No keyboard, need entry into Windows XP

Thursday, March 25, 2004 by JeffroBo | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk

i was wondering if anyone knew of a way to log into xp, enter password, without a keyboard attached to computer? can you link an onscreen keyboard to the login screen so it comes up before windows boots? is it possible to write this into the login screen background image? i'm kind of stupido about these things. i need multiple user accounts with passwords but don't want a keyboard attached to the computer. any help thanks....
Orion
Reply #1 Thursday, March 25, 2004 7:09 PM
Programs -> Accessories -> Accessibility -> On Screen Keyboard. All the system I have access to both at home and at work belong to an AD domain, and the keyboard closes when you log out. You never know, it may be functional using the logon chooser...but I have no way of testing that. There's also a ton of programs out there for the handicapped that would fit this bill. Try searching for "virtual keyboards" or "on-screen keyboards". Here's one: http://www.orin.com/access/softype/ Only $300

Good luck

[Message Edited]
Orion
Reply #2 Thursday, March 25, 2004 7:52 PM
Ok, so I was curious. I did some playing around. In order to run a program before logon (at the welcome screen) it must be a service. I got the xp-supplied onscreen keyboard to work for logging-in by turning it into a service. I do some programming and I've needed to make a service before. Sometimes I've actually created a service with a VB activeX control (NTService.ocx) and sometimes I've used a handy utility that turns virtually any exe, bat, vbs, etc. into a windows service. It's called "At your service". $60 for a single license. http://www.prismmicrosys.com/atyourservice/atyourservice-index.htm

If money is a problem, you can try this http://vbwire.com/advanced/howto/service.asp that will instruct you on turning your exe (OSK.EXE in this case) into a service using a utility on the WinNT (or 2000/XP ) resource kit. It's not for the faint-hearted though. Also, if you try this, you must follow the very lengthy procedure for Windows NT...the one-step process at the top of the link only works for Win9x. I have used this in the past with some measure of success, but I did not try it with the onscreen keyboard. In theory, it should work. If your not familiar with the registry DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!

Have fun...

[Message Edited]
JeffroBo
Reply #3 Thursday, March 25, 2004 11:56 PM
Thanks for the links it looks like "At your service" will work. The trick is getting it to start before the login, looks like a late night. Now, I must shed a few tears and part with some cash.

Thanks again....

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