last/most recent user

[dworley]

Hello all...

I am using XP Pro.

Whenever I log off and log back on, it has saved my username and only prompts for my password. I would like to be able to change this so that instead of having my username (dworley) already there, it has my other user name (darryl) up instead.

Here are my current logon preferences:

I do not use the XP start window (I use the classic version that sort of looks like 2k)

All accounts are password-protected (so no automatic logon)... I do have the passwords so I can change all user accounts, though

I am unsure even as to where I begin: the registry? user accounts?

Thank you,

-darryl

[cozofdeath]

Try this. Click on the start button go to run. Then type regedit and hit enter. Find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

DontDisplayLastUserName REG_SZ

Set this value as 1 to make it not display the last username.

[babysun]

Whenever I log off and log back on, it has saved my username and only prompts for my password. I would like to be able to change this so that instead of having my username (dworley) already there, it has my other user name (darryl) up instead.

Hello Darryl,

First up all Welcome to the forum. :)

What Cozofdeath has suggested is the perfect answer for your question.

I want to clarify it further.

As you have asked you want the other user name "darryl" it will not be possible by this.

If you turned the feature on then it will show the last user (who was logged in) or if you turn the feature off then it will show nothing(blank), by default.

May be turning off, setting to 1, what you will want here.

[cozofdeath]

I'm sorry I didn't read the question correctly. I didn't even see the part were you wanted another name to show up. Thanks babysun! And yes Welcome dworley :D! I have found a way for that also, this one I don't think is on the net though. In the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon key find AltDefaultUserName. Change it to the name you want (darryl), then make sure AltDefaultUserName is selected and click Edit, Permissions, select System, click the Advanced button, select System, choose Edit, check Deny for Set Value and Delete. Then just click OK or Apply to get out of all the boxes and give it a try.

This reg tweak will stop winlogon from constantly changing AltDefaultUserName and DefaultUserName to whatever you enter into the username box when logging on. That way you will be able to just keep one name in the username box. The only other way would be a startup script to change both registry values to the name you want every time the computer boots. You can also make both the username and password blank by making cachedlogonscount in the same key to none. By none I mean delete any number (10 is default) from cachedlogonscount.

[babysun]

I shall say Thanks to you cozofdeath.

Before your post I tried to change altdefaultusername but it stayed there only after my logout. In next login changed back to the new one. But now you have given me a trick. I learned something new from you today.

Thanks a lot for enlighting me on this. :)

[cozofdeath]

Sure. B) I never really had a reason to mess with registry permissions so I learned something new today as well. It took a couple log in/outs but it was worth figuring it out. I'm still wondering what the System entry does in the winlogon key?

[dworley]

Thanks for all the help and suggestions! I am about to give these recommendations a try.

-darryl

[Scarecrow Man]

Hello all...

I am using XP Pro.

Whenever I log off and log back on, it has saved my username and only prompts for my password. I would like to be able to change this so that instead of having my username (dworley) already there, it has my other user name (darryl) up instead.

Here are my current logon preferences:

I do not use the XP start window (I use the classic version that sort of looks like 2k)

All accounts are password-protected (so no automatic logon)... I do have the passwords so I can change all user accounts, though

I am unsure even as to where I begin: the registry? user accounts?

Thank you,

-darryl

I assume you are not using the welcome screen, as you say your name is already displayed, but not the password.

There is a way to change the name on the Welcome screen, by changing the name on the user account. This can be done by going into User Accounts in Control Panel, selecting your username, and going to change my name.

[dworley]

Thank you for all the help, guys. It turns out the best way to do this was by changing the AltDefaultUserName in the registry, but NOT changing the Permissions. When the permissions got changed, it fried my registry and rendered my computer unbootable. I reimaged my machine, tried doing it again w/o changing permissions, and it worked like a charm. Thanks boyos

-darryl