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How can I enable/disable the Ctrl-Alt-Del to enter logon information?

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A. A. Windows NT 5.0 introduces the ability to remove the necessity of pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del, the Security Attention Sequence (SAS) to logon. By default on a workstation this is no longer needed however on a server it is still necessary but this can be configured with a single registry entry.

  1. Start the registry editor (regedit.exe)
  2. Move to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
  3. Double click on DisableCAD (create of type REG_DWORD if it does not exist)
  4. Set to 1 if you don't want to have to press Ctrl-Alt-Del, and set to 0 if you do. Click OK
  5. Close the registry editor
  6. Reboot the machine

Disabling this feature does not decrease the security of Windows NT. To gain access to the computer, users are required to log on to Windows NT with a valid user name and password. The Windows NT logon process suspends all other user-mode processes to protect the logon process and is the only process that can create the access tokens used by the Windows NT security system.

This can also be set via a GUI on Windows 2000 Professional as follows:

  1. Start the Users and Passwords control panel applet (Start - Settings - Control Panel - Users and Passwords)
  2. Select the Advanced tab
  3. Unselect "Require users to press Ctrl-Alt-Delete before logging on."
    Click here to view image
  4. Click Apply then OK

End of Article



Reader Comments
This recommendation does not work

Edvinas August 14, 2003


Works fine for me

Anonymous User November 29, 2004


How can I enable/disable the Ctrl-Alt-Del to enter logon information in windows 2000 server

Anonymous User January 23, 2005


how about with XP Pro?

Anonymous User February 07, 2005


LOL I cant get pass usersname/password. my daughters friend change my passwords....I can get to systems files on the old dos....and get into security...but this doesnt have anything to do with windows 2000prof....any help on this is appreciated......okiecowgirl2005@sbcglobal.net

okiecowgirl June 04, 2005 (Article Rating: )


To enable this in Windows XP Pro on a system that is not on a domain, go to control panel, administrative tools, local security policy. In the left tree under security settings, expand local policies, highlight security options, and scroll in the right tree to "interactive logon:do not require Ctrl+Alt+Del. Set that policy to disabled.

Anonymous User June 29, 2005 (Article Rating: )


very user friendly

Anonymous User August 08, 2005 (Article Rating: )


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