Logon with Username and Password

How to Make Vista Require a User Name and Password at Logon​

   Information

This will change the logon procedure in Vista to require all users to type in their user name and password instead of selecting their user icon and typing in just their password to logon their user account. This is like the old classic Windows logon screen.

   Note

For the user name, you would type your account's User name, or to logon to a domain, you would type Domain Name (Computer Name)/User name instead. If you have no password, then just leave the field empty. You can press TAB or SHIFT+TAB to move between the User name and Password fields if you entered something incorrectly. See the example screenshot below.

EXAMPLE: User Name and Password Logon Screen
NOTE: See the NOTE box at the top of the tutorial. However, with this option the user display picture will be blank, since there is no actual user icon now.

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OPTION ONE

Using a REG File Download

1. To Enable User Name and Password Logon​

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A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.​

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Enable_Username&Password_Logon.reg​

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B) Go to step 3.​

2. To Restore the Default Logon​

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A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.​

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Restore_Default_Logon.reg​

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3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.​

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4. Right click on the download .reg file and click on Merge.​

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5. Click on Run, Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.​

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6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

NOTE: The next time you go to a log on screen, you will be required to enter your user name and password to logon to Vista in your user account.​

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7. You may also wish to set the same setting for the locked computer screen: How to Display User Information or Not when a Windows Session is Locked​

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OPTION TWO

Manually in Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu.​

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2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.​

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3. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.​

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4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below step 5)​

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HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System​

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5. In the right pane, right click on dontdisplaylastusername and click on Modify.​

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6. To Enable User Name and Password Logon​

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A) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 7)​

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B) Go to step 8.​

7. To Restore the Default Logon​

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A) Type 0 (number zero) and click on OK.​

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8. Close regedit.​

NOTE: The next time you go to a logon screen, you will be required to enter your user name and password to logon to Vista for your user account.​

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9. You may also wish to set the same setting for the locked computer screen: How to Display User Information or Not when a Windows Session is Locked​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Logon Automatically at Startup in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable Ctrl+Alt+Delete Secure Logon in Vista
• How to Display Information About Previous Logons During User Logon in Vista
• How to Change the Logon Screen in Vista
• How to Hide a User Account in Vista
• How to Change or Stop Password Expiration in Vista
• How to Disable or Enable Password Protection on Wakeup in Vista
• How to Display a Logon Message Title and Text in Vista
• How to Change the Computer Name in Vista
• How to Change the Number of Logon Entries Allowed to be Saved in the Logon Cache in Vista
• How to Reset a User Account Password in Vista
• How to Create a Password for a User Account in Vista
• How to Turn Password Protected Sharing On or Off in Vista
• How to Prevent or Allow a User to Change their Password in Vista
• How to Set Vista Account Lockout when a User Fails to Logon

 

[Brink]

That would make sense.

 

[NOLA985]

hey shawn back in Windows XP i was able to access the Logon with usernam and password screen by just pressing CTRL + ALT + DEL on the logon page twice is there anyway i can enable something like this on XP without making it so i have to do this

i mean is there a way i can access a hidden account without having to enter the username and password from my unhidden accounts?

 

[PainlessTorture]

hey shawn back in Windows XP i was able to access the Logon with usernam and password screen by just pressing CTRL + ALT + DEL on the logon page twice is there anyway i can enable something like this on XP without making it so i have to do this

i mean is there a way i can access a hidden account without having to enter the username and password from my unhidden accounts?

I wish, I have been looking for this forever. As far as I can see there is no way to call a login dialogue box from the vista welcome menu

 

[Brink]

hey shawn back in Windows XP i was able to access the Logon with usernam and password screen by just pressing CTRL + ALT + DEL on the logon page twice is there anyway i can enable something like this on XP without making it so i have to do this

i mean is there a way i can access a hidden account without having to enter the username and password from my unhidden accounts?

Hi Nola,

As Fmjc001 posted, there is no way that I know of either.

Sorry,
Shawn

 

[NOLA985]

hey shawn back in Windows XP i was able to access the Logon with usernam and password screen by just pressing CTRL + ALT + DEL on the logon page twice is there anyway i can enable something like this on XP without making it so i have to do this

i mean is there a way i can access a hidden account without having to enter the username and password from my unhidden accounts?

Hi Nola,

As Fmjc001 posted, there is no way that I know of either.

Sorry,
Shawn

Darn

perhaps in the future maybe?

anyways i just got vista since my old XP finnaly broke down (it will no longer start up) i took it over to a computer workshop but i figured its a sign to upgrade

so im looking at the vista tutorials and such.

Thanks anyways

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Nola. I hope that they have it in the future as well for you.

 

[darkassain]

you can also do it from the local security policy if users are intimidated from using the registry

* Press start
* Type: local security policy
* Press enter
* Expand local policies
* Click Security Options
* Double-click "Interactive Login: Do not display last user name"
* Check Enabled
* Click OK

 

[Brink]

Thank you for the addition Darkassain.

Shawn

 

[ICit2lol]

Hiyya Brink I have downloaded and run the UAC instructions at the beginning of the tutorial but I have or am missing something.

I have changed the name of the admin to one that my friends kids will not know but it keeps logging on with her old username and password at boot.

The changed name however comes up in - change name and password in the UAC in control panel.

 

[Brink]

The best way to avoid that is to create a new administator account, and delete the old one.

 

[ICit2lol]

Ok will do that - thanks

 

[Brink]

You're welcome mate. That's nothing to embarrassed about though.

 

[ICit2lol]

Hiyya again Brink I know I am a no brainer but the logon for her machine is still her old one username alpha / pw alpha - thats the one I am trying to change to one that I have set to her own name and a password.

That comes up after the initial boot login - sorry but I am obviously missing something here - I did try your tutorial on the registry addition - is that what I done wrong??

 

[Brink]

Did you already create a new administrator account for her, then delete the old alpha/renamed account?

I'm not sure of what you are referring to when you say, "...downloaded and run the UAC instructions at the beginning of the tutorial....". There's nothing about UAC in this tutorial.

Did you use the REG file in step 1 of OPTION ONE?

 

[ICit2lol]

Yes I used the Reg file - sorry mate I should a have been a bit clearer re quote UAC.

The old original account I just changed the name and password in it when I was logged in.

As it stands I have to boot the machine using the old UAC settings and then change the name and password. I did that and on reboot the thing defaults back to the original name and password.

Hey look don't worry I'm sure it will be alright it's just me being a bit pedantic re getting this originally very messed up machine back to something resembling a usable computer for her. I just wanted to be able to keep those kids of hers out of it because they would know already the name and password and if not not hard to figure out for them.

 

[Brink]

Did you create a new password protected administrator account for her, and delete the old renamed "alpha" account afterwards?

I still do not know what you are referring to with "UAC settings" though. This tutorial doesn't mention anything about UAC. Please clarify. :duh:

 

[ICit2lol]

Sorry for late reply mate but Brink I think you may have something here I went in on the old user and password and then changed the name a password on it - then deleted the son and daughters' accounts.

I didn't make her another account and then delete the original - is this possibly where I have mucked up??

I will go in make another account for her and then delete the old one as I did the others and see what happens.

That worked Brink - thanks so much for being so patient!!

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. Please let us know how it went.

 

[ICit2lol]

Not a hitch I probably was just too impetuous (very bad habit) and not take in the tutorial as it read - all good you're a legend (in my eyes anyway)

 

[Brink]

That's great news. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.