Windows 7 / Getting Started

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Logon Phase

The Windows subsystem starts Winlogon.exe, a system service that enables you to log on and log off. Winlogon.exe then does the following:

• Starts the Services subsystem (Services.exe), also known as the SCM. The SCM initializes services that the registry entry Start designates as Autoload in the registry subkey HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Servicename.
• Starts the Local Security Authority (LSA) process (Lsass.exe).
• Parses the Ctrl+Alt+Delete key combination at the Begin Logon prompt (if the computer is part of an AD DS domain).

The logon user interface (LogonUI) feature and the credential provider (which can be the standard credential provider or a third-party credential provider) collect the user name and password (or other credentials) and pass this information securely to the LSA for authentication. If the user supplied valid credentials, access is granted by using either the default Kerberos V 5 authentication protocol or Windows NT LAN Manager (NTLM).

Winlogon initializes security and authentication features while PnP initializes auto-load services and drivers. After the user logs on, the control set referenced by the registry entry LastKnownGood (located in HKLM\SYSTEM\Select) is updated with the contents in the CurrentControlSet subkey. By default, Winlogon then starts Userinit.exe and the Windows Explorer shell. Userinit may then start other processes, including:

• Group Policy settings take effect Group Policy settings that apply to the user and computer take effect.
• Startup programs run When not overridden by Group Policy settings, Windows starts logon scripts, startup programs, and services referenced in the following registry subkeys and file system folders:
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Runonce
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies \Explorer\Run
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows \Run
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
  • SystemDrive\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
  • SystemDrive\Documents and Settings\username\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Several applications might be configured to start by default after you install Windows, including Windows Defender. Computer manufacturers or IT departments might configure other startup applications.

Windows startup is not complete until a user successfully logs on to the computer. If startup fails during the logon phase, you have a problem with a service or application configured to start automatically. For troubleshooting information, see the section titled "How to Temporarily Disable Startup Applications and Processes" later in this tutorial. If you experience a Stop error during this phase, use the information provided by the Stop message to isolate the failing feature.