Create a Hidden Account for XP

User accounts normally appear on your Windows XP welcome screen. You can hide them from view with this tip. It only applies to a user account you’ve already created, so if you want to hide a completely new account, you must also create that account!

You’ll need to go into your Registry, so back it up before you start just in case you make a mistake.

Here’s how to hide your user account.

1. Click Start, Run, and type “regedit” (without quotes).
2. Go to:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT \CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList
3. Modify or create DWORD Value by right-clicking the right side of the screen and adding DWORD Value.
4. Give the value the same name as the account you want to hide. For example, if you want to hide StealthAccount, name the value StealthAccount.
5. Set the Value Data to 0 to hide the account. Value Data: 1 makes the account visible.
6. Exit the Registry and reboot.

Log on

To log on to your hidden account, you need to use the Log On To Windows dialog box by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete twice. Make sure you’re logged off all accounts. You can’t just switch users.

Not completely invisible

While your account remains hidden on the welcome screen, other users can still see its profile in C:\Documents and Settings (or wherever user profiles are stored), as well as in Local Users and Groups. So you’re not totally in the clear, but you’re certainly under the radar!

Have fun and be good.