This is a little perplexing

[357mag]

I've been doing some experimenting with XP and noticing what log on screens I see when I kick off the screen saver or resume from standby. Here is what I've noticed. If I'm logged in as the default Administrator and I have the "Use the Welcome Screen" option enabled, and then I look at the Screen Saver tab, I can see the check box that says "On resume display the Welcome Screen". Okay so far so good.

But here comes a curve ball. When I log off the default Administrator account and log in to my other Administrator account, if I look at the Screen Saver tab it says something different. Here it says "On resume password protect." Okay I'm confused. So I experiment a little more and I discover that if I log into my default Administrator account and I use fast user switching to also log into my other Administrator account and now look at the Screen Saver tab, now it says "On resume display the Welcome Screen."

Hmmm...

So it appears that the only time the Screen Saver tab will display "On resume display the Welcome Screen" for both Administrator accounts is when you are using fast user switching.

Is this by design? What is the reason?

From what I've seen, if I want to set up both my accounts so they will show the Welcome screen, I can't. The way it is now, for the default Administrator account it will show the Welcome Screen. But for the other Administrator account, instead it will show the password prompt box.

I kinda would like to have both my accounts set up alike so they both will either display the password prompt box or they both will display the Welcome Screen.

I know that if I uncheck the "Use the Welcome Screen" box under "Change the way users log on..." I can get both accounts to display the password prompt.

But how would I get both accounts to display the Welcome Screen?

[357mag]

I also noticed that what message you see in the Screen Saver tab is dependant on whether you have fast user switching enabled.

I like having that feature enabled since it helps me accomplish more in less time. But I still don't get why Microsoft made it so only the default Administrator can see the Welcome screen, and not another Administrator account you may have.

And on another note, I found I could not demote the Administrator account that I created to a Limited User even though I was logged in as the default Administrator. This is downright strange I think. In order to demote the Administrator account that I created to a Limited User, I would actually have to first create another account that is an Administrator account, then use that newly created account to demote the previous account from Administrator to Limited.

Seems to me I should be able to do all that right within the default Administrator account. But I can't. The only reason I would like to demote the account from Administrator to Limited is to see if while the account is Limited if it shows "On resume display the Welcome Screen."

I have a feeling it might.

[RoadStar]

I`m having a little trouble following exactly what it is that you are trying to accomplish other than to have the two accounts display the same thing on the log in screen.

The difference may be due to the fact that a created account that is given admin privileges in fact still will not have the complete overall admin power that the built in admin account has in XP. The differences are subtle. In W2k, an account included in the admin group has virtually the same powers as the built in admin account. In XP, the differences become subtle, mostly when dealing in an office setting when privileges have to be granted. In Vista, the differences become blatant. Try opening the C:\Documents and Settings folder in Vista when logged in with an account with admin powers and see what happens. You will quickly find out that you are denied access to areas of your computer, including areas of the registry. And trust me on this, do not try to activate the built in admin account on a Vista install without first doing some extensive research.

Not sure if this addressed your issue but if anything it may help define a clear cut trend in the Windows OS.

[357mag]

Yeah I was trying to set up both accounts identically so when I stopped the screen saver, both accounts would go right to the Welcome Screen.

But it does not appear this is possible as I stated earlier. You can either have it so the default Adiministrator account will go to the Welcome Screen, but the other Administrator account will show the password protect box.

Or you can have it so both accounts will show the password protect box.

It's not a big deal, but to me seems a little queer.

[rwest]

This maybe defeating it's purpose, but; Have you tried eliminating the password on your other account? I'm thinking, that without a password the option would almost have to be there.

[357mag]

Right now there are no passwords present. And in the Screen Saver tab in the Administrator account that I made the option to use the Welcome Screen still is not there.

[rwest]

Okay here's another curve ball. Watch out now! I just checked my machine. 'Use the welcome screen' option is available on the screen saver tab on both my wifes admin account and my own admin account. So it's gotta be a setting, not inherent.

Have you checked on the other admin account in 'users accts' if it's set to use the welcome screen?

[357mag]

Under Logon options for both accounts it's already set to Use the Welcome Screen. Windows sets it up like that by default.

As I stated earlier the option itself is different under the Screen Saver tab for both accounts. For the default built-in account it says "On resume display the Welcome Screen."

But for the account I made it says "On resume password protect."

The only way to get both accounts to use the Welcome Screen is when you are logged on to both accounts at the same time.

[rwest]

I see what you're saying. It's working on mine just fine. On the sreensaver tab on both admin accounts the option is there to 'use the welcome screen', dosn't matter if the other is logged on or not. You are also right in stating that I need to have fast user swithing enabled, but I do not need to have both accounts logged in.

What I don't have is the default admin account showing in user accounts. I've seen it before, I'm not sure why I didn't get it this last time I formatted. I just assumed that the first account created was set as the default. Maybe it's in setup somewhere? I guess it's possible that my account is not the default admin account? I just assumed it was.

BTW the other admin account did not default to 'use the welcome sreen' I had to actually go into the second admin account under 'choose the way users log on and off' and place a check mark. Of course it's sounds like maybe I'm not using the default account.

[357mag]

On my system the only way to have both accounts to show "On resume use the Welcome Screen" is when you use Fast User Switching. Which means you are logged into both accounts at the same time.

I don't see how you were able to accomplish that without being logged into both accounts at the same time.