Configure Windows XP to Automatically Login

After downloading fixes from Microsoft Windows Update page or via Automatic Updates, you may notice
Welcome Screen appearing at startup [previously it used to go to Desktop directly]. This is caused by the .NET Framework Update from Microsoft. It creates an additional user account called ASP.NET, which you can see in the Control Panel User Accounts applet. This is the reason you are seeing the Welcome Screen at startup. But, don't need to remove this update or don't delete this account. You can still configure Windows XP to automatically login using these methods:



Method 1:

Click Start, Run and type "control userpasswords2", and click Ok. Uncheck "Users
must enter a user name and password to use this computer" option, and click Ok.

Common Mistakes to be avoided while using this method



For Windows XP
Home, don't try to auto-login as Administrator. This is because Windows XP Home Edition does not allow logging in as Administrator from Normal mode. Once you uncheck the option "Users must enter a user name" and click OK/Apply, Administrator account name will be displayed in the text box. Type-in a different user name and password in order to auto-login to that account. Take care while entering the password. Typing an incorrect password makes XP to freeze at startup (during authentication) due to incorrect password and then displays the Welcome Screen after few seconds.

Method 2: Using TweakUI

Open TweakUI
Start > Programs > Powertoys for Windows XP.

Expand the Logon branch, and click Autologon. Turn on the Log on automatically at system startup option,
type your username and password, and click Ok.

TweakUI Versions:

TweakUI v2.00 for Windows XP/XP MCE [564 KB]. http://download.microsoft.com/download/whistler/Install/2/WXP/EN-US/TweakUiPowertoySetup.exe

TweakUI v2.10 for Windows XP SP1/XP MCE/2003 [147 KB]. http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/c/a/fca6767b-9ed9-45a6-b352-839afb2a2679/TweakUiPowertoySetup.exe

Method 3: From Microsoft Knowledgebase:

Welcome to Windows Screen Appears When You Start Windows XP After You Install the .NET
Framework 1.1

---The New Guy