So, when does UAC present itself to you

[pparks1]

Hey Guys,

I'm not here trying to argue the merits for and against the UAC system, but rather I am trying to get to the bottom of why some people are massively irritated by it, while others hardly ever notice it.

I for one, have used UAC since day 1 with Vista and continue to use it to this day with Windows 7. I've never once disabled it on any computer that I have ever used. It's not that I find the function to be invaluable, but rather I've never really found it to be all that irritating, so I just leave it enabled.

So, I'm running Windows 7 on my home and work computer. It's set using the Windows 7 defaults.

Here are the situations in which I have seen anything from UAC in the past 7 days

1). When I launch Acronis True Image, I have to click a box that says Yes
2). When I launch Malwarebytes, I have to click a box that says Yes

I honestly don't recall seeing it at any other time during this period. I'm going to try and update this thread when I do see a pop-up so I can track just how often that I do or do not see it.

Anybody want to share the same and post your experiences with UAC and how often you are seeing prompts and what you are doing when you see them.

 

[Jonathan_King]

I disabled UAC because it prompted me every time I tried to change a setting, run a program, etc.

For instance, if I wanted to check the status of my backup, UAC. When I downloaded a program, I had to click yes to 2 separate prompts, "Are you sure you want to run this file?" and UAC.

Is this what you are asking for?

 

[pparks1]

I disabled UAC because it prompted me every time I tried to change a setting, run a program, etc.

Ok, so under Vista it prompted a lot more. Under Windows 7, the default is to only tell you if the app wants to do it on it's own.

For example, let's say you want to change a setting in Device Manager. From Windows 7, right click on My Computer and choose Manage (it should have a UAC shield...but should not prompt you for anything...since you initiated it). Go under Network Adapters and try to change the properties of your Network card. It should let you, without 1 single prompt.

I also launched the Start Menu, went under Programs, launched Excel, created a spreadsheet and saved it in My Documents. No prompts

I launched the Start Menu, ran msconfig, went into the startup tab, removed 3 programs from autostarting. No prompts.

That's what happens for me under Windows 7 with UAC on.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Sure, pparks, but try to change a setting. Try leaving 7 at it's default UAC and change the Power Options. Change settings that are currently unavailable.

 

[pparks1]

Sure, pparks, but try to change a setting. Try leaving 7 at it's default UAC and change the Power Options. Change settings that are currently unavailable.

Ok, my settings are stock. The tick mark is in the 3rd position. It says specifically "Default - Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer. Don't notify me when I make changes to Windows Settings"

So, I go to Control Panel. Type, Power in the Search bar in top right. I click on Edit Plan Settings, changed Advanced Power Settings, click on Change settings that are currently unavailable. Pick Turn off hard disk after, change Plugged in from 20 minutes to 30 minutes. Click Apply, say Ok. NO PROMPTS

In the Windows 7 default settings, this should not cause ANY UAC prompts to be displayed. Since you are the user and you are navigating into settings yourself, the system will NOT prompt you for UAC. If on the other hand you wrote a script to change those settings, launching that script would then invoke the UAC system since the program would be doing it on your behalf rather than you directly.

This is exactly the type of thing I am trying to better understand. I'd really like to know why you are seeing prompts, if indeed they do pop up on you.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Funny, mine is different. I am not at my 7 machine now, so I can't test, but because you brought it up, I will try to remember to give it a try.

 

[pparks1]

Funny, mine is different. I am not at my 7 machine now, so I can't test, but because you brought it up, I will try to remember to give it a try.

Thank you. Please be sure to do that...hopefully we can figure out what is different. The areas that you are taking me into...certainly do have the UAC shield on them...but unless you jacked up the UAC setting to the MAX...it shouldn't prompt going into those areas.

 

[Jonathan_King]

PM me in a few days, will you? If I have not posted back in a few days, I have probably forgotten.

 

[Frostmourne]

For my gaming system with UAC at default there are pop's up for a system info app, and some games which I have forced compatbility. Otherwise nothing. Of course, installers will pop up UAC but I have - and probably others - gotten so used to these they barely count.

 

[pparks1]

Of course, installers will pop up UAC but I have - and probably others - gotten so used to these they barely count.

Yes, installers will pop up UAC. However, it's not like I install 20-30 apps a day. In fact, after getting my machine setup...it's pretty rare for a new install. Usually just an application update.

But keep it coming guys...I'd like to know as much as possible.

 

[Frostmourne]

Of course, installers will pop up UAC but I have - and probably others - gotten so used to these they barely count.

Yes, installers will pop up UAC. However, it's not like I install 20-30 apps a day. In fact, after getting my machine setup...it's pretty rare for a new install. Usually just an application update.

But keep it coming guys...I'd like to know as much as possible.

Of the 13 or 14 games I've installed all popped up UAC to start install shield or whatever the installer was on disc insert/autoplay.

 

[Greg S]

Funny, mine is different. .

Same here. I can't even get into msconfig without a prompt but then again I have UAC at it's highest level and provide password.

 

[JMH]

Have 2 x Vista Ultimate 64-bit laptops here.
UAC prompts are continuous.
It doesn't concern me at all.

 

[Dinesh]

I have disabled UAC because I feel that its useless.

 

[pezzonovante]

I always turn UAC slider to the highest value, i.e, Vista Mode, in Windows 7. I have never found it annoying. It's a great feature.

 

[pparks1]

Thanks guys for the feedback.

To those of you moving the slider to the max, you obviously understand why you get so many prompts and you appear to be satisfied with your experience. I personally don't find it all that valuable to tell me when I perform an admin task...the little UAC shield is sufficient to let me know that I am getting into an admit task. But hey, to each his own on this...I'm not judging just commenting.

As far as UAC being useless, I don't agree. I want to know when an app has to elevate itself. Sure, most times I just accept that tools like Acronis or Malwarebytes have to elevate...and I don't know EXACTLY what they are doing...but in the event that firefox or IE or something else attempts to elevate which isn't normal could alert me to a problem on my PC that I might otherwise not know about. That's the value that I find in it. But granted, this hasn't happened yet....so this certainly isn't a tool that I rely heavily on.

 

[noobvious]

My computer was given to me with MSE, ThreatFire, and Malwarebytes installed, and NoScript enabled on Firefox(to which I added AdblockPlus) and the UAC was disabled.

I did enable it at default level one day last week,out of curiosity, but I had to do a system restore the next day and never re-enabled it. Maybe I will give it another shot.

OK....enabled at default level. We'll see what happens.

 

[omegatron]

I have a router with a hardware firewall. Comodo firewall (to monitor out going), avira anti-virus, ccleaner, windows defender, as well as adblock plus, wot, and no scripts on firefox.

I've had UAC disabled since vista and never had a problem with virus or malware infections.

In my opinion. As long as you know that the program you are installing comes from a trusted source. As long as you practice safe browsing habit. It doesn't really matter if UAC is enabled or disabled.

 

[WiNd0Ws7]

Have kept UAC completely disabled since I'm running a HIPs program which does the same thing that UAC does . . . . . . and some more.

 

[pparks1]

Hey Guys,

I'd like to try keeping this thread on topic. If you look at my original post, I specifically asked to not turn this into a debate on the merits or lack thereof of using UAC.

Instead, I'm trying to understand for those who do have it enabled at the default Windows 7 standard level, what things they do which generate UAC prompts so I can get some insight as to why some people feel that it's so annoying that they immediately shut it off. I'm trying to determine if there are apps out there which really cause more discomfort than others.

Thanks