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I want to configure Windows 7 to login automatically after the computer is switched on. That's not because I'm lazy and don't like typing passwords. That's because I want programs that are configured to run on startup run automatically.

But I don't want everyone to see my desktop, so I want my computer to remain locked. When I'm ready to work, I just type my password and don't have to wait until all startup programs run.

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There probably isn't any way to do this. Have you considered hibernating instead of shutting down? – Harry Johnston Nov 1 '11 at 2:58
Yes. I don't like hibernating because some programs lose their network connection and I have to restart them anyways. – utapyngo Nov 1 '11 at 3:11
Which programs in detail? Have you tried to make the authors fix this problem? – Robert Nov 1 '11 at 12:41
@eye:I don't get it. So because you have to restart these programs, you decide you need to restart your whole machine?? Am I missing something? – surfasb Nov 1 '11 at 14:11
@surfasb: one more reason is that it is faster to turn off and turn on my computer that dump 8 gigabytes of RAM and then read it back. – utapyngo Nov 2 '11 at 16:18
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up vote 2 down vote accepted

Take a look at this: Auto Logon and Lock

Auto Logon to Windows and immediately Lock Workstation (Safe Mode protected too)

Auto Logon & Lock is a small utility that enables your Windows PC to automatically logon to a user account on boot and then lock the desktop so a password is still required. Some of the reasons you might want to do this are: Faster boot time. The additional post-logon start up items are also started after Windows boots. Which means when you press the power button on your PC and come back after a few minutes, its completely booted up. No need to wait for additional software to load after you logon. Automatically resume downloads etc. when your PC reboots due to a power failure or crash. On XP you could do this by installing the application as a system service. In Vista and 7, Session 0 Isolation makes using a system service a pain, not to mention it's insecure. Just put your applications in the regular Windows Start Up folder and they will be launched after the auto logon. It password protects Safe Mode as well. Existing auto logon methods leave Safe Mode unprotected. It locks the desktop before Explorer is started. Other methods auto-lock using an autorun/start up entry which leave the PC logged on and unlocked until the autorun entries are executed (which can even take several minutes).

I haven't tried it myself, but it looks like it does what you want...

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This looks more secure: instead of just putting itself to startup, it replaces the system shell (explorer) by itself. – utapyngo Nov 1 '11 at 15:22
@utapyngo if it works by replacing explorer I'd strongly disagree on the security assessment. Explorer is a popular target for malware trying to break into a system; and I find it highly unlikely that a third party is able to put anywhere near as much effort into testing a replacement as MS is into testing the original. – Dan Neely May 24 at 18:36
@Dan: actually it does not replace explorer.exe but uses a feature of Windows which allows changing a user's shell by changing a registry value. – utapyngo May 25 at 15:30
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up vote 2 down vote

You can implement this as a batch file like so: 

rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation

It works on my XP -- I have heard that this might not work on every box, so YMMV

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I know about this trick. However, if I put this batch file in startup, it would leave a security hole on my computer: until it gets running, someone bad could do someting bad. As I said, I don't want anyone to see my desktop. – utapyngo Nov 1 '11 at 2:55
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@eye - sadly, you are leaving a security hole by automatically logging in. This solution will at least work. I'd recommend not logging in automatically if you want security. – Rory Alsop Nov 1 '11 at 11:56
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Depending on your system it would run very quickly and lock... You could leave your monitor switched off too then the only indication your PC was on would be any lights on the front/keyboard? – HaydnWVN Nov 1 '11 at 13:29
@eye this runs very quickly -- It would be hard for someone to gain access before it would lock because even if they started to open something it would lock while they were doing it – Nate Koppenhaver Nov 1 '11 at 20:36
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up vote 2 down vote

There is one secure solution: Do not shut down your system!

Windows 7 offers several methods for hibernating the system: Suspend-to-RAM (S3), Suspend-to-Disk (S4) and the Hybrid hibernate which combines both. There should be at least one method that suits you.

After wake-up from those modes all your applications are already started and ready for work.

If you enable the option "Require a password when the computer wakes" then you have exactly what you want plus it is 100% secure (or as secure as Windows can make it).

Windows 7 is usually stable enough to be used in this way. Most time I only boot when Windows Update has installed new patches and forces me to restart my system.

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