Problems with Windows XP log in boxes.

[MikeMyers]

Hi all,

We've got problems with the log in boxes of our Windows XP computers. Pupils are adding spaces that are causing the younger pupils problems when logging on.

I have asked our techies if they can refresh the log in box so the spaces are removed automatically. I have also suggested that it might be possibe to resrict the use of spaces in the log in box. The techies don't think it can be done. Any suggestions ?

Mike

[ChrisH]

Theres not a lot you can do there im afraid.

[ChrisC]

I would say the easiest thing would be to teach all students to check and delete anything entered in the login boxes before using them.

Chris

[MikeMyers]

Thanks for the time !

Fantastic service !

Mike

[indiegirl]

I would force all students to press CTRL-ALT-DEL before logging on, and set the 'interactive logon - do not remember last username' option in gpedit.

Those two combined in our school mean that the students can't be bothered to go around hitting ctrl-alt-del and putting spaces in (and it times out after a certain amount of time and goes back to the prompt, doesn't it?)

[mac_shinobi]

cant you configure the group policy as per here :

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec.../s3sgch03.mspx

• Enforce the use of space characters and characters that can be produced only by pressing the ALT key.

And basically disable that so they cant use spaces or any characters that are produced by using the ALT key ?

Just a thought

[ChrisC]

Yea, generally, but if there's just been a class in, and a 3-4minute turnaround of students, it won't always timeout quick enough.

But yea, that is a way of sorting it!

Chris

[MikeMyers]

Some great ideas so far - Brill !

Keep up the good work !

Mike

[Nij.UK]

how do you force users to press CTRL+ALT+DEL before login, is there a setting in the GPO and would that be applied to users OU or OU where the machines are?

We have this problem quite often.

[ChrisC]

I thought it was the general timeout of setting screensaver to a short time, around 5 minutes or so, and enabling ctrl alt del/password on resume.

There is also a setting to revert to ctrl alt del/secure logon after logoff. Is a pretty standard setting.

Chris

[indiegirl]

In gpedit.msc:

Local Computer Configuration
-> Computer Config
-> -> Windows Settings
-> -> -> Security Settings
-> -> -> -> Security Options

There's a 'do not require CTRL - ALT - DEL' option.

In theory (I don't know if this works in practice) disabling this should force users to press that to logon. Off the top of my head (ie I'm not in work until Wednesday) I can't remember what our GPO settings are.