Registry Hack - DontDisplayLastUserName

Do not display last username - Like it or loathe it?

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Are you a high security organisation?  If so, C2 Security (An American standard of Network Security) insists that you set DontDisplayLastUserName=1.  Personally, I loathe this setting.  However some people like it because this stops one user accidentally locking out another user's account by.  This can happen when they both log on at the same machine and one user enters their own password when the other person's name is in the UserName box.

Note: The setting in Vista has been moved to a different registry Key (folder).

Getting Started

First Objective to get to the Winlogon registry hive.

Method Run Regedit then Edit (menu) 'Find' (Menu) defaultuser.  The purpose is to get to the correct place within the registry before you start configuring. N.B. You may have to press f3.  Look at the bottom of the screen for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\winlogon.

Note: The setting for DontDisplayLastUsername in Vista is in a different key.

Second Objective Create DontDisplayLastUserName

At the Winlogon hive

Select DontDisplayLastUserName.  If it does not exist go to Edit, New, String Value and create DontDisplayLastUserName

Set DontDisplayLastUserName =1

Points to note, firstly get your head around the logic, 1 means that there will be no username in the logon box. Get ready to reset to zero if you do not like it!  Lastly, be careful, there is no comma in the REG_SZ word (some people try Don'tDisplayLastUserName)

Registry learning point

• Whilst registry keys are NOT case sensitive you have to be careful with spelling, punctuation and spaces.

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