Remove password - Windows 7

[spisi]

Having trouble removing a password in Win 7, so that the machine boots right into MAME. Any tips???

[lilshawn]

Navigate your mouse to the Windows Search Box located at the bottom left corner of your computer screen. Enter "netplwiz" and then hit the Enter.

in netplwiz, uncheck the option "User must enter a username and password to use this computer". Once that's done, click the OK. Enter your preferred username and password in the lines and then the OK to complete the process. This will auto login the system with the associated account on bootup.

[spisi]

I don't get a checkbox to uncheck (see pic)  Apparently this is Windows 7 Professional (old work PC).  I can't seem to find any info on removing the password or auto log in for Windows 7 Professional.

[spisi]

If I click on advanced I get this screen...

[lilshawn]

weird. perhaps your pro has something else going on...

see picrel.

[spisi]

I don't understand "see picrel"

[lilshawn]

I don't understand "see picrel"

picrel = pic related - IE, see the linked picture for more info.

you may have some kind of security setting preventing auto login. you might have to do some digging to find out why.

[spisi]

I've been digging....and getting nowhere

[Robbbert]

Being an ex-work machine, it most likely was used to log into a domain, and thus would have had group policies imposed upon it. Those don't go away even though it's now at home.

The easiest way to blow away all those policies in one go is to use regedit, navigate to HKLM\Software\Policies, and delete the Microsoft key. If that doesn't get rid of them all, also go to HKCU\Software\Policies, and delete the Microsoft key from there too. Reboot to complete the task.

Caution: This could change a lot of settings, including things you don't expect. It all depends on what policies had been applied and you have become used to. Have a good think about it before doing anything. Also, Microsoft recommends backing up your registry before changing it.

Alternatively, you can run gpedit.msc, and examine the policy settings one at a time and decide which ones to undo.

Another place to look is under the Administrative Tools, Local Security Policy. There's interesting things in there.

If all that fails, there's a registry hack to force the machine to log into an account when booted up. I'll provide that if needed.

[spisi]

Great thanks. I'll give it a go!

[spisi]

Is there a way to get Joy2key or antimicro to work at the login screen?  If so, I could assign "enter" to a button.  My password is "empty", so I just have to hit "enter"... (fingers crossed).

[PL1]

Is there a way to get Joy2key or antimicro to work at the login screen?  If so, I could assign "enter" to a button.  My password is "empty", so I just have to hit "enter"... (fingers crossed).

If that doesn't work, you might be able to adapt lilshawn's "DEFIB board" Arduino code from this thread to send an "Enter" keystroke several seconds after the computer power LED comes on.


Scott

[Zebidee]

This all adds to my reasons to be cautious about using ex-corporate PCs for mame.

If you can't find the registry edit required, you  could try re-installing windows 7 from original media.

If you don't want to overwrite the old drive, get a new SSD, faster. 120GB should be more than sufficient for the operating system.

You would want to extract your windows license key first. So download and use ProduKey https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

Warning: your virus/security software, if installed, may flag this as a virus. It is not a virus. It just raises red flags because ... of what it does :/  My Comodo security deleted the *.exe file almost immediately, without even telling me. But it is all completely legal. So go into your security software config and make whatever exceptions you need to make.

If you have any more issues, complain to MS.

[spisi]

Thanks for all the info guys!

[lilshawn]

If that doesn't work, you might be able to adapt lilshawn's "DEFIB board" Arduino code from this thread to send an "Enter" keystroke several seconds after the computer power LED comes on.


Scott

lol, the gift that keeps on giving 

[Mordac85]

I know I'm late to this party, but instead of deleting reg keys willy nilly, try using Autologon from Sys internals.  Enter the credentials and domain name, or machine name if not a domain member, and you're done.