Set Windows 7 Default Login to a Non Domain Account

Question

We have 12 Laptop Pc's that we have upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 7.
The laptops are used by staff on away days. They log on to a local account on the machine - say User1 with no password.
On the Windows XP Login screen there was a drop down menu allowing them to log on to the Local Machine. However in Windows7 there is no such box and it is confusing staff.
Windows 7 tries to log into the domain by default, it doesn't seem to remember where the user last logged into.

Is there a way to set Windows7 to log on to the local machine by default instead of the domain?
I do not want the staff to have to type for example stafflaptop1\User1 when they log on.

Answer 1

You can use Group Policy (local or domain) or edit the registry directly.

Direct registry edit seems to work best for us. We use a generic script to assign the local computer name, with the variable %COMPUTERNAME%, as the default domain for logon where needed. Run the following:

reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DefaultLogonDomain /t REG_SZ /d %COMPUTERNAME% /f

If using GP look under Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, System, Logon. The setting is labeled "Assign a default domain for logon". However, entering %COMPUTERNAME% here does not appear to be correctly interpolated prior to the logon display.

Answer 2

Windows 7/Vista and Windows Server 2008 already log into local accounts by default. When you enter a username, Windows sets the domain to the local PC if the username is associated with a local account. If there is no matching local account, then Windows assumes that it is a domain login.

For example, if stafflaptop\User1 and domain.org\User1 both exist, Windows 7 will default to stafflaptop\User1.

Answer 3

Shouldn't this be on Superuser?

Simply go to run (Windows Key+R) and type control userpasswords2.

Next, untick the top option Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer.

Answer 4

Joe - does the advice at http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/configuration/how-can-i-set-the-default-domain-on-the-windows-nt-logon-screen-.aspx help? I haven't tested it, because my setup is different to yours, so use with caution; however John Savill's tips are very trustworthy and the key he refers to exists in Windows 7 (even if the article dates back to 2002).

Answer 5

You can use .\user1 to log on local domain.

The .\ represent the local domain.

Very useful for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 r2.