Disable Fast User Switching

I've looked around several places in the control panel, and on this forum,
and still haven't been able to figure out how to disable the fast user
switching feature in Vista. In XP, this was an option in the User Accounts
control panel, but it's not there in Vista, or anywhere else I can think of.
The help files say that it's turned on by default, but not how to disable
it. Has anyone else figured this out?

I'm fairly certain it can be done via the GPO (Group Policy Object.) The GPO
can be modified using the Local Security Policy link under Admin Tools. I
don't have Vista booted atm, so can't confirm this, but I'm fairly certain
that it's an option.

"Kevin Arthur" wrote:

> I've looked around several places in the control panel, and on this forum,
> and still haven't been able to figure out how to disable the fast user
> switching feature in Vista. In XP, this was an option in the User Accounts
> control panel, but it's not there in Vista, or anywhere else I can think of.
> The help files say that it's turned on by default, but not how to disable
> it. Has anyone else figured this out?
>

RossB <RossB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> I'm fairly certain it can be done via the GPO (Group Policy Object.) The GPO
> can be modified using the Local Security Policy link under Admin Tools. I
> don't have Vista booted atm, so can't confirm this, but I'm fairly certain
> that it's an option.
>
> "Kevin Arthur" wrote:
>
> > I've looked around several places in the control panel, and on this forum,
> > and still haven't been able to figure out how to disable the fast user
> > switching feature in Vista. In XP, this was an option in the User Accounts
> > control panel, but it's not there in Vista, or anywhere else I can think of.
> > The help files say that it's turned on by default, but not how to disable
> > it. Has anyone else figured this out?

Yes, "Hide entry points for Fast User Switching". gpedit.msc, Local
Computer Policy, Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates,
System, Logon.

Alan Adams

it's deep down in gpo.

local computer policy
administrative templates
system
logon
Hide entry points for fast user switching
Always use classic logon

this should do the trick, although i havn't tried it yet.

______________________
drahnier


"Kevin Arthur" wrote:

> I've looked around several places in the control panel, and on this forum,
> and still haven't been able to figure out how to disable the fast user
> switching feature in Vista. In XP, this was an option in the User Accounts
> control panel, but it's not there in Vista, or anywhere else I can think of.
> The help files say that it's turned on by default, but not how to disable
> it. Has anyone else figured this out?
>

[rescuer]

I'm not sure if your referring to the actual fast user switching, or disabling the log on user interface when you log in that would do away with the icons on the log on screen and force you to type in a username and password. I will address both.

For the log on screen user interface:

To disable the standard log on interface and force the user to have to use a username and password (the same as XP did when you could 'Disable fast user switching), You must do a simple edit of the registry.

Open regedit and go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

Look for the Dword 32 bit value "dontdisplaylastusername"
Open that value and change the 'value data' to 1

Exit the registry editor and your done! You should see no more icons on the user interface log on screen.

For disabling the actual 'fast user switching' that allows you to log onto another account without actually logging off the account your using, and hiding the 'Switch User' menu option:

In the registry under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

Create a Dword 32 bit value with the valuename "DisableFastUserSwitching"

Set its 'value data' to 1

Again, close the registry editor, and you're done.

REMEMBER USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN EDITING THE REGISTRY!!

[rescuer]

I'm not sure if your referring to the actual fast user switching, or disabling the log on user interface when you log in that would do away with the icons on the log on screen and force you to type in a username and password. I will address both.

For the log on screen user interface:

To disable the standard log on interface and force the user to have to use a username and password (the same as XP did when you could 'Disable fast user switching), You must do a simple edit of the registry.

Open regedit and go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

Look for the Dword 32 bit value "dontdisplaylastusername"
Open that value and change the 'value data' to 1

Exit the registry editor and your done! You should see no more icons on the user interface log on screen.

For disabling the actual 'fast user switching' that allows you to log onto another account without actually logging off the account your using, and hiding the 'Switch User' menu option:

In the registry under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

Create a Dword 32 bit value with the valuename "DisableFastUserSwitching"

Set its 'value data' to 1

Again, close the registry editor, and you're done.

REMEMBER USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN EDITING THE REGISTRY!!

The HKEY location should be:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersi
on\Policies\System

Ooops

Shawn

Hi Rescuer,

I was able to get the Username and Password one to work, but the
disable "Switch User" one did not work. Any ideas. I used the 64 bit
Home Premium verision. Tech talk is ok, I am not a newbie.

Thank You,
Shawn

[rescuer]

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersi
on\Policies\System

is the key you are looking for. I misprinted it in my earlier reply.

Add the 32bit key DisableFastUserSwitching IF IT IS NOT ALREADY THERE

Change its value data to 1

This will cause the "Switch User" menu choice on your log off restart ect. options to disapear.

This has worked on every Vista computer I have tried it on, Including your home Premium.

Good luck!

[rescuer]

Originally Posted by rescuer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersi
on\Policies\System

is the key you are looking for. I misprinted it in my earlier reply.

Add the 32bit key DisableFastUserSwitching IF IT IS NOT ALREADY THERE

Change its value data to 1

This will cause the "Switch User" menu choice on your log off restart ect. options to disapear.

This has worked on every Vista computer I have tried it on, Including your home Premium.

Good luck!

Sorry folks... my brains just not working..

THE 32 BIT KEY YOU NEED TO CREATE is "HideFastUserSwitching" NOT the disablefastuserswitching as I noted before.

Rescuer,

LOL, I know what you mean. I get those days myself sometimes. (haha)
It did require me to logoff and logon again for it to take affect, but
it worked.

Thank you,
Shawn

This was a great fix. But is there a way to change the default picture
as well?


--
josie
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

josie;736719 Wrote:
> This was a great fix. But is there a way to change the default picture
> as well?
>
>
> --
> josie
> Posted via 'Microsoft Windows Vista Community Forums - Vistaheads'
> (http://www.vistaheads.com)

Hi Josie,

Yes. This tutorial will show you how to set a default display picture
for all users in the logon screen.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/15...y-picture.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn


--
Brink

*There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask
them.*
'*VISTA FORUMS*' (http://www.vistax64.com)
*Please post feedback to help others.*

Shawn,

Thanks, this gave me some ideas. but i am trying to figure out how to
set the default picture after make users login with a user name and
password. after this change there is just a blank square above the user
name and password screen.


--
josie
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

josie;736839 Wrote:
> Shawn,
>
> Thanks, this gave me some ideas. but i am trying to figure out how to
> set the default picture after make users login with a user name and
> password. after this change there is just a blank square above the user
> name and password screen.
>
>
> --
> josie
> Posted via 'Microsoft Windows Vista Community Forums - Vistaheads'
> (http://www.vistaheads.com)

Jossie,

Yeah, it's a bug in Vista that Microsoft has not sorted out yet.

You can manually change the "user.bmp" or "guest.bmp" (no qoutes) at:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\User Account Pictures

with a bmp image of your own with the same name to have it be the
default user display picture when the account is created. It will not
stop the use from changing their display picture to something else later
though. It's doing only Step One in the tutorial.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/15...y-picture.html

Shawn


--
Brink

*There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask
them.*
'*VISTA FORUMS*' (http://www.vistax64.com)
*Please post feedback to help others.*