Windows Vista User Control- an explanation is requested

Hello,

I've had my Vista computer for 4 years, and I still don't understand User Control.

I sign on to my computer, which I own and I am the ONLY person using it, and I am listed as owner/administrator. So why do I have to keep telling the computer yes, it's OK to open a program. Some open with no problem, others, I have to give permission.

And the one that beats everything is when I try to say, delete a folder, I am told I do not have authority or permission to do what I am trying to do. I'm not talking about system files. Maybe it's a program that I no longer want, and I've removed the program, and want to delete the file. No, I'm not allowed.

Well, if I don't have permission or authority to do that, then who the heck does????

At first I tried turning User Control off, but then, of course, I am constantly dunned that my computer is at risk because of my actions. So I reluctantly turned it back on, and it just rubs me the wrong way every single time I have to give permission for a program or game to run, and especially when I am prevented from doing something.

Could someone please explain this to me?

Thank you,
Sandie

 

Read this information and from here you can download software that will stop the prompts.

http://www.tweak-uac.com/what-is-tweak-uac/

 

Hello Markmadras,

Thank you for the program, but I still wish that someone would answer my question as to why, as administrator, I am denied permission to delete simple files, or have to give permission for any program to run in the first place.

Sandie

 

Hi sandilew,

quoted snippet:

Extra security level for those applications that can be easily infected or exploited due to poor code or infections/infestation, or those users who continue to only login and use the true administrators account, throwing caution and security into the wind. See:

http://www.ookii.org/post/what_is_uac_really_for.aspx

Or this view which is slightly less heroic:
http://arstechnica.com/security/new...security-prompt-was-designed-to-annoy-you.ars

 

Opps, sorry double post. Guess I'm overdue. I haven't done that in a long log time.

Opportunity for a metaphor:
Guess you could say malware/adware/virus reached epidemic levels and uac was Microsofts attempt at a vaccination. Not a cure but one way to protect the masses and in some cases users from themselves and poor decisions.

 

I like UAC , it's a double-check in case I might be installing something I should think about twice. It was an absolute PAIN when I was setting up my system, but now that it only pops up occasionally, I can live with that and I know (hope) it is doing it's job.

sandilew, you can get Windows 7 if you want, they have watered down UAC for that, I expect they could "water-down" UAC in Vista using a service pack, but people might start to like it

Yes, there are some/many "Access Denied" pop-ups, that's another one, but I don't think Windows 7 is much more "administrator friendly" in that area (it might involve commands from a prompt). You might need to keep up with your DOS

Matt

 

This is all explained in the link I gave you which included sub links with further information explaining what UAC is all about.

 

Thank you, Everyone, for your answers.

I will definitely have some reading to do, learning how to use my UAC better. At least now I do understand some things that I did not before.

Arie, thank you for your explanation, because it definitely answered one of my questions. I have a simple jigsaw puzzle game that I purchased when I owned an older computer running XP, and I play the game for a short time at least once a day. Every time I open the program I am asked for permission, and it just drove me nuts. The program has updated many times over the years, but for some reason, UAC always asks permission and yet I have other games and never have to give permission for them to run. I don't know why the programmer of my jigsaw game has not corrected this in the updates, but at least now I understand why the prompt occurs.

Again, thank you everyone!
Make it a great day,
Sandie