UAC

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How can I stop Vista from nagging me for confirmation every time I want to do
simple everyday tasks such as deleting files or opening some menus in control
panel or even just checking a drive for errors?

Okay I know I can turn it off, and probably a lot of people will. Though I
am reluctant in doing so as it would otherwise be a nifty security feature.
Is there a method of reducing its sensitivity?
If I tell Vista I want to do something I would like it to without
questioning my every move. However, I would also like it to inform me if
someone or something else is doing things without my knowledge, especially
spyware/viruses/trojans and dodgy software that might get installed from
browsing the net or inserting an infected disc or even programs like the ones
Sony put on certain music discs not so long ago
 
How can I stop Vista from nagging me for confirmation every time I want to do
simple everyday tasks such as deleting files or opening some menus in control
panel or even just checking a drive for errors?

Okay I know I can turn it off, and probably a lot of people will. Though I
am reluctant in doing so as it would otherwise be a nifty security feature.
Is there a method of reducing its sensitivity?
If I tell Vista I want to do something I would like it to without
questioning my every move. However, I would also like it to inform me if
someone or something else is doing things without my knowledge, especially
spyware/viruses/trojans and dodgy software that might get installed from
browsing the net or inserting an infected disc or even programs like the ones
Sony put on certain music discs not so long ago
Click to expand...


UAC is a great idea, but badly implemented. As you say, you can't
reduce its sensitivity or give it a list of "permitted" tasks.

I disabled it on day one and have never looked back.


Jim
 
Hi,

It's a sign of the times. Any operation that needs to access system level
changes will invoke the prompt. This is most annoying while a system is
being initially setup and software installed for the user. Once running
under normal use, you will find that the prompt rarely shows. Also, you can
create shortcuts for commonly used functions such as the command prompt, and
in the properties of the shortcut indicate to always run elevated. This is
not disimilar from linux's security scheme, where you must invoke elevated
privileges before doing any operation that exposes the system core to
modification. In this manner, it is very difficult for any unwanted malware
to execute itself site-unseen on the system.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
I disabled it to set up the system to my preferences, then reenabled it when
completed and have never looked back. Despite the many things I do and test,
I rarely see the prompt.

Running without UAC is not advisable, as you are disabling the exact
protection and security that the majority are asking for (and need to
protect themselves from themselves - or their kids).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
For deleting files:
1. do not work in system folders
2. if for some reason you get prompts in a folder you created, or in an
external driver, check the permissions (right click, Properties, Security)
and set them to something sensible (don't change the permissions on system
folders!)

Checking a driver for errors: do you really need to do this everyday? if so,
I'm sure MS would be interested to hear about such a scenario.

Some control panel items: these are tasks that require privileges for a
reason. Again, do you really need to open these precise items on an everyday
basis?
 
GJ said:
How can I stop Vista from nagging me for confirmation every time I want to
do
simple everyday tasks such as deleting files or opening some menus in
control
panel or even just checking a drive for errors?

Okay I know I can turn it off, and probably a lot of people will. Though I
am reluctant in doing so as it would otherwise be a nifty security
feature.
Is there a method of reducing its sensitivity?
If I tell Vista I want to do something I would like it to without
questioning my every move.
Click to expand...


It is far more important, to my way of thinking, to disallow a nefarious
program from doing something behind your back.

I have seen countless infections where the people say they have no idea how
the computer got taken down. Others go to a web site and "see" the multitude
of windows pop up and programs being installed - yet they can stop it from
happening.

Learn to live with the minor inconvenience. Tour off/disable UAC at your own
risk, or stay with Windows XP.

You can't have it both ways.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
GJ said:
How can I stop Vista from nagging me for confirmation every time I want to
do
simple everyday tasks such as deleting files or opening some menus in
control
panel or even just checking a drive for errors?

Okay I know I can turn it off, and probably a lot of people will. Though I
am reluctant in doing so as it would otherwise be a nifty security
feature.
Is there a method of reducing its sensitivity?
If I tell Vista I want to do something I would like it to without
questioning my every move. However, I would also like it to inform me if
someone or something else is doing things without my knowledge, especially
spyware/viruses/trojans and dodgy software that might get installed from
browsing the net or inserting an infected disc or even programs like the
ones
Sony put on certain music discs not so long ago
Click to expand...

It is a pain in the arse but a much needed pain in the arse. When first
getting Vista and installing all your favourite programs, you do get a lot
of prompts, but this slows down and in normal everyday use you shoudl not
get any.
I don't get any for file deletion.
Unfortunately there is no permitted list, its either on or off. This may
seem odd not to have a permitted list as others suggest would be good, but
how would the computer know whether an an action is wanted or not? You
could have a permitted list and hackers could find a way to exploit this.
 
Wow. Windows mail needs mind check as well as spell check. Allow me to
correct my text please. (-:
It is far more important, to my way of thinking, to disallow a nefarious
program from doing something behind your back.

I have seen countless infections where the people say they have no idea
how the computer got taken down. Others go to a web site and "see" the
multitude of windows pop up and programs being installed - yet they
**can't** stop it from happening.

Learn to live with the minor inconvenience. **Turn** off/disable UAC at
your own risk, or stay with Windows XP.

You can't have it both ways.
Click to expand...


Thank You folks.


