How to automatically logon Windows 7 or Windows 2008 R2

If like us you have applications that can only run as a logged on user, you often need to get your Windows 2008 R2 Server logged on automatically.  Well OK its not secure but what can you do when the application doesn't work as a service!  So here is how you do it.

Here's how to get the missing checkbox back and configure Autologon:

• Open a CMD prompt and enter the following (all on one line):

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v AutoAdminLogon /t REG_SZ /d "1" /f

• Click Start, Run and enter control userpasswords2

• Clear the checkbox for Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer and click OK

• Enter the user name and password that will be used for Autologon and click OK

This handy tip was brought to us by EXPTA Blog and we are ever grateful!