Draft:LogonUI

LogonUI, officially called Windows Logon UI, is an user interface to provide an easier and more friendly login experience. It contains most of the functionality of its earlier login prompt, with a revamped and more user-friendly UI.

Predecessors
Before the new logon UI was introduced, both Windows NT and Windows 9x uses a login prompt, which is basic in terms of design and functionality. Windows 9x family also contains a "Family Logon", which is still a prompt but with a different design to provide a more friendly logon experience.

Neptune and Whistler
LogonUI was first introduced in Windows Neptune build 5111, however in Neptune and early builds of Windows XP, it is HTML-based (stored in ) and therefore relies on Internet Explorer technologies. This implementation is incomplete, as the power button on the login screen appears to be non-functional. Starting with Windows XP build 2250, it became DirectUI-based, therefore does not require Internet Explorer to be functional. The UI also has been gained a major overhaul.

Trivia

 * Although there is no interface to turn off the new Welcome screen right on the new login screen, in Windows XP the old login prompt can be brought back by pressing Ctrl three times. The new login screen cannot be brought back again after pressing the key press without having to log off again.
 * The registry value to configure LogonUI was located in, under the string value  . By default, it is set to  , but it can be changed to other executables or left blank to bring back the old login prompt.
 * Windows 10 and newer include a command-line version of LogonUI, which is used in Windows Server Core by default starting with Windows Server 2016, replacing the regular LogonUI. It can also be enabled in Windows 10, 11 and Windows Server with Desktop Experience by using the following methods:
 * creating a value called  in   and set it to 1
 * renaming  in
 * In the command-line version of LogonUI, when in client versions of Windows, the message to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete can be shown even though it is not enabled, and pressing any key will bypass it.
 * In the command-line version of LogonUI, if not using the Server Core version, after logging in and re-locking Windows by pressing Win, right clicking the command-line window, going to properties and pressing "Learn more about legacy console" will open a web browser even though the system is locked.
 * LogonUI was not introduced to the Windows Server line until Windows Server 2008 build 5112. Windows Server 2003 continued to use the classic login prompt from Windows 2000 instead, which was completely phrased out in the aforememtioned build.
 * Starting with Windows Vista, LogonUI became mandatory, as deleting  will result in a "Failed to display sign-in options" error when pressing Ctrl or logging off.