On a Windows XP-based computer that is part of a workgroup and has the Fast User Switching feature enabled, the computer may start without displaying the "Welcome" logon screen.
The Guest account is not relevant when Windows determines if there is only one user without a password. If there is only one user registered on the computer, the "Welcome" logon screen is not displayed before the account is logged on.
You can use the Fast User Switching feature to gain access to the Guest account.
Note that this behavior occurs only if the user account is part of a workgroup (not a domain) and any of the following conditions exist:
- No password is configured for the user account.
- No other users are registered on the computer.
To work around this behavior, either add a second user to the computer or create a password for the user account. This prevents the account from being logged on automatically.
Third-Party Programs Disable Welcome Screen
Some 3rd party applications, such as PCAnywhere, replace the Windows XP logon routine with their own. This script is designed to correct this, and allow you to use the Windows XP Welcome Screen.
Usage: Download fix_xp_logon.vbs and save this file to your hard drive. Navigate to where you saved it and double click the file. A confirmation dialog will appear when finished. You may need to log off/back on or restart your computer for the change to take effect. This script can be viewed in Notepad or any text editor, as to the specific Registry key and value that are updated.
VPN Disabled the Welcome Screen
Start/Run/Regedit
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\WinLogon. In the right pane, remove the entry for Gina.DLL.