--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
If I tell Vista I want to do something I would like it to without
questioning my every move. However, I would also like it to inform me if
someone or something else is doing things without my knowledge
Click to expand...

This is the problem - Windows Vista can't tell if YOU are the one performing
an action, or of some sneaky trojan is performing it without your knowledge.

That is why the UAC prompt exists - so Windows can find out if you initiated
an action or not.

If you "always" authorized an application, then sneaky trojans could launch
that always-authorized application and use it to take over your computer,
this rendering the security afforded by such a system practically worthless.

This is why the UAC prompts are an all-or-nothing affair, and there is no
easy answer to this problem.


--
- JB
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User

Windows Vista Support Faq
http://www.jimmah.com/vista/
 
GJ said:
How can I stop Vista from nagging me for confirmation every time I want to
do
simple everyday tasks such as deleting files or opening some menus in
control
panel or even just checking a drive for errors?

Okay I know I can turn it off, and probably a lot of people will. Though I
am reluctant in doing so as it would otherwise be a nifty security
feature.
Is there a method of reducing its sensitivity?
If I tell Vista I want to do something I would like it to without
questioning my every move. However, I would also like it to inform me if
someone or something else is doing things without my knowledge, especially
spyware/viruses/trojans and dodgy software that might get installed from
browsing the net or inserting an infected disc or even programs like the
ones
Sony put on certain music discs not so long ago
Click to expand...




http://www.tweakvista.eu/show_tweak.php?tweak=84

ss.
 
Hi Everyone thanks for your help!
I'm hoping things will calm down, its just that it seems to creep up just
that little bit too often. I dont particularly mind it, but it does interfere
with programs. One such example is Roxio's mydvd, when you are actually
rendering videos to DVD, if the UAC pops up, Roxio will skip the rest of that
video and will start work on the next one!
I'm sure there wil be other programs that will be incompatible with UAC
until they are updated.
I'll just have to live with it for now! Thank you everyone for your advice!
GJ
 
Oops sorry, I meant Drive not driver!
Yes, I check drives quite often, perhaps not every day but certainly several
times a week. I do a lot of video editing and have found with XP that small
errors do occur after a long session of dealing with very large quantities of
video. Also I check my drives for errors before I do any defraging etc.
Fortunately since installing Vista I have had no errors on my drives, but I
will continue to check for sometime before I'm totally convinced.
 
I agree with this. The first day I used Beta2, I thought "OMG, this will
never fly. People will bring pitch forks and torches to Redmond for this".

However, once I got all the usual settings and tweaks done, it hardly
bothers me anymore. Disable away for a couple of weeks if you must, but
don't kid yourself into thinking that the OS doesn't really need this or
that you'll have the same level of security without it.

What's interesting is that Windows has been the only mainstream OS that
allows (encourages?) you to login and run as admin for everything. This in
turn has allowed the software vendors to write their stuff to require admin
privileges to install\run everything. Now, many of them will need to put out
new versions just to fix their installation programs.
 
Richard Urban spake thusly on 2/1/2007 6:38 AM:
It is far more important, to my way of thinking, to disallow a nefarious
program from doing something behind your back.

I have seen countless infections where the people say they have no idea
how the computer got taken down. Others go to a web site and "see" the
multitude of windows pop up and programs being installed - yet they can
stop it from happening.

Learn to live with the minor inconvenience. Tour off/disable UAC at your
own risk, or stay with Windows XP.
Click to expand...

What I don't gel, is why Microsoft went to this extreme. They should
have gone the Mac OS X/Linux "sudo" route; every time you execute a
command that requires administrator privileges a box pops up asking for
your password. In fact, Vista does this, only to nag you afterward with
UAC BS.

I just don't get that.

I refuse to have full administrative rights for everyday usage. That
just goes against my way of thinking (I run Linux too).

I've found a workaround. It's middle ground. It's also what I did in XP
since poorly-written software often required higher level rights to run.
I switched myself from a plain user to the little-known (because it's
somewhat buried in mmc) "Power User". The result? I'm still prompted
for the admin password but nagged by UAC less often.

I once tried disabling UAC but found it "broke" the use of some admin
commands by a User/Power User.

Anybody who routinely works with admin rights AND disables UAC gets what
they deserve.
 
It's not the Windows OS that encourages user to run as Administrator, its
the applications that insist on writing data and other things in folders
reserved for application and OS code (e.g. Program Files or Windows) or
registry entries that are for the system as opposed to users, during normal
application execution.

Until application vendors and developers buy into the benefit to system and
application stability of seperating code from data, this will continue to be
the problem it has been since Windows NT came out.

If you find applications that don't work unless one is logged on as (or is
using Run as Administrator), I suggest "complaining" to the application
vendor. The more customer complains (or suggestions) the vendors get the
more likely they are to change their ways.

I've also found that logging on with a non-administrator account,
particularly in a Domain situation, works better than logging on with an
administsrative user account for "normal" use.
 
The thing is, Rick, it's annoying when you want to say, move a file from the
All Users folder in the Start menu to your own, or to make a new folder in
the All Users folder, or delete a stupid shortcut in it. I would like to
arrange the folders in my start menu with Windows raising flags about it all
the time!

I have disabled it, and have enough other things enabled and enough good
sense that I don't really feel I need Windows 'watching my back' in this
way. Not that I recommend it for others, but that's the situation I'm in
now.

Jesse
 
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