What don't you like about Windows 7?

[cbleman]

To be honest, UAC shows up A LOT more than once a month! That said however, it is super easy to turn off in 7. You don't have to take the command line route and can even use less annoying settings if you wish.

Seriously?

When I first switched to Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail from the RC (a bit more than a month ago), the first thing I did was set UAC to it's maximum level so that it acts more like it did in Vista. Excluding all the UAC prompts over the 2 days it took me to install all necessary applications and configure the system the way I want it, I haven't seen a single UAC prompt at all. Not one. Nada.

5 weeks and counting - still no UAC prompts AT MAXIMUM LEVEL!

How did you do that? Setting up each program to run at an admin level is cumbersom, and would take quite a long time to set up. Is there an easy way to get rid of the prompts and still keep UAC on?

 

[Dzomlija]

To be honest, UAC shows up A LOT more than once a month! That said however, it is super easy to turn off in 7. You don't have to take the command line route and can even use less annoying settings if you wish.

Seriously?

When I first switched to Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail from the RC (a bit more than a month ago), the first thing I did was set UAC to it's maximum level so that it acts more like it did in Vista. Excluding all the UAC prompts over the 2 days it took me to install all necessary applications and configure the system the way I want it, I haven't seen a single UAC prompt at all. Not one. Nada.

5 weeks and counting - still no UAC prompts AT MAXIMUM LEVEL!

How did you do that? Setting up each program to run at an admin level is cumbersom, and would take quite a long time to set up. Is there an easy way to get rid of the prompts and still keep UAC on?

Forgive the bluntness of my reply, but what's the point of UAC if you don't get visual prompts when programs require elevation?


Avoiding UAC prompts is easy. I just follow a simple set of personal rules:

1. I have a standard set of applications, utilities and games that I use everyday, and when I install Windows, I install ALL of them from the word go. I don't install programs on a whim, and also therefore avoid having to uninstall rubbish that doesn't work.
2. I set my Windows Update to download updates but let me choose when to install them. I then usually only install updates every month or so. (The work that I do on the internet demands that my connection maintains active traffic, and cannot afford even 5 minutes of downtime)
3. I only save or download files to my own standard user folders, which have all been redirected to secondary drives.
4. I only browse the 'net for research purposes (MSDN, Wikipedia, Forums, etc.), and don't use virus possesed social sites like facebook or youtube.
5. I also don't accept files transfers on Messenger from anyone that isn't in my contacts list.
6. The list goes on, but is off topic...

To cut a long story short: You can avoid Maximum-Level UAC prompts on standard-level admin accounts by using nothing more than common sense.

I really don't understand why people think UAC is a curse. Setup your PC properly from the start, and you'll not have a problem.

 

[Tews]

Well said Peter..

 

[Kari]

I have some difficulties to understand that people are complaining about the added security. I mean, I do really want to use UAC to avoid accidentally installing something.

Anyway, as this is (mostly) a free world, everybody is entitled to an opinion so I am not critisizing anybody.

Kari

 

[cbleman]

Forgive the bluntness of my reply, but what's the point of UAC if you don't get visual prompts when programs require elevation?

Blunt is fine. This is a discussion. Not just a platform for me to air my opinions.

I'm not against security, or being warned about programs. A security system, should be transparent after a while however. What I mean is, have UAC ask about a program, and provide a check box to never be bothered by prompts for that program again. A trusted program (Sort of like Zone Alarm.). If the program changes, Warn again, get aproval, then go away! To be honest though, the avarage person I talk to (Like you.), have the programs they want to run on their computer installed now, and probably will never (Or very infrequently) change them. ...and yet, the annoying prompts still show up. I have my setting at "Never Notify" and yet I am still bothered by prompts every day. The only way I have found to totaly avoid UAC prompts, is bypass it in admin mode, or turn it off. Yes, I could turn it off (And perhaps will in the near future.), but what would that teach me.

I run into people, who would like to get rid of it, but just don't know how, or think they can't. Most of them consider anything more than unchecking a selection box beyond their skill level. That is why I would like to see a menu option in the GUI.

When I told the "Story", I realy expected a lot or people to say they would take the more advanced option every time. To each their own. There are a lot of people that like UAC. I am not advocating getting rid of it. I would just like to see an option in the GUI to tone it down beyond what we already have, or turn it off.

