ot: new Dell windows 11 desktop, couple o questions

[eddief]

1. Is there any way to turn off the requirement for any sort of login password or pin? I just want in when it wakes up.

2. I connected an old hard drive via a docking station and usb c cable. When that disk is running my mouse acts weird, slow, jumpy. When I turn it off all mousing goes back to normal.

Thx

[benb]

1) Not sure but possibly not, MS does not want you to do this, it's horribly risky in terms of security.

2) Windows could be indexing that drive. I would leave it plugged in and see if it runs overnight and then starts acting fine. It is still very odd it would be causing the mouse to act weird. You could probably determine this looking at task manager. There are other possible causes.

Both of these are the kinds of issues I get family members asking me for help on and I have to say, "Sorry I gotta sit down at your computer to figure it out", so I'd look for someone you know in person who might be able to help.

[eddief]

will not be mousing around much with the drive turned on. After 15 years of not dealing with my old computer's files or windows at any level, getting the new Dell up and running and transfering stuff has been tedious and rewarding.

Originally Posted by benb

1) Not sure but possibly not, MS does not want you to do this, it's horribly risky in terms of security.

2) Windows could be indexing that drive. I would leave it plugged in and see if it runs overnight and then starts acting fine. It is still very odd it would be causing the mouse to act weird. You could probably determine this looking at task manager. There are other possible causes.

Both of these are the kinds of issues I get family members asking me for help on and I have to say, "Sorry I gotta sit down at your computer to figure it out", so I'd look for someone you know in person who might be able to help.

[benb]

What I was saying is basically if you leave that drive connected for 24 hours Windows may finish doing whatever it wants to do and then it won't bother you anymore.

But that is speculation as long as I didn't look at the computer.

[eddief]

I will give that a try. Appreciate your willingness to chime in. Old dog, new tricks.

QUOTE=benb;3439957]What I was saying is basically if you leave that drive connected for 24 hours Windows may finish doing whatever it wants to do and then it won't bother you anymore.

But that is speculation as long as I didn't look at the computer.[/QUOTE]

[martl]

Originally Posted by eddief

1. Is there any way to turn off the requirement for any sort of login password or pin? I just want in when it wakes up.

2. I connected an old hard drive via a docking station and usb c cable. When that disk is running my mouse acts weird, slow, jumpy. When I turn it off all mousing goes back to normal.

Thx

1. Windows "Hello" allows you to either use the 4-digit PIN, a fingerprint sensor, or a camera for facial recognition as authentication. Either of these options is more secure than the traditional UserID/Password method.

If you want the computer to just "recognize" you and give you immediate access, install a camera or a fingerprint sensor, and you're set.

- There are methods to "autologon" using a stored user/Pass, this is a legacy function intended for automated OS installtion processes, as used in a larger network environment. This means there is no other authorization check.
I would highly discourage anyone from using them on a machine that is no longer in the process of initial installation, but is used to access the Internet, money or shopping websites etc. and maybe even has stored passwords to such sites and services.

It would break the computer wide open to anyone gaining physical access to it.

2. Haven't really seen that yet. Since both devices are using USB, there is the possibility that something in that drive's USB connection is confusing the USB bus on the computer. If swapping the cable on the drive doesn't help, i recommend replacing that HDD.

[eddief]

I plugged the drive into a different usb port on the front of the Dell desktop and that seems to solve the problem.

[tylercheung]

Regarding indexing and mouse pointer weirdness, Windows software quality seems to be getting jankier as their business shifts to...selling linux in the cloud...