Overview
This Knowledgebase article will describe how to enable the user pick-list at the login screen after a boot/reboot of Windows based exacqVision systems.
The Problem
By default Windows based exacqVision systems will boot up to the login screen of the last known logged-in user with no way to change to a different user at that screen. This behavior may not be desirable on systems with more than one Windows user.
The Solution
Enabling the fast user switching feature in Windows will cause the user pick-list to appear at the login screen after booting or rebooting the system. By default fast user switching is disabled in the exacqVision Windows image, but it can be enabled with a registry edit.
Important Note
Enabling fast user switching will allow more than one user to be logged in at a time. This should be carefully considered with respect to system resources and contending exacqVision client/server settings from other accounts left logged in and running. Proper stewardship of user accounts would be highly encouraged.
To enable fast user switching, complete the following steps:
- Log in to the exacqVision system’s Administrator Windows OS account. This would be the account that was created during the Windows Welcome at first boot, otherwise known as OOBE or Out Of Box Experience.
- Press the “Windows” key (between the Alt and Ctrl keys) or click the “Start” button in taskbar
- Type “regedit”, press Enter and accept the UAC prompt
- Navigate to “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System”
- Double click on “HideFastUserSwitching”
- In the “Value data” field change the “1” to “0” and click OK
- Restart system
Results
- When system displays the Windows login screen, a list of local OS accounts should be available in the lower left corner.
- From the Start menu another user can log in while the current user remains logged in. Please see the Important Note above
- Any user will be able to shut the system down regardless of others’ logged-in status, running applications or open files.
