How-to enable 'Don't ask for password on login'?

[averageschmoe]

I'm in the process of reformatting several windows computers and am using Helena as the swap. The normal computers are on a network and require users to sign in but since this is temporary and mostly to see how people respond to a different OS I don't want to have a requirement to login, I just want it on and available. The problem is that even though there is a message telling people not to sign out, they are doing so out of habit and no one knows the password to get back in. Under 'Users and Groups' there is a greyed-out box that reads 'Don't ask for password on login'. I can't enable it even if I am logged in as root. What do I need to do to enable this or is their an easier option I am over-looking? I tried creating a Guest account with no password but that doesn't seem to be an option. This may not seem like a newbie question but if you had ever met me you would understand.

[garda]

I don't know how to enable the option, but I do know of a way to achieve what you want.

All you need to do is edit /etc/pam.d/gdm:

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gksu gedit /etc/pam.d/gdm

Then locate the line that reads @include common-auth. Copy and paste this line right before it:

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auth sufficient pam_listfile.so item=user sense=allow file=/etc/nopassusers onerr=fail

Example:

• auth sufficient pam_listfile.so item=user sense=allow file=/etc/nopassusers onerr=fail
  @include common-auth

Press CTRL-S to save it. Next, create a file called nopassusers in /etc/:

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gksu gedit /etc/nopassusers

Add the username that you want to make accessible without password. Press CTRL-S to save, then close the editor.

Ask what you don't understand here.

[StanTheMan]

If you are using the Gnome desktop , click on the main menu > System > Administration > Login Screen . Give the necessary password for administratiion . Click on the radio button 'Log in as' > automatically.

If you have KDE there is a similar setting in Settings.

[gordon.cooke]

In Mint: on the menu you can select "Control Center"
from there under he System heading select "Login Screen"
That has an option to "Login As" any user (you'll need to click on "unlock" and enter your root password)

This is basically the same as StantheMan, but through the control center. This will automatically login anyone whenever booted.

Another Option-- (( I cant get this to work- anyone know how? ))
In the user manager (Control Center>Users & Groups) if you bring up the properties for a user there is an option box for "Dont ask for password to login" But it is always greyed out. I hae tried it after unlocking with root password, Ive logged in as root, Ive added a second username and Ive tried it with the login screen option to login without password both on and off. It is always greyed out and unavailable.

How is this enabled?? That would be a great way to set the computer to either allow multiple accounts without passwords (each one could not ask for password but still be a separate account) or to have just one account (Guest) that doesnt need a password, but is not the account that always automatically logs in. Its an option thats tehre but I cant figure how to enable it.

[garda]

@gordon.cooke:

The said option is not grayed out in Gloria/Ubuntu Jaunty,
only in Helena/Karmic.

The fact there seems to be no obvious way to turn the option on
in Helena/Karmic makes me think that the change was made in
the source code. Maybe the Ubuntu folks have a strong reasoning
behind this, maybe they don't. I really have no clue.

Anyway, the trick mentioned in my post above gives the same
effect, and it's legit. Enter man pam.d in terminal to get
more information.