IDS on Windows Series: No Interactive Login for the Informix User
Friday, 16 June 2006
When you install IDS (Informix Dynamic Server) on Windows, it creates the user “Informix”. I do not have a major problem with that, I think it is even a pretty good idea. However it does bring a small annoyance: you have an Informix icon on the welcome screen. It is fairly easy to get rid of the login display.
User Informix is displayed on the Windows XP login screen.
I am using Microsoft Windows XP SP2, IBM Informix IDS 10.0.TC4.
Tweak UI welcome screen.
You first need a Microsoft tool, a “PowerToy”, called Tweak UI. The Microsoft start page is: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx . If the link changes or if you get a 404; search for “Tweak UI”. Be sure to select the proper version for your system.
There are quite a few PowerToys, but don’t get distracted!
Setup is straight forward. Your only choice is to accept the license agreement.
Run it from Start, All Programs, Powertoys for Windows XP, Tweak UI.
3 steps to hide Informix user from the welcome screen.
Click on Logon. Uncheck “Show “informix” on Welcome screen”. Then Apply. You’re done!
We're done: Informix user is not shown on the login screen anymore.
The next time you will log in, you will not have the Informix user anymore.
If you need to log in interactively with the Informix user, while on the Welcome screen, press Ctrl + Alt + Del twice and you will get the “traditional” login screen, where you can enter Informix and its password. You can not use this trick while in fast user switching.
I hope this will be useful to you. I do not believe in achieving security by hiding things, so I will not pretend it increases security. The idea is not to hide the fact I am using Informix, but when you are doing a demo, you want people to be focused on your demo and not to be distracted.
When you install IDS (Informix Dynamic Server) on Windows, it creates the user “Informix”. I do not have a major problem with that, I think it is even a pretty good idea. However it does bring a small annoyance: you have an Informix icon on the welcome screen. It is fairly easy to get rid of the login display.
