...Before XP, all that would happen is that windows would start....

Define "Before XP".

Do you mean that you guys went straight from 95/98 to XP? You didn't stop off on NT or 2000 along the way? If so, that's the reason you're confused.

95/98 were not secure operating systems. NT, 2000, and now XP, are fully secure operating systems that require some kind of user authentication before giving you the desktop. Always has been this way.

And yes, I know that most Unix-heads burst out laughing any time someone talks about NT as being "fully secure", and I agree. I'm just saying it that way to clarify the logon requirements for our friend.