounts every time I have to restart the computer, because its fairly annoying. If I can get around having to do that manually, I can hide those user accounts (since I wouldn't have to sign into them manually anymore) and my log in screen would be much better.

Is that enough information?

 

[WindowsStar]

Ok so if I get this right: You would log on Account 1, and the Startup runs, then switch user and log on as Account 2, then 3, 4 etc. Leaving all 4 or 5 users running? All the users have the same Startup running too?

 

[Greenfire]

Exactly

 

[Bill2]

Well, remote desktop (RDP) lets you login to a computer without kicking off the current user. If you google for "win7 concurrent sessions", you'll get a number of hits on how exactly to go about it. I dont know if there is any legal issue in this, try at your own risk.

 

[WindowsStar]

Will you ever need to logon as those accounts or do they just need to be running?

 

[Greenfire]

The remote desktop solution kind of overcomplicates this, though I do appreciate the post

Nope, I never have to do anything in those accounts. Just have to have them running

 

[WindowsStar]

Ok then can you do this:

runas /u:Account1 "c:\StartUp.exe"
runas /u:Account2 "c:\StartUp.exe"
runas /u:Account3 "c:\StartUp.exe"
runas /u:Account4 "c:\StartUp.exe"
runas /u:Account5 "c:\StartUp.exe"

 

[Greenfire]

aha looks good, but:
1. Where do i run that from?
2. Does the fact that I have a password on the account complicate matters?

 

[WindowsStar]

I have not made it all pretty or anything I just wanted to know if it would work before we started tweaking it.

Open an elevated Command Prompt and type each one in and see if they work the way you need. We can deal with the password and other stuff if this works.

 

[Greenfire]

Created a new user to test it out

Command prompt returns: "the system cannot find the file specified"

 

[WindowsStar]

Ok I was guessing at the name of your file. You will need to enter the path and file name you want to run and you will also need to use your user accounts, again I was just guessing. You can try it with notepad if you want?

runas /u:Account1 "notepad.exe"
runas /u:Account2 "notepad.exe"
runas /u:Account3 "notepad.exe"
runas /u:Account4 "notepad.exe"
runas /u:Account5 "notepad.exe"

 

[Greenfire]

Notepad works, whether the account is signed in or not. Just tried in both instances

 

[WindowsStar]

So is that going to do what you need?

 

[Greenfire]

Yep, with this knowledge I already have an idea mapped out

A most hearty thanks!