NT 4.0 workstation has no ctrl+alt+del

See if this helps:
How to Enable Automatic Logon in Windows NT 3.x and 4.0 Q97597

http://tinyurl.com/2czb

Hi,

This happens when auto login is enabled.Press
"shift" key at the bootup time.This will bring up
Logon prompt ,even if auto login is enabled...
If it works disable the auto login from registry..

Hope it helps

Anoop

I guess I haven't fully explained my question. I do not see the ctrl+alt+del logon prompt and the system doesn't automatically logs in. It just boots up and displayes the default wallpaper - no login prompt - no Start menu just blank screen. The mouse pointer is displayed and I'm able to move it. Keyboard works too.

Well, I'll try. I've seen this before on workstations that have the domain policy set to disable the CTL+ALT+DEL. I've also seen it when the local policy is set at disable the CLT+AL+DEL. Check the policy settings. Also, {don't know about NT 4.0 workstations, but W2K has a users & password setting in the control panel. The advanced tab has a secure boot requirement where users are required to press CTL+ALT+DEL to log on. If that isn't enabled, then you go right to the desktop.

Start the registry editor (regedit.exe).

Move to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Double click on DisableCAD (create type REG_DWORD if it does not exist).

Set to 1 if you don't want to have to press Ctrl-Alt-Del, and set to 0 if you do.

Click OK.

Close the registry editor.

Reboot the machine.

Note: Backup the registry before editing. Edit the registry at your own risk.

How long are you waiting? Services could still be coming up and the boot sequence may just not have gotten there yet.

Is it an old, low RAM machine?
It is attached to a network?
Can you access it from another machine on the network?
How can you say you have a successful reboot with no errors if there is no logon prompt?

Response to Answer number 5

The system is a Compaq Deskpro Pentium II 400 with 128 MB of RAM. Connected to network but I did not check network connectivity from other workstation. To be more specific: the system resides in a common area for clients to burn cd's and scan documents. They do not have the rights to install any software or do any configurations. By now I had no choice but to reimage the workstation and reinstall all software. I would like to thank you all for your comments and sugestions. So, the final word is that this "problem" will go into history as unsolved. In a company where the SLA is so tight, the turnaround has to be quick and within a specific time frame. Therefore, I had not enough time but to reimage the pc and redeploy.