Computer help forum: Turn off password for Windows log in

This should remove the log in password, but it will also remove any "saved" passwords that you may have applied to things like your dial-up internet connection,(if you checked the "Remember this Password" box) so make sure you remember what that is before doing this procedure.

Click on Start-Find/Search-Files or Folders, type "*.pwl" (without the quotes), click "Find Now/Search. When it brings up the various .pwl files, (there may be a couple), RIGHT click on them, choose "Delete". Then restart the computer. After it restarts, you will get a Log-in window again. When that pops up, type in a user name ONLY, DO NOT type in a password. Click Ok, then OK.

Then click on Start-Settings-Control Panel, then double click on the "Network" icon. When it loads, in the Configuration" tab, look at the "Primary Network Logon" area. Use the drop-down arrow menu to select for "Windows Logon" or "Family Logon" whichever one is present. The computer will need to be restarted and should start without a password request.

Hope this helps.

Grif

Note that some WinXP users find that when the turn OFF the password, some icons dissappear from the taskbar. This may include the volume icon, and the AC/battery meter icons.

(Yes this has been observed and reported by many users, and is NOT an effect of the Hide Inactive Icons setting, the Control Panel/Power Options settings for the batter/power icons, or some other user choice.)

Just fyi... Not a big deal unless you rely on the presence of an icon that disappears.

Cheers...

be sure to set up an administrator account complete with password. Then set up a user (you) account with no password, but with administrator privileges. This will
auto-boot. You then log out and log back in if you need the admin account. This account can be very important if something goes wrong. chuck

By default, Windows creates an account called "administrator" when you first set up the computer. At that time you would have been prompted to enter a password, though a lot of people just leave it blank. (That can be a security risk or a saving grace, depending on the situation.)

It's recommended that you create a new account and not use the default administrator so that if something ever happens to your account you have something to fall back on.

To verify what setup you have, go start->control panel->user accounts. On the screen that comes up all of the user accounts will be listed, and under them it will say if it's an administrator, limited user, or guest, as well as if the account is password-protected. (NOTE: If you have created a new account, Administrator will not be listed...it will remain hidden until you need it.)

You can change the username, go from limited user to administrator, add/change/remove a password, etc by clicking on the respective username. You can also create a new user by clicking "create a new account."

If, on the start menu, your username is Administrator, you can create a new account (as suggested), though if you've been using it a while it may be simpler not to. Administrator is, of course, granted administrative privledges, though you can change the password options as directed above.

Hope this helps,
John

BESIDES the hidden, default Administrator account, make another Administrator account with password.
Example: Account name-Full name (like Charles Pettifogger), then choose password (can be same as Hidden account-if a good one, not name of pet, etc).
2nd account (everyday) name Chuck (or Chas, or CP, etc)with no password, following steps given before. Normally boot into everyday account. Log out and back into Admin account when necessary. Only drawback is having to set up two separate accounts (programs, preferences, etc). chuck