UAC on highest setting stops prompting on certain programs??

Ok, so happily flying with Windows 7 Ultimate x64 bit and being a security-minded gamer I keep the UAC setting on the highest, however, I've found what's kind of an odd bit of behavior and woner if someone has any insight to this seemingly what looks like flaw or potentially security hole?

When I open Windows 7 defrag utility, if I click on "set defrag schedule" UAC will **INITIALLY** prompt me for user input, but then if I close out of it and click it again, it seems it just bypass UAC alltogether! And if I click to "Analyze Disks", it initally promps me, but again after that one click I can click it again on any disks and it doesn't even prompt me...same with "Stop Analyzation"..any ideas as to why?


I've found this to be the case only with Disk Defrag built into Windows 7 thus far, but it seems like it's either a bug or a potential security risk if UAC isn't working like this?

But aga, all else it's been super reliable.


Any ideas? I mean like it's interesting to say the least.

Right but then why do all other UAC-labeled buttons and actions require a secure-ok everytime?

Kinda seems like an oversite, no? If it is by design like that then ok but still, I think it'd be better if it was all unified in terms of behavior.


EDIT: And thanks, this forum looks really slick and nice :) As is Windows 7 I think, and this is coming from a die-hard Mac user (that still uses Macs of course, but I haven't booted up the OS X box since using Windows 7 (gaming machine, too, haha))

I think you'll find it's how the software is written in the first place.......not that I'd accuse programmers of being lazy.

Windows Vista got an awful press as far as UAC was concerned because there was a lot of legacy software around that generated an awful lot of intrusive and annoying UAC prompts.

Microsoft have tried to ease the UAC restrictions in Windows 7 and once you've given the nod to a UAC prompt it'll remember next time.

Certainly, if you run a new application the first time and tell Windows its OK by right-clicking the installer and choosing Run As Administrator, you shouldn't get any more prompts the next time you run it.

BTW, welcome to Windows Seven Forums. It's so refreshing to hear a regular Mac user giving Windows the thumbs up! :)

The UAC is on the highest setting, and all other software requires a UAC prompt each time, and so IDK it still kinda seems like an oversite, or, like what's been just said maybe it's a one small area where MS tried to make it less intrusive?

It's still very vigilent in all other aspects so I think it's ok, at least for now, haha.

Is it overkill to use the highest setting?

You could try dropping it a notch or two to see what difference it makes in terms of the number of UAC prompts you get.

Haha no I'm saying it's at the highest intentionally so as to make the system as secure as possible, and I find it kind of mind-boggling that no other program "saves the UAC button press" like disk defrag does, then again, disk defrag can't really harm any system files and it asks for UAC every time after it's been closed then re-opened, so maybe it is by design and the systems not any lesser secure because of it? Hmm.

logicearth said:

The reason you don't get a second UAC screen after accepting the first has to do with the way the software is written. While most applications will only elevate the task they need done, The Disk Defrag UI elevates a portion of its process for the remainder of its life (until you close it) This doesn't lessen security and is done so by design.

Excellent, that's exactly what I was thinking lately and it's like it makes totaly sense! Awesome, thanks for the reply and good info, intelligent brainstorming or conversing here.

Props to MS for making a well-thought out security feature, lately I've been finding Win 7 to be a very secure OS, and w/ just Avast alone, at least for right now I think it's about up there w/ Mac OS X, and this is coming from an Apple "fanboy", if you will, haha.


But the Macs are def., here to stay lol though I think it's good to see Win 7 being quite an excellent other OS out there, at least so far