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By default a domain joined machine will ask you to enter Control-Alt-Delete before you can select a user with which to logon to the machine.

This isn't necessary and can be an inconvenience (although it does present a more secure screen from which to start logon). How do you disable this?

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2 Answers

up vote 3 down vote accepted
  1. Enter Start -> Run
  2. Type netplwiz
  3. Select the Advanced tab
  4. Under Secure logon, uncheck "Require users to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete"
  5. Click OK

Optionally, you can define this via a GPO

disable the policy: Disable CTRL+ALT+DEL requirement for logon

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is netplqiz a part of windows? When I try that I get an error that Windows cannot find netplqiz –  Brent May 1 '09 at 20:44
that was a typo, it should have said netplwiz –  Omar Shahine May 1 '09 at 20:47
It doesn't work on my XP machine. It does on my Windows Server 2008 machine. I assume this either only works on vista type OS's or server OS's? –  Grant May 1 '09 at 20:52
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Just thought I'd mention that it's trivial to steal a user's password with a look-alike login screen if you disable ctrl+alt+delete.

Only disable it if all the people with access to the computer are trustworthy (or everyone logs off when they leave every time with no exceptions).

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"Only disable it when..." even if your employees are trustworthy, you can still have this same problem with viruses, etc. –  Adam Davis May 1 '09 at 20:46
True, but I wouldn't expect people to require ctrl+alt+del in their own home or something, fellow employees targeting you are more dangerous than viruses targeting everyone. –  Grant May 1 '09 at 20:49
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