Many Active Directory admins consider it unsafe to display the last users logon name on the Logon Screen, since it provides information on naming conventions, etc. to possible malicious people. Others change the default Logon Screen to accommodate for presentation PCs, flexworker desktops and other commonly shared IT equipment.
Do Not Display Last User Name
Microsoft offers a couple of Group Policy settings you can use to change the default Logon Screen. They are located in Computer Configuration, under Windows Settings, Security Settings, Local Policies, Security Options:
Some of these have been around for a long time, like the Interactive logon: Do not display last user name group policy setting.
The setting can be applied to Organizational Units, containing computer accounts. With the right Organizational Unit structure, it can be applied to presentation PCs, but not to normal desktops, to accommodate users in their personal computing experience, where appropriate.
Windows Vista and Windows 7
In Windows Vista and Windows 7, when you apply this Group Policy setting, the Logon Screen, by default, will display an empty avatar and the two common fields to enter credentials. (among other options) It looks like this on Windows 7:
Windows 8
In Windows 8, the Logon Screen has changed. Its fields are enlarged to accommodate selection by touch. You will still find the options to enable accessibility options, change the keyboard layout and turn off the PC and the two input fields:
But, one large difference between the logon screen in Windows 7 and Windows 8 is the label above the input fields: The Windows 7 Logon Screen does not display a label, where the Windows 8 Logon Screen suddenly describes your Logon attempts as attempts to log on as an Other user.
In Windows Server 2012, the same label is given to logon attempts when the Interactive logon: Do not display last user name Group Policy setting is applied.
This can be really confusing for users and admins, so Microsoft has decided to publish a KnowledgeBase article, describing the label as ‘by design’…
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