Shortcut to Switch User accounts in Windows XP and Vista - tsdiscon.exe
The Tsdiscon tool which is built-in to Windows can be used to quickly switch user accounts in Windows XP and Windows Vista. This utility disconnects the current session (does not logoff the account) when no command-line arguments are supplied. If you are a frequent user of the Switch User feature in Windows, you can create a shortcut to tsdiscon.exe and place it in the Desktop or Quick Launch folder for easy access.
CREATE A DESKTOP SHORTCUT TO TSDISCON.EXE
1. Open the C:\Windows\System32 folder using Windows Explorer.
2. Right-click on the file tsdiscon.exe and choose Copy
3. Minimize all windows. Right-click on the Desktop and choose Paste Shortcut
4. Rename the shortcut as Switch User
5. Right-click on the shortcut, and choose Properties
6. Click the Change Icon button.
7. There are no icons embedded in tsdiscon.exe. So, choose the following resource DLL:
You may select the above icon highlighted in the above graphic. Clicking this icon will take you directly to the log in screen where you can select another account to switch users. Credits to MS-MVP Ronnie Vernon for this tip.
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Pingback by How to automatically login to Windows and then lock the workstation - The Winhelponline.com Blog on 13 April 2008:
[...] in Windows Vista (and Windows XP), you can place a shortcut to tsdiscon.exe in the Startup folder, and have it lock the workstation for you at startup. The common Startup [...]
Comment by Gerard on 21 April 2008:
If you are a frequent user of the Switch User feature in Windows, you should know “Windows key”+”L”. for each access.
Comment by admin on 21 April 2008:
Hi Gerard, In Windows Vista, tsdiscon.exe certainly saves a mouse click. You don’t have to click the “Switch User” (which you need to click when using Winkey + L)
Tsdiscon.exe goes directly to the screen where the list of users are displayed.