Problem with Fast User Switching

I am trying to enable fast switching between users.

I went into my administrative account, and went to the "Users" control panel. The user menu had already been allowed, so I checked "Quick switching," and applied it. When I looked back, the check was gone. I did this several times. Despite applying the new feature, each time I look at menu the check for "Quick switching" disappears. There aren't any error messages, it just doesn't seem to apply despite me hitting the button.

Any ideas what's wrong?

 

is this the screen you're referring to?..

 

Yes, it is. "Use the Welcome Screen" is checked. "Use Fast User Switching" is not checked. However, when I check that second option and hit apply, the computer seems to process it (get the loading effect), and the window then closes. If I reopen the window, the check disappears.

 

is it disabled in your services.msc?

 

there is a "Fast User Switching" service in Windows services manager (Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services).

If this service's startup type is "Disabled" then fast user switching won't work. If that's the case, change it to "Manual".

 

The Startup Type was "Manual." I briefly changed it to Automatic, and that didn't fix anything, so it now back to Manual.

 

Was the process started? when it is set to manual it will be turned on/off by the user, but if it is on automatic it will automatically start with windows.

Try it again, but this time ensure that the service is started and then see if this fixes your problem!

 

Well, I'm not sure how I could "start the process," but what I did just do is set it on automatic and rebooted. When I rebooted, I still can't make the check stay for "Enable Fast User Switching," and still nothing happens when I click "Switch User."

 

i have the same problem but when i click on "change the way users log on & off", i also get a warning from mcafee virus scan saying that "the file mshta.exe contains scripting activity" and allowing the script doesn't solve the problem.

any ideas?

 

Fast User Switching is disabled as soon as you join a domain!

 

What do you mean by that?

 

Bump. Nothing seems to fix it.

 

What exactly is a "domain"? Have I joined my campus's domain, so it won't work?

 

Well, I had this problem with my computer for a while. If you're both college students and if your universities have a wireless security client such as Funk Software's Odyssey (like mine does), this may be the culprit. For my application (Odyssey), there is a script option called GINA that loads at Windows startup to activate the client before Windows boots up, but it also disables Fast User Switching. So disabling this could solve your problem... if it is indeed your problem. Send me a PM if this turns out to be it and you need help disabling it.

 

I did have to install the Cisco VPN security client for wireless, so that may be it.

 

OK. I saw "Terminal Services" that was disabled, and the description says: "Allows multiple users to be connected interactively to a machine as well as the display of desktops and applications to remote computers. The underpinning of Remote Desktop (including RD for Administrators), Fast User Switching, Remote Assistance, and Terminal Server."

So, I changed it to manual, and started the service. Now, before having re-booted, it Fast User Switching seems to work. Is this ok? Should Terminal Services be tuned on? From the description, it seems as though it may be a way into my machine by outside sources. Any thoughts?