 

[Dzomlija]

Forgive the bluntness of my reply, but what's the point of UAC if you don't get visual prompts when programs require elevation?

Blunt is fine. This is a discussion. Not just a platform for me to air my opinions.

I'm not against security, or being warned about programs. A security system, should be transparent after a while however. What I mean is, have UAC ask about a program, and provide a check box to never be bothered by prompts for that program again. A trusted program (Sort of like Zone Alarm.). If the program changes, Warn again, get aproval, then go away! To be honest though, the avarage person I talk to (Like you.), have the programs they want to run on their computer installed now, and probably will never (Or very infrequently) change them. ...and yet, the annoying prompts still show up. I have my setting at "Never Notify" and yet I am still bothered by prompts every day. The only way I have found to totaly avoid UAC prompts, is bypass it in admin mode, or turn it off. Yes, I could turn it off (And perhaps will in the near future.), but what would that teach me.

I run into people, who would like to get rid of it, but just don't know how, or think they can't. Most of them consider anything more than unchecking a selection box beyond their skill level. That is why I would like to see a menu option in the GUI.

When I told the "Story", I realy expected a lot or people to say they would take the more advanced option every time. To each their own. There are a lot of people that like UAC. I am not advocating getting rid of it. I would just like to see an option in the GUI to tone it down beyond what we already have, or turn it off.

Sometimes less is more, which is I think the point of your story.

But the problem with a "Whitelist" (which is essentially what a "don't bother be again for this application/command" checkbox is) is that it can be thwarted by malware, defeating the whole purpose of UAC (I think a UAC "Whitelist" has been discussed before in another thread, but I'm not sure which).

 

[cbleman]

Sometimes less is more, which is I think the point of your story.

But the problem with a "Whitelist" (which is essentially what a "don't bother be again for this application/command" checkbox is) is that it can be thwarted by malware, defeating the whole purpose of UAC (I think a UAC "Whitelist" has been discussed before in another thread, but I'm not sure which).

Good point! My firewall option would require more than just checking a selection box too. ...but it's still annoying. Would A prompt when the "Whitelist" is changed be an option?

fseal: Although I get prompts every day, your response was well reasoned, and NOT over the top. Blunt (Which is sometimes good), but gentle. There people here who disagree without any type of, or very poor reasoning. Although Windows is not Linux, you made a valid point. Good job. just thought I'd say so.

 

[FuturDreamz]

The network diagnostics wizard.
A while ago my internet stopped working, so i ran the diagnostics wizard to see what was wrong. Diagnostic's wizard's diagnostics: "your internet connection isn't working"
Comparatively the mac Diagnostics wizard said that
Airport card: good
Connection to router: good
Connection to service provider (which I believe means the modem, not the iSP: good
DNS service: not found
connection to internet: not found.
restarting the router fixed it tho.

 

[cbleman]

The network diagnostics wizard.
A while ago my internet stopped working, so i ran the diagnostics wizard to see what was wrong. Diagnostic's wizard's diagnostics: "your internet connection isn't working"
Comparatively the mac Diagnostics wizard said that
Airport card: good
Connection to router: good
Connection to service provider (which I believe means the modem, not the iSP: good
DNS service: not found
connection to internet: not found.
restarting the router fixed it tho.

hmm... I've run into that myself today. It just started though, and if your problem has been going on for a while, it's probably not related. My Vista and XP machines work fine (Or say they are working fine), but the router has "Lost" the 7 machine twice today. since I've had no problem up to now, and it hasn't repeated in a while, I thought it might be a hardware glitch. Reseting the router and the machine restored everything. Perhaps this topic would be better discussed on another (Dedicated) thread. Once there, the hardware you are using will probably be usefull. I'm going to "Take out the trash", and wait to see if the problem reoccurs.

 

[FuturDreamz]

it's fine, i fixed the problem.
just that my iff is that the Windows Network Diagnostics Wizard is not as detailed as the mac version.

 

[cbleman]

Good to hear. Sorry I could not be more helpfull

 

[reghakr]

Where is the copy as path context menu entry, why is there still a Windows Mail directory,

and more important, why is it you have to perform some key combination to get an extended Send To menu';;

If you download this program, and use the file finder feature it unlocks these hidden options.

