Problem

In versions of Microsoft Windows prior to XP, you could set
up your PC to automatically log on and load the desktop, bypassing the normal
logon/welcome screen. In Windows XP, if there is only one user account, it is
relatively simple to set up the system to automatically log on. However, if
there is more than one user account, designating that all of the accounts can
automatically log on is much more obscure.

Solution

To get access to a user account control panel that will
allow you to set up accounts for automatic logon in Windows XP, you must use the
command line and an obscure control application. At the command prompt, enter:

control userpasswords2

That command will open control panel that
looks like Figure A.

Figure A

The User Accounts control panel

From this control panel, you can uncheck the Users Must Enter
A Name And Password To Use This Computer setting. When
you click the Apply or OK button, you will be asked to supply a password (you
can leave it blank). After clicking OK on that screen, you will have set your
PC to log on automatically.

Fate plays a hand

This solution is really a by-product of an odd coincidence.
The night before I read dusty1one’s Tech Q&A post, I read this article
in PC Magazine. I took it as an omen.

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