I have a script that needs GUI interaction - how can I make it login to windows?

[wisem2540]

So I have a script, written in autoit, that performs a series of clicks and actions on a Server 2003 X64 system. Being a server, its never really logged into the console. Does anyone have a script, in any language, that can sign a user into windows?

 

FYI, I disabled "Require CTRL ALT DEL" So that is one less hurdle.

 

Thanks!

[Steve21]

If you really want to do it, although I'd suggest you really don't, any reason you just don't use autologin as already defined in Windows?

 

The main point of the login page is to stop things like scripts interacting with it.

 

Steve

[wisem2540]

Yes, the Server runs a clinical application for a 24/7 Hospital. I had considered a script to do something like this....

 

1. Define Autologin Credentials

2. Reboot.

3. Cleanup Autologin Reg Settings

4. Run Script With GUI Commands

 

But, with the nature of this application, a reboot could cause some serious problems, if users are not properly in downtime mode.

[Steve21]

Is there something specific you're trying to do though, as a lot of the main commands etc can be scripted into a schedule task so you don't need to be logged on.

 

Unless you start getting into the area of coding dlls, or credential providers there isn't really a "Proper" easy way to do stuff to the login screen e.g. autoit

 

Steve

[wisem2540]

The application has a GUI that is required to edit the NAS purge settings. I talked to the vendor about which file is modified during this process, and they have told me that It is only possible to modify these settings using the GUI. Apparently the XML file it changes is encrypted somehow. Long story short, I will be scheduing purges to happen during non-peak hours. Edited February 25, 2013 by wisem2540