Computer won't work when UAC turned off

[nicksterbixter]

Everytime I have tried to disable UAC (user account control), I have
encountered a major problem.

Whenever the computer boots, Windows will load, and just when all the
startup programs are beginning to load, the screen turns all black and white
fuzzy, almost like dead air on TV. No matter how many times I try rebooting,
it does the same thing.

One time, I accidently left the computer in this state for awhile (maybe 30
min?) and when I came back, the computer was stuck on the boot screen, with
all the system specs, telling me to go to the CMOS and change the CPU
frequency.

I have no idea what this means or what the problem is, but I know it is
caused by disabling the UAC. The only way I fix the problem is to start the
computer in safe mode and perform a system restore to before i disabled UAC.
Then, everything goes back to normal, back to the annoying UAC. So, can
anyone tell me what the problem is or why my computer is doing this? I would
really like to disable UAC, yet allow my computer to function.

 

[SG]

t-4-2,

I've posted this before and you may or may not have seen it. It's an
excellent write-up by Ronnie Vernon MS MVP about the link you posted or
moreover what this Reg hack really does. The ONLY problem I see with it is I
didn't write it :<(

QUOTE:
This is a fallacy! If UAC cannot notify the user that a program is trying to
gain global access to the system, then it is effectively 'disabled'. This so
called 'quite mode' setting just changes a UAC registry setting to
'automatically elevate everything without prompting'. This means that when
you click to open a file, it is 'assumed' that you already know that the
file will have unrestricted access to your computer.

The main thing that UAC does is to detect when a program or application
tries to access restricted parts of the system or registry that requires
administrator privileges. When a program does this, UAC will prompt the user
for administrative elevation. Without this prompt, UAC cannot warn the user,
which means that it is effectively disabled.

Some people will tell you that using "quiet mode" will still let IE run in
protected mode, but this just isn't true. Without the UAC prompt, a
malicious file that runs from a website can run, without restrictions, and
silently.

Another issue is that with UAC prompt disabled, some legitimate procedures
will just silently fail to work properly, with no notification, if you are
logged on with a Standard User account, since the application cannot notify
you that administrative privileges are required.

Even the developer of the TweakUAC utility includes this statement about his
product.
"if you are an experienced user and have some understanding of how to manage
your Windows settings properly, you can safely use the quiet mode of UAC."
In my opinion, if you are an experienced user, the last thing you would want
to do is turn off the UAC notification.

If you 'are' an experienced user, then you would already know how to
temporarily bypass the UAC prompt to perform just about any procedure in
Vista, such as running programs from an elevated command prompt, or using an
elevated instance of windows explorer.

The last problem I have with this so-called 'quiet mode' is that it
dissuades developers from programming their applications to run in a least
user privilege environment.
--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience
END QUOTE
--
All the best,
SG

Is your computer system ready for Vista?
https://winqual.microsoft.com/hcl/

 

[SG]

t-4-2,

I did not post this for debate, nor arguments, pro and con, nor whether it's
his/her computer, nor moral obligations nor anything along those lines. The
problem I have with this so called hack/fix or whatever one chooses to call
it is I think it only fair the users who do ask how to turn this off also
should know the downside of doing this. I don't agree with anyone asking how
to do this we assume they know what he/she is doing or they wouldn't be
asking how it's done. I think for many it's just annoying and they have no
idea what problems it can cause by turning it off. I've heard from many that
have it off and haven't had any problems, good for them and I hope they
never do, but I've seen others who have had problems and how many out there
that has unforeseen problems not even knowing what was/is causing it. IMO I
just believe if anyone is going to post these links or describe how to turn
it off should also advise at least the heart of what Ronnie wrote if not the
whole article.

If you reread the OP's post they clearly state turning off UAC is causing
major problems. The link you provided is only going to mask the problem and
not fix it. There's a reason why this is happening and that should be
addressed. Perhaps a program on startup is requiring it, who knows what the
cause is, but again turning off UAC is not the fix. Although error handlers
are written into all software and that's not the same as a UAC message they
both basically perform the same function, alert the user something has
happened or about to. Can you imagine if there was a setting in all software
to turn off all error handlers. Do you have any idea what problems this
would cause? the program would simply shut down or hang and nothing more, no
error message, no nothing. There would be no need for any of these forums,
TechNet nor any helpdesk at all because all would have the same question, my
program quit working, what's wrong?. :>)

When Win95 was first introduced so was Regedit and along with that so was
the consensus to "warn" anyone before making changes, make a backup. This is
still true today and good advice because of the unforeseen things that may
occur. I think a similar consensus should be said about UAC, if you are
going to turn it off at least post and read over what the downside of doing
this is.

--
All the best,
SG

Is your computer system ready for Vista?
https://winqual.microsoft.com/hcl/