How do I add a warning Logon message?

John Savill

Windows IT Pro

InstantDoc ID #14878

A. You need to use the registry editor

1. Start the registry editor (regedit)
2. Move to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/Winlogon
3. Double Click the "LegalNoticeCaption", and enter the text to be in the title bar, click OK
4. Double Click the "LegalNoticeText", and enter the warning text and click OK
5. Close the registry and logoff, when you logon you will see the warning

In Windows 2000 step 2 would be to move to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system instead.

This can also be done via the policy editor (poledit.exe) for NT 4.0

1. Start the policy editor (poledit.exe)
2. Open the default Computer Policy
3. Open the Windows NT System tree and then Logon
4. Put a tick in the "Logon banner" and enter the caption and text
5. Click OK and save the policy

For Windows 2000 Group Policy Objects move to Computer Configuration - Windows Settings - Security Settings - Local Policies - Security Options and set the 'Message text for users attempting to log on' and 'Message title for users attempting to log on'.

Alternatively, a text message can be displayed by creating the key LogonPrompt in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/Winlogon

Windows Scripting Host can also be used to create these messages as follows:

<font class="10v" color="#000000" face="Arial, Helvetica, VERDANA" size="3">Set WSHShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell") s1 = "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WinLogon\" s2 = "LegalNoticeCaption" s3 = "LegalNoticeText" objShell.RegWrite s1+s2, "SavillTech Ltd" objShell.RegWrite s1+s3, "Only Authorized Access Allowed!"</font>

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