To be able to access administrative shares and shut it down remotely, I added another user to my media center computer (HTPC) matching my usual username and password. Upon next boot, I discovered that instead of being logged on automatically, I was now presented with a logon screen, where I had to choose between the default (passwordless) user and my newly created “remote control” account.
“There’s got to be a way to get the automatic logon back”, I thought. Of course there is! Following is the simple solution to configure automatic logon in Windows 7 or Vista. (Please bare with me, and pretend that the Norwegian screenshots are in English for now.)
- Click the Start button and and type in “netplwiz” into the search field on the bottom, and hit Enter.
- If you’re prompted by User Account Control, click “Continue”. The User Accounts window should appear now. Select the user that you want to log on automatically on startup, then untick the box next to “Users must enter a username and password to use this computer”.
- Click “OK”. You will get prompted to enter your password twice.
- Reboot and you will be logged on automatically!
