You are prompted to press CTRL+ALT+DEL to unlock your computer when you use a smart card to log on to your Windows XP-based computer (890837)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you use a smart card to log on to a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer, and you lock the computer, Windows prompts you to press CTRL+ALT+DEL to unlock the computer.

Note In a smart card environment, you may want Windows to prompt the user to reinsert the smart card to unlock the computer.

RESOLUTION

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites

You must have Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) installed to install this hotfix.

For additional information about the latest Windows XP service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389 How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack

Restart information

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix is not replaced by any later hotfix.

Registry information

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To enable this hotfix, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
  2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

  3. With the registry subkey from step 2 selected, on the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
  4. Type AltSCMessages, and then press ENTER.
  5. Right-click AltSCMessages, and then click Modify.
  6. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
  7. Quit Registry Editor.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.
   Date         Time   Version        Size     File name
   --------------------------------------------------------
   20-Dec-2004  17:49  5.1.2600.2586  995,840  Msgina.dll       
   18-Dec-2004  22:07  5.1.2600.2586    2,048  Xpsp3res.dll

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

The new version of the file Msgina.dll that is installed by this hotfix cannot determine whether a smart card is in the smart card reader. The file can only determine whether a smart card reader is attached to the computer.

If a smart card reader is attached and you are logging on for the first time, you receive the following message at the Welcome screen:(Re-) Insert card to begin.If a smart card reader is attached and the computer is locked, you receive the following message:(Re-) Insert card to unlock this computer. If a smart card reader is not attached and you are logging on for the first time, you receive the following message:Press Ctrl-Alt-Del to begin.If a smart card reader is not attached and the computer is locked, you receive the following message:Press Ctrl-Alt-Del to unlock this computer.

REFERENCES

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates


Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/1/2006
Keywords:kbQFE kbHotfixServer kbfix kbWinXPsp3fix KB890837 kbAudEndUser kbAudITPRO