After migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7 on 12 laptops, we encountered an unexpected UX regression. Unlike XP's clear dropdown for switching between domain/local auth, Windows 7 aggressively defaults to domain authentication - even when users need persistent local account access. These are field laptops used by non-technical staff who previously relied on passwordless local accounts (e.g., User1). Requiring them to manually enter .\User1 or STAFFLAPTOP1\User1 isn't practical.

The most reliable method involves modifying the DefaultDomainName registry value:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"DefaultDomainName"="."
"DefaultUserName"="User1"
"AutoAdminLogon"="1"

For managed environments, deploy this via Group Policy:

1. Open gpedit.msc
2. Navigate to: 
   Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon
3. Enable "Always use classic logon"
4. Set "Assign default domain for logon" to local machine

Here's a deployment script for multiple machines:

# Set-LocalLoginDefault.ps1
$RegPath = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon"
Set-ItemProperty -Path $RegPath -Name "DefaultDomainName" -Value "."
Set-ItemProperty -Path $RegPath -Name "DefaultUserName" -Value "User1"
Set-ItemProperty -Path $RegPath -Name "AutoAdminLogon" -Value "1"
Write-Output "Local login configured for $env:COMPUTERNAME"

While convenient, note that:

• AutoAdminLogon stores credentials in plaintext in registry
• Passwordless accounts violate most security policies
• Consider implementing at least basic password protection

If changes don't apply immediately:

1. Run gpupdate /force
2. Check for conflicting GPOs
3. Verify registry permissions (SYSTEM needs full control)

After migrating our fleet of 12 laptops from Windows XP to Windows 7, we encountered an unexpected authentication behavior change. Unlike XP's clear dropdown selector for local/domain accounts, Windows 7 defaults to domain authentication without remembering the previous login context.

The solution lies in modifying the DefaultDomainName value in the Windows Registry:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"DefaultDomainName"="."
"DefaultUserName"="User1"
"AutoAdminLogon"="1"

For enterprise deployment, create a PowerShell script:

# Set default local login parameters
$regPath = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon"
Set-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name "DefaultDomainName" -Value "."
Set-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name "DefaultUserName" -Value "User1"
Set-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name "AutoAdminLogon" -Value 1

# Optional: Disable secure attention sequence (Ctrl+Alt+Del)
Set-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name "DisableCAD" -Value 1

For domain-joined machines, configure through GPO:

1. Open gpedit.msc
2. Navigate to: Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → System → Logon
3. Enable "Always use classic logon"
4. Set "Do not display the Getting Started welcome screen"

When implementing auto-logon:

• Use Sysinternals Autologon utility for encrypted credential storage
• Configure screensaver password timeout
• Implement BitLocker for disk encryption

Common issues and solutions:

# Verify registry settings
Get-ItemProperty -Path $regPath | Select-Object DefaultDomainName, DefaultUserName

# Reset login UI
Remove-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name "AutoAdminLogon" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue