Help with Windows 2000 Profesional

[Spilchy]

I recently reformatted my friend's old laptop with Windows 2000 Professional.

I have 2 user accounts - the Administrator with no password and the other account is his name with no password. I have it set to simply log into his account and go straight to the desktop. There are no passwords.

I have downloaded and installed Service Pack 4 and every Windows Update available. I also installed MS Office, AVG Anti Virus, Spybot Search & Destroy, Spyware Blaster, Webroot Window Washer & Adobe Acrobat Reader. That's it. Very vanilla, no networking, no passwords, etc...

The system is running beautifully, lightening fast with no glitches.

HOWEVER, out of the blue, when I reboot or power on, it no longer goes straight into the desktop. It used to work fine and then it just stopped. Rather it leaves me off at the Username / Password logon screen. The fields are blank and I have to type his user name or "Administrator" (with no passwords) to log on.

Why is this happening?! It is driving me nuts because I can't find the asnwer when I do Google searches. What can I do? I thought maybe the Window Washer was erasing something that remembered my log on info, but it doesn't do it on any of my other computers that have it.

Thanks guys

[ifoam]

1. Start Regedt32.exe and locate the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

2. Establish your domain name, account name, and password, using the values you would normally type when logging on. You should assign the following values: DefaultDomainName, DefaultUserName, and DefaultPassword.

NOTE: The DefaultDomainName and DefaultUserName values may already exist. The DefaultPassword value may not. If it does not, create it. To do so:
a. On the Edit menu, click Add Value.
b. In the Value Name box, type DefaultPassword.
c. In the Data Type box, click REG_SZ.
d. Click OK.
e. In the String Editor box, type your password. Click OK and save your changes.
NOTE: If no DefaultPassword string is specified, Windows automatically changes the value of the AutoAdminLogon key from 1 (true) to 0 (false). This disables the AutoAdminLogon feature. This behavior also occurs if the DefaultPassword string is specified but the password is left blank or null.

3. On the Edit menu, click Add Value. Type AutoAdminLogon in the Value Name box. Click REG_SZ in the Data Type box. Enter 1 in the String box. Save your changes.

4. Quit Regedt32.exe.

5. Shut down Windows and turn off the computer.

6. Restart your computer and Windows 2000. You should be able to log on automatically now.

Note that this setting only applies to the first logon. To enforce this setting for subsequent logoffs, the administrator must configure the following setting:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Value: ForceAutoLogon
Type: REG_SZ
Data: 1

[Spilchy]

Thanks! I *just* found that EXACT link after searching Microsofts website and was reporting back my findings! How funny.

What happened was that there was no "DefaultUserName" for some reason. So I simply added it and it works fine!

For some reason, it just went away, but now its back. I appreciate your help, I was tearing my hair out!

Thanks for your help!!!

[ifoam]

lol glad you found what you are looking for!

good luck!