autologon - Where is the password, how to delete it?

ch.b

New Member
I have set up autologon with NTLite.
In the registry there is this (there is no DefaultPassword field.): [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon] "AutoAdminLogon"="1 "DefaultDomainName"="" "DefaultUserName"="admin"
If I change to this, the automatic login on user1 works: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon] "AutoAdminLogon"="1" "DefaultDomainName"="" "DefaultUserName"="user1" "DefaultPassword"="password"
Returning to the previous configuration with the user admin and without password the automatic login on admin works again.
But where is the autologon password for admin hidden?
This poses a security problem. The admin session can be reopened and potentially the password discovered (if unlike me a user knows where to find it)
 
Are you trying to circumvent Oobe via reggies?
Use AutoUnattended section in NTL and from the main menu use autofill and your missing points to fullfill what to accomplish during Oobe setup.
 
Last edited:
I don't understand how missing the DefaultPassword could work, according to MS docs:

Use Registry Editor to turn on automatic logon
If no DefaultPassword string is specified, Windows automatically changes the value of the AutoAdminLogon key from 1 (true) to 0 (false), disabling the AutoAdminLogon feature.

Your reg file example doesn't force removal of any previous password.
Code:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"AutoAdminLogon"="1"
"DefaultDomainName"=""
"DefaultUserName"="admin"
"DefaultPassword"=-

If you're really concerned about having the password visible, consider using SysInternals' Autologon. This stores the password inside an encrypted LSA secret, which can be broken, but doesn't use a plain text string.
Code:
Autologon.exe user1 "" password /accepteula
 
Are you trying to circumvent Oobe via reggies?
Use AutoUnattended section in NTL and from the main menu use autofill and your missing points to fullfill what to accomplish during Oobe setup.
I deploy Windows in powershell command line using dism. I push the drivers specific to the PC model also with dism. After that the OS boots for the first time and I want it to automatically open the administrator session. Then I copy and paste powershell scripts for a deployment of many software packages on the command line.
 
If you're writing your own deployment solution (not using WinPE Setup.exe), then please explain that when sharing this question. Most people assume your install is following the normal Windows steps.
 
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