Windows 7 - Automatically login to a user, then switch to another?

[kayson]

I have an htpc set up that I also use for a file server. I want to have two different users: one that runs all of the server software and has full control of the PC, and a second basic acct that has no access and just runs WMC.

Right now I have the "admin" account automatically login and lock. I want to create a "media" account with no password, and have the computer automatically login the admin account, lock it, then switch users to the media account. I want this to all happen automatically on startup.

Any ideas?

 

[Pvt.Dancer]

I'm sure you could script the first part and have it lock the account after log on.. BUT the other part is where I'm having a hard time coming up with solution. If I think of one or find one on the net I'll let you know.

 

[kayson]

I'm sure you could script the first part and have it lock the account after log on.. BUT the other part is where I'm having a hard time coming up with solution. If I think of one or find one on the net I'll let you know.

Yeah I already have that set up. Supposedly I should be able to use the tscon and tsdiscon commands. But I need to find a way to create the session to connect to.

 

[wagex]

if you dont mind me asking, why not just run them on the same user? if wmc will be up anyways.

 

[Pvt.Dancer]

well using power shell you could just elevate programs\servers you want to run using scripts from the non administrator account.

 

[kayson]

if you dont mind me asking, why not just run them on the same user? if wmc will be up anyways.

That's what I do now, but if I want to make any changes to the computer, I usually do it using remote desktop, which means I have to get out of WMC and bring it back up when I'm done. I also can't do anything if I'm using WMC on the tv, and sometimes I want to fiddle with stuff while I have a video going.

 

[wagex]

ah i see now cant you set the programs to run under a different user account from the main one. if that makes sense, like the "run as" portion but i dont think this would actually run them in the other account

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/419-run-different-user.html

this makes it so you can rdp into an account that is already running

http://www.windows7hacker.com/index...-concurrent-user-in-remote-desktop-windows-7/

this seems it could be helpful and exactly what you were looking for

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/98809-automatic-login-multiple-user-accounts.html

 

[kayson]

ah i see now cant you set the programs to run under a different user account from the main one. if that makes sense, like the "run as" portion but i dont think this would actually run them in the other account

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/419-run-different-user.html

this makes it so you can rdp into an account that is already running

http://www.windows7hacker.com/index...-concurrent-user-in-remote-desktop-windows-7/

this seems it could be helpful and exactly what you were looking for

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/98809-automatic-login-multiple-user-accounts.html

Run as won't work for this situation as I need a separate session. That RDP hack is definitely needed. Thanks. Now it's a matter of figuring out how to start a new session...

 

[Aspect404]

Reading through the thread, I still don't entirely understand why the admin account has to have an active session. If you need a program to run, you may just need the service itself to be started.

I have run into somewhat of a similar situation on a blackberry server where the blackberry admin account HAD to be logged in for the service to operate properly. To fix that, I just configured each service that needed rights to use the admin account and set the service to Automatic (delayed start). See below.

Hopefully that helps!

 

[kayson]

Reading through the thread, I still don't entirely understand why the admin account has to have an active session. If you need a program to run, you may just need the service itself to be started.

I have run into somewhat of a similar situation on a blackberry server where the blackberry admin account HAD to be logged in for the service to operate properly. To fix that, I just configured each service that needed rights to use the admin account and set the service to Automatic (delayed start). See below.

Hopefully that helps!

This might work. Ill have to see if it tries to open two instances of some of my server software though