How can I have Windows XP remember the last username?

windows-xp login

17,030

Solution 1

I think this is in the Local Security Policy. Have a look in there. It was turned off (probably in SP2) for security reasons.

Yup - Local Policies > Security Options > Interactive Logon: Do not display last user name.

Solution 2

Perform the following steps in the link:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307882

To open and edit your Local Policy, then perform the steps listed previously.

17,030

DWilliams

Information Systems Technician in the US Navy

Updated on September 17, 2022

Comments

DWilliams almost 2 years

This is a very simplistic question, but nonetheless it is annoying several of my users.

Our company is fairly small and consists of about 5 users with Windows XP workstations. The profiles are local profiles, nothing is on a domain. The workstations are configured for the "classic" login style with a username and password text box rather than the welcome screen. This is all fine and good, but XP doesn't remember the last username, which makes it a pain on systems where only one user is on the system (in other words, all of them). It defaults to "user" and places the cursor in the password field automatically, so every time a user wants to log in they have to clear out the username field, type their name, then go down to password.

How can I set XP to remember their usernames? I was under the impression that this was the default behavior, but apparently not.
DWilliams over 14 years

This sounds exactly like what I need, but unfortunately, stand-alone XP Pro workstations don't appear to have the group policy editor required to perform this.
DWilliams over 14 years

To clarify, it is not found under administrative tools and is not available to select as a MMC snap-in.
djhowell over 14 years

They do. Start -> Run -> gpedit.msc
DWilliams over 14 years

I was unable to locate the group polity editor, even entering its command directly. My best guess is that I got overzealous removing components with nLite when making my install CD. Accepting this answer because in all probability it works on a normal installation.
scaron over 14 years

That's a shame. Good luck with your anticipated rebuild (including Local Security Policy) :-)