What do 'enabled' and 'disabled' UAC virtualization mean?

[catalogue]

In the task manager in the column for UAC virtualization, "not allowed" means a thing is running as administrator. But what do 'enabled' and 'disabled' mean?

I don't know what virtualization is but it's safe to say I don't need to get deeply involved with it. I only have one computer and I'm the only person who uses it. I guess virtualization would have something to do with other user accounts or installing other OSs or something, which I don't do. I only need to know enough for basic security purposes.

There's this thread but it doesn't say what the terms mean:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/319748-process-see-if-running-administrator-elevated.html

 

[maxie]

Hi there .. Read the Link below it should explain all you need to know .. Just leave things as they are in the Task Manager that is normal ..

Virtualization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[LMiller7]

Explaining UAC virtualization is rather difficult. To understand that you must first understand some rather difficult concepts. To further complicate matters the term "virtualization" has multiple meanings. I haven't been able to find any simple explanations, probably because it isn't simple.

The link provided by maxie describes some meanings of virtualization but I don't think any specifically relate to this usage.

This can be a big deal for software developers but for the average computer user it is of little importance.

 

[logicearth]

In this case it means, UAC is going to redirect registry and folder writes and reads from locations the application does NOT have access to, redirect to a "virtual" store as it were making the application believe its writing to a protected location.

In simple terms: App tries to create files in "Program Files" UAC says it doesn't have permission redirects to a virtual store in your user directory. Same with the registry.


There are some pit falls of this...I should cove those at some point.