This script was written to satisfy a niche case where I temporarily needed a PoS (Point of Sale) to automatically login upon startup using AD credentials.
PowerShell Script
# Enable AutoAdminLogon with PowerShell
$RegPath = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon"
Set-ItemProperty -Path $RegPath -Name "AutoAdminLogon" -Value "1"
Set-ItemProperty -Path $RegPath -Name "DefaultDomainName" -Value "YOURDOMAIN"
Set-ItemProperty -Path $RegPath -Name "DefaultUserName" -Value "YOURUSERNAME"
Set-ItemProperty -Path $RegPath -Name "DefaultPassword" -Value "YOURPASSWORD"
# Optional: to disable Ctrl+Alt+Del requirement
Set-ItemProperty -Path $RegPath -Name "DisableCAD" -Value "1"
Note: Replace YOURDOMAIN, YOURUSERNAME, and YOURPASSWORD with the appropriate values for your environment.
Lock the Screen at Startup
If you need the machine to automatically log in but lock the screen immediately afterward, you can use a scheduled task that runs at logon.
Steps to Create the Scheduled Task
- Open Task Scheduler.
- Click Create Task.
- Under the General tab:
- Name it something like
Lock Screen on Startup. - Choose Run whether user is logged on or not.
- Check Run with highest privileges.
- Under the Triggers tab:
- Click New.
- Set Begin the task to
At log on. - Choose Any user (or a specific user, if needed).
- Under the Actions tab:
- Click New.
- Action:
Start a program - Program/script:
rundll32.exe - Add arguments:
user32.dll,LockWorkStation
- Click OK and enter credentials if prompted.
Now, every time the system logs in automatically, it will immediately lock the workstation.