Unnecessary ?

Windows XP Pro has been running real good.
When we turned on the computer, Windows loaded and the desktop came into view, ready to go.

Then, today - we turn on the computer, and it stops.
It wants me to click a box with my initials in it.
Doing so lets Windows continue.

Question:

Why is that annoying, unnecessary step just now showing up?
And how do we get rid of it?
We don't want it !

Thanks

 

Start~Run~control userpasswords2 and click OK. The specific options you see can vary according to network/no network and a few other items but on yours, you will probably see Users must enter a username and password with a check mark. Remove it and click Apply. Otherwise, look around in that window for any items that seem to require any user action to get on the PC and disable them.

Alternately you could download the TweakUI power toy and use it to enable autologon.