Powerdesk 6 Free Download

 

[cbleman]

Reghakr: Your Licence Plate expired 11/01. It looks that way, or that's an old picture. I'm not much on laws outside Florida.
I wonder what ever happened to Virtue, Liberty, and Independence at the bottom of the plate. Looks like PA. is getting progressive. Florida has so many Licence plate styles now, it's hard to keep up. Looks like PA. is going that way too.
Neat Plate.

Has anyone else tried powerdesk?

 

[logicearth]

Where is the copy as path context menu entry...

Shift + Right-click.

...why is there still a Windows Mail directory...

For dependencies that still rely on certain libraries it contained.

 

[reghakr]

But why does copy as path context menu entry not appear on the context menu?

 

[reghakr]

Yes, the plate is very old. Here in Pennsylvania, they just issue a sticker that you place on the right to side of the plate.

 

[cbleman]

the problem with a "Whitelist" (which is essentially what a "don't bother be again for this application/command" checkbox is) is that it can be thwarted by malware, defeating the whole purpose of UAC (I think a UAC "Whitelist" has been discussed before in another thread, but I'm not sure which).

Read the article. Interesting. The thread I read said UAC already has a huge hole, and provided Video. The point of the article I read was that Microsofts internal programs were white listed, but well behaved third party apps could not be white listed. Punished I believe was the word. It suggested discrimination, and a law suit. I will have to find time to browse the other threads. There are many of them. Some don't look like they have anything to do with what I'm looking for.
Thanks for putting me on the track. This looks like it's going to take me a while.

 

[reghakr]

cbleman.

Yes, I;m using an older version.

It's File Finder feature unlocks hidden entries in Windows 7.............Iy adds Cop as Path to the context menu, and gives a complete listing of of the special folder when you choose the Send To feature.

The old version van be downloaded here:

Powerdesk 6 Free Download

 

[severedsolo]

UAC, but not for the reasons you think I find it useful, as it tells me if somethings running elevated.... but what happened to the whole "it wont ask if its user initiated"? surely if I set a program to run as admin thats user initiated?

but i want UAC to do MORE! i dont like the way windows doesnt ask you if you want something to run in the background, which doesnt need to, (updaters for instance) surely UAC could handle that? (yes i know people would moan that UAC has enough prompts as it is, but surely it could be turned off if you didnt want it?)

and the control panel.... no "classic mode" you have to manually select "all control panel options" each time (yes i know i could search, but that means letting go of the mouse and typing... its quicker to click)

oh and the lack of an easy to use autorun disable feature like the one that shipped with windows defender in vista, M$'s solution "autoruns" is terrible.... you have to sift through god knows how many registry keys to find the program you want to disable

 

[Sonixmon]

This one is new for me, another major thing I discovered. I have a network drive with about 300GB of stuff on it. I keep a backup on my second Raid array in my main PC (to have 2 identical copies).

Occasionally I decide to move files and folders around and sometimes join multiple folders/files by overwriting with the move command. Today I was moving about 2.2GB that was pretty much overwriting the same thing (but I wanted to make sure I had all the files from both folders). *Keep in mind all the files were on the Network Drive, just moving the location.

Anyway I started the Move process and it took 5+mins for W7 to start actually moving files and said it was going to take 7+ hours!! Again most of the files were already there and the rest was just a move!

I switched to my laptop (XP) and using the same move command it started copying instantly, it said it would take <60 seconds but ended up taking 2-3 mins total! Ok something is wrong with that picture!! 7 Hrs vs 2-3 mins and I watched the files copying from W7 for about 5 mins and they only got to about .2GB. So 5 mins to figure out it would take 7 hrs then 5 mins for .2GB Vs. <3mins for complete copy with XP!

It seems W7 was copying the files to a temp folder or ram, etc. before copying them back to the new location on the Network Drive. XP Seemed to take the smart route and just move the files to the new location on the Network drive without copying them to a temp folder/ram etc. Even with a Gigabit network and HD 2.2 GB takes some time, especially if W7 is copying it to memory then back to the HD.

So Glad I kept a dual boot of XP now!

Side Note, I would like to use the offline sync feature, but this doesnt give me enough control of where the files go, so I use a 3rd party sync program which is Awesome!