New
#1
Many 32Bit programs won't open - Windows 7, 64 Bit
Okay, just got a new PC with Win7 64 Bit recently. When I set the UAC to its default setting - "Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer", programs in my Startup list such as my Firewall (ZoneAlarm) and antivirus (Avira) don't appear in the system tray - although there's a process running for them in the task manager. This isn't normal behaviour, they should show up in the system tray as well. Additionally, with UAC set like that, windows asks EVERY time when I try to open an application such as Windows Live Messenger (which also won't run at startup...). Although at least I can open it this way.
If I switch UAC off, by moving the slider to the lowest setting, my antivirus and firewall sometimes appear in the system tray. But trying to launch (for example) Windows Live Messenger does nothing. There's no message to say it hasn't worked or I need to OK it, it just appears to do nothing. When I look at the task manager again there's a Process running for it, but no Application. What's going on! The same thing will happen with 32Bit IE (doesn't seem to run, but there's a Process there and nothing under Applications), but 64Bit IE launches fine.
I've tried setting all these programs to Run as Administrator every time, and changing the Compatibility settings where possible, but this made no difference.
If it helps, most games seem to launch fine without any popup no matter what I do.
Could anyone suggest a way of either getting Windows to remember what I picked for the UAC popups so I only see them once per program, or help me understand why switching UAC off makes many programs not work at all?
You can be as technical as you like about it, I'll follow okay. :) Or if there's an alternative such as running EVERYTHING under the administrator account all the time, I'd be interested to hear it. The user account I'm doing this under has administrator access though.
Thanks very much for any help you can offer.