Symptom
The computer starts up to the Login Window instead of to the desktop of the Finder.
Solution
The Login Window appears at startup when the option to log in automatically has been deselected. Depending on which version of Mac OS X you are using, this option is found in either the Login or Accounts preference pane. This normally happens when you create a second user for the computer.
To log in, you will either select your user name from a list, or you will have to type your user name (depending on which is set in System Preferences). After selecting or typing your user name, enter your password, then click the Log In button.
If you have forgotten your password, see technical document 106156, "
Mac OS X: How to Change or Reset a User's Password" .
To make your computer always log in as a specific user, see technical document 106164, "
Mac OS X: How to Log in Automatically at Startup".