[Win7] User Account Control

[Termana]

A really big complaint with Windows Vista, is those **** annoying windows that come up when you want to do something. Do you really want to open that folder? Are you sure you want to change that setting? Are you sure you want Windows Vista to BSOD, Yes or Yes? (ok, seriously, that last one was a joke) These prompts really pissed people off and they in turn turned them off. The UAC prompts were so annoying because, although the NT kernel contained the ability to use the security features enforced by UAC, it was not until Vista that Microsoft implemented these security features. Due to programmers being rather lazy and making their programs use things like the registry for everything, UAC popped up a lot to ask if your sure you wanted to do that "administrative" task. However, Microsoft has listened to this feedback about UAC (User Account Control) and redesigned it in Windows 7 (in fact, at the default level, which is both secure but less annoying - you hardly see a UAC prompt). This tutorial is about both helping you understand the new UAC and showing you how to access its settings, probably not the traditional way of a tutorial, I know, but a tutorial is about helping people - which is exactly what I want to do here.

Firstly, go into your Windows 7 Start Menu. There are 2 ways you can access the UAC settings. First, you can press the little arrow next to "Getting Started" near the top of the start menu (if its still there for you that is), or the second and probably even easier way to do it, is to use the improved search functionality - in the search box type in "UAC" (without quotes), and the first on the list should be "Change User Account Control settings", click that one.

If you've seen this dialog in Vista you would know that the slider is simply at two way thing - on or off. In Windows 7 this has been changed to have 4 settings. The highest setting, although the most secure (if you know what your doing with a computer that is, its obviously useless if you don't know waht your doing and you just click Continue all the time), will make you feel like your back in Vista - thats right, everytime the program wants to do something, you'll be nagged. The second, and default setting, is less annoying, you'll only be told when the program wants to install or make changes to your computer that are unrelated to Windows settings. You won't get told about changes to Windows settings, like - changes to the registry. This will cut down those UAC prompts to an abysmal amount. The third setting is just like the second, you'll get told about a program trying to install or make changes to your computer (again unrelated to Windows setting changes), you won't get told about Windows setting changes (like the registry changes. Again, Windows settings changes are what make up the majority of UAC prompts in Vista or at the highest level of UAC in 7), however this time instead of your screen going dim to show the UAC prompt, the prompt will just show like a normal dialog. Some may find the dimming intrusive and this setting will be perfect for them. And then, there is the lowest of lows on the UAC scale, Off. I don't have much to say for that level - it pretty much tells the story all in that one word. Microsoft has also provided recommendations for each of the levels in the near right hand corner when you have the slider on each level.

As is recommended by Microsoft, I would bump it up from the default if you constantly install new software and visit "unfamiliar sites" (or, shady sites, or torrent sites, or dare I say it - crack sites). I would use the third level if you find the dimming intrusive. If neither of these fit your cause, I would stick with the default. I don't think you should turn it off at any time, for one because the default doesn't really bring too many UAC prompts up, and one would hope you are smart enough not to be someone who would just go clicking Continue anyway. If you really feel like your just going to click Continue and you really don't want to monitor what your computer may or may not be doing, go ahead and turn it off - but please don't come crying to people. Thats what your mammas for - that is, when you decide to get your head out of the basement.

I hope this part tutorial, part blog has been useful, and will help you make the right decision when choosing a UAC setting on Windows 7.

[Jordan]

Nice tutorial. I hate the UAC in Vista as well. One of the first things I turn off yet it turns itself back on every update. Very irritating. +rep