The '''graphical identification and authentication''' ('''GINA)''') is a component of [[Windows 2000]], [[Windows XP]] and [[Windows Server 2003]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn169014%28v=ws.10%29.aspx|title = Credentials Management in Windows Authentication|date = 11 April 2013|accessdate = |website = [[Microsoft TechNet|TechNet]]|publisher = [[Microsoft]]|last = |first = }}</ref> that provides secure authentication and interactive [[Logging (computer security)|logon]] services. GINA is a replaceable [[dynamically linked library]] that is loaded early in the boot process in the context of [[Winlogon]] when the machine is started. It is responsible for handling the [[secure attention key|secure attention sequence]], typically [[Control-Alt-Delete]], and interacting with the user when this sequence is received. GINA is also responsible for starting initial processes for a user (such as the [[Windows Shell]]) when they first log on.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url = http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa380543.aspx|title = Winlogon and GINA|date = |accessdate = 4 December 2014|website = [[MSDN]]|publisher = [[Microsoft]]|last = |first = }}</ref> GINA is discontinued in [[Windows Vista]].<ref name=":1" />
==Overview==
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When the Winlogon process starts, it compares its version number to that which is supported by the loaded GINA library. If the GINA library is of a higher version than Winlogon, Windows will not boot. This is done because a GINA library written for a given version of Winlogon will expect a certain set of API calls to be provided by Winlogon.
Support for replaceable GINA DLLs was introduced with Windows NT Server 3.51 and Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP3. Successive versions of Windows have introduced additional functionality into Winlogon, resulting in additional functionality that can be implemented by a replacement GINA. [[Windows 2000]], for example, introduced support for displaying status messages (including verbose messages that can be turned on through [[Group Policy]]) about the current state to the user (e.g. "Applying computer settings..."), and starting applications in the user's context; this facilitates restarting [[Windows Explorer]] automatically if it crashes, as well as starting the Task Manager. [[Windows XP]] introduced support for [[Fast User Switching]], [[Remote Desktop Protocol|Remote Desktop]] and a more interactive, simplified and user-friendly full-screen logon.
