Automating the Windows NT/2000 Server Logon
Last updated: 4/8/2001

Q. I have programs I want running for my clients on NT 4.0 network.  How do automate the NT (and Windows 2000) login in the event of a power outage?

A. The NT automatic logon instructions are in Knowledge Base Article Q97597 at . I always have a difficult time finding this article, so here it is in a nutshell:

Run Regedit.
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Change AutoAdminLogon key from 0 to 1
(if there is no default password (e.g., ""), NT will automatically logon the first time, but will change the key back to 0 = false after logging on the first time)
Verify that the following values are correct for the default logon account:
DefaultDomainName
DefaultUserName
DefaultPassword

4/8/2001 This also works exactly the same way to automate the Windows 2000 Pro login.  I had to add a new string value for the Default Password on my computer.

Remember, there is a security risk in automating the login.  

Also see Internet Connection Sharing FAQ