How to Automatically Log On After an Unattended Setup

Last reviewed: February 4, 1998
Article ID: Q157361
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

SUMMARY

This article describes how to automatically log on to a Windows NT 4.0- based computer after an unattended Setup. By default, Setup restarts the computer and waits for user input at the Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE To Log On dialog box after an unattended Setup. The method in this article allows Windows NT 4.0 to automatically process the logon using the Administrator account to provide access to the desktop without user intervention. Note that this works only on the initial logon after Windows NT 4.0 Setup is finished.

MORE INFORMATION

To enable automatic logon during unattended Setup, follow these steps:

  1. Create a new share on a network server and then copy the i386 folder (or appropriate platform folder) from the Windows NT 4.0 CD-ROM to the new share.

  2. Using any text editor (such as Notepad), add the following entry to the [Unattended] section of the Unattend.txt file:

          OEMPreinstall = Yes
    

  3. Add the following entry to the [GUIUnattended] section of the Unattend.txt file:

          OEMBlankAdminPassword = 1
    

    For additional information about parameters for the Unattend.txt file, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

          ARTICLE-ID: Q155197
    
          TITLE     : Unattended Setup Parameters for Unattend.txt File
    
    

  4. Save and then close the Unattend.txt file.

  5. Create a new folder named $OEM$ in the share you created in step 1.

  6. In the $OEM$ folder, create a file with the following entries. Save the file as <filename>.inf, where <filename> is your choice of names, for example, Mychange.inf.

          [Version]
          Signature = "$Windows NT$"
    

          [DefaultInstall]
          AddReg = AddReg
    

          [AddReg]
          HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
    
             \Winlogon","DefaultUserName",,"administrator"
          HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
             \Winlogon","DefaultPassword",,""
          HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
             \Winlogon","AutoAdminLogon",,"1"
    
       NOTE: These lines should be continuous. They were wrapped and indented
       for ease of readability.
    
       The below line is used to control the default Domain/Machine name to
       logon too. If using unattended setup to JOIN a domain. The default is
       the domain name. Add this line if you want to logon to the machine
       name, for example, machine name is MACHINENAME:
    
          HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
             NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon","DefaultDomainName",,"Machinename"
    
    

  7. In the $OEM$ folder, create a file named Cmdlines.txt. This file should contain the following entries including the quotation marks surrounding the entry:

          [Commands]
          "rundll32 setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 128
    
             .\<filename>.inf"
    
       NOTE: This line should be continuous. It was wrapped and indented for
       ease of readability. The .\ stands for current directory and there
       should be a space after 128.
    
       Make sure to replace <filename> in this line with the name of the file
       you created in step 6.
    


Additional query words: 4.00 deployment sysdiff unattend
Keywords : nthowto ntsetup NTSrvWkst kbsetup kbfaq
Version : 4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbhowto


THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: February 4, 1998
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.