Can I hide a user from the Windows 7 login screen without disabling network access?

I have two user accounts on my computer. I have a third "device-account" that allows network access to shares for non-computer devices. I can hide this account from the welcome screen using the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\
CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList

setting, but this appears to disable network access (the device thinks it's using an invalid username/password when this is set, but as soon as I deleted the key it started working again).

Can I hide this account somehow without disabling network access?

ND Geek

Posted 2014-03-06T23:29:19.157

Reputation: 802

Try the methods shown here.

– Mike Lowery – 2014-03-07T03:19:22.780

The first method is the one I mentioned in my post, the other disables the Welcome screen altogether. Sadly, I don't think this is doable. – ND Geek – 2014-03-11T18:10:11.653

Answers

You can use Local Security Policy to not show last log-on name.

Local Security Settings->Local Policies->Security Options->Interactive Logon: Do not display last user name.

Obviously the cost is that you will have to enter a username, as well as password every time you log on. Another minor annoyance would be the loss of the user picture used at logon...because there is no user listed.

bigpoppasmooth

Posted 2014-03-06T23:29:19.157

Reputation: 70

I was afraid that might be the only alternative. I was hoping there was some mystery solution that I hadn't found or already knew, but alas, it appears not. – ND Geek – 2014-03-11T18:08:49.273