Though it may sound rather pointless, there exists an ability in Windows XP to bypass the welcome screen and logon via an NT-style logon dialogue. To do this, simply press “Ctrl + Alt + Del” while at the logon screen (sometimes you must press this combination multiple times). Why do this, though? As a PC tech, I often have to work on PC’s where the owner is not present and has not given me adequate or correct credentials to log onto the system.

However, many retail PC’s, by default, have an “Administrator” or “Owner” account with absolutely NO password. Such an account is somewhat of a security threat, but for you, it can be a vital tool when faced with a lack of credentials!