Special Permissions?

[Buddha]

When I R-click on my C: drive in Computer, I see an option labeled "Special
Permissions", but it doesn't seem to be available. What are Special
Permissions, and if they're important for anything, how do I enable them?
Logging on as Administrator produces the same effect. Speaking as a user of
Windows since its first release, I find Vista with its UAC, Permissions, and
the need to repeatedly confirm every action I tak to be frustrating as hell.

Buddha

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Buddha

If you have been using Windows that long, you should know by now that you
can tweak just about anything to make it work whatever way you wish. You
should also know that previous versions of Windows has been the most
vulnerable OS in history. In Vista, components like UAC, file and folder
permissions, Integrity Levels, Virtualization, and others are designed to
fix this historic vulnerable state.

It's not recommended to turn UAC off, but You can turn it off in Control
Panel/User Accounts.

It's definitely not recommended to tweak any of the file or folder
permissions. Doing this can have unexpected results, such as programs not
working correctly plus making the system more vulnerable whether UAC is on
or off.

The most difficult job is trying to convince long time users that there is a
better way to do things, but it may mean breaking old habits and learning
something new.

 

[solon fox]

When I R-click on my C: drive in Computer, I see an option labeled "Special
Permissions", but it doesn't seem to be available.  What are Special
Permissions, and if they're important for anything, how do I enable them?
Logging on as Administrator produces the same effect.  Speaking as a user of
Windows since its first release, I find Vista with its UAC, Permissions, and
the need to repeatedly confirm every action I tak to be frustrating as hell.

Buddha

Hi Buddha,

I don't find anything that says "Special Permissions" in mine - Vista
Ultimate. I do find the usual permissions under the security tab - the
dialog looks a little different, but it's all the usual stuff.

The UAC takes a little getting used to -- I always think of that Apple
commercial with a smile -- but, UAC doesn't get in the way after a
while. I'm not sure if I've just grown accustomed or if it is the
simple fact that once you get everything installed and configured that
it is a little less obtrusive.

There are many usability and productivity enhancements in Vista
waiting for you to discover. I recommend Windows Vista Secrets as a
quick start to learning some new tricks. On my own, there were some
features that not understanding them I shut off, but once revealed to
me have become indispensable.

I realize that there are some who have complained and there are a few
annoyances, but I am a Vista fan. Number of crashes after installing
Vista over a year ago: 0.

-solon fox

 

[Adam Albright]

Buddha

If you have been using Windows that long, you should know by now that you
can tweak just about anything to make it work whatever way you wish. You
should also know that previous versions of Windows has been the most
vulnerable OS in history. In Vista, components like UAC, file and folder
permissions, Integrity Levels, Virtualization, and others are designed to
fix this historic vulnerable state.

Stop the bullshit! Vista is just another hyped up bloated up version
of Windows that nags it's stupid ass off worse than any mother-in-law.
One thing Vista and mothers-in-law have in common; They nag for no
reason and seem to do so only to annoy!

Want an specific example? I recently installed SP1. Now the useless
Defender nag screen constantly pops up bitching about a Bonjour DLL. I
click on the warning window to close it. Two seconds later it pops up
again making the same moronic comments I ALREADY read. This goes on
maybe fifty times during the next five minutes with it popping up and
me trying to stop it over and over. It finally stops.

Someone tell me how such a utterly useless nag screen is suppose to
help me in any way, shape or form. It's just useless. If Vista must
nag me about something that gives it hissy fits tell me ONCE and when
I shut the damn notification window down SHUT THE HELL UP already!

I finally got feed up and stopped what I was trying to do and went to
Defender's settings to drop the "security" level lower hoping the
piece of crap would stop the damn fuc*king useless nagging. So far
that seems to have worked.

But there is a big downside. Since I see no option to selectively
quite Defender for this ONE specific notification or others I've seen
I dropped my security level and the net result is because of how
poorly Vista crap is written I'm now running at a lower security level
than I otherwise should have to; again all due to poor design and a
total lack of any serious hands-on real world testing.

Microsoft simply does not know how to write good software. I'll keep
giving examples. ;-)

It's not recommended to turn UAC off, but You can turn it off in Control
Panel/User Accounts.

It's definitely not recommended to tweak any of the file or folder
permissions. Doing this can have unexpected results, such as programs not
working correctly plus making the system more vulnerable whether UAC is on
or off.

The most difficult job is trying to convince long time users that there is a
better way to do things, but it may mean breaking old habits and learning
something new.

I got to conclude you're a green as grass amateur. On my system when I
first installed Vista about a year ago I absolutely had to tweak many
folders and file permissions because of UAC or simply accept I would
waste more time fu*king around almost an hour a day with useless nag
screen caused by permission issues.

There is a better way to do things. Shame Microsoft has no damn clue
what that better way is.

 

[Adam Albright]

Hi Buddha,

I don't find anything that says "Special Permissions" in mine - Vista
Ultimate. I do find the usual permissions under the security tab - the
dialog looks a little different, but it's all the usual stuff.

The UAC takes a little getting used to -- I always think of that Apple
commercial with a smile -- but, UAC doesn't get in the way after a
while. I'm not sure if I've just grown accustomed or if it is the
simple fact that once you get everything installed and configured that
it is a little less obtrusive.

There are many usability and productivity enhancements in Vista
waiting for you to discover. I recommend Windows Vista Secrets as a
quick start to learning some new tricks. On my own, there were some
features that not understanding them I shut off, but once revealed to
me have become indispensable.

I realize that there are some who have complained and there are a few
annoyances, but I am a Vista fan. Number of crashes after installing
Vista over a year ago: 0.

-solon fox

There's a "few" annoyances? Damn, that's funny!

It shouldn't be looked on as how many crashes you have, rather how
much of your time you waste day after day fooling around with the
mindless crap Vista imposed and forces you to respond to. Vista
doesn't "crash" on me, however it is totally fu*ked-up. I've wasted
untold hours fiddling with settings only to have them undone without
asking by SP1 and also other updates. Microsoft is so damn lame they
don't even ask you the end user if it is ok to change settings you
sweated over to tune to your needs and just go ahead changing them
back to the defaults. That's gross stupidly and classic Microsoft
arrogance.

Vista BY FAR is the most bloated, slowest, bug riddled, clumsy
unforgiving code to ever come out of Redmond. Of course the irony is
the army of clueless Steve Ballmer butt sniffing buffoon robots that
do little more than play with their PCs will likely never encounter
many of the subtle flaws deeply embedded within Vista that only power
users run into. You know what they say; ignorance is bliss. If
anything is true about the pro Microsoft moron squad that infests this
newsgroup is their total ignorance as to the many serious shortcoming
in Vista.

You know the real reason I spent time here? I get a kick out of
watching all the phonies that remain totally in the dark as to what a
bow wow Vista really is.

 

[Bill Yanaire]

There's a "few" annoyances? Damn, that's funny!

It shouldn't be looked on as how many crashes you have, rather how
much of your time you waste day after day fooling around with the
mindless crap Vista imposed and forces you to respond to. Vista
doesn't "crash" on me, however it is totally fu*ked-up. I've wasted
untold hours fiddling with settings only to have them undone without
asking by SP1 and also other updates. Microsoft is so damn lame they
don't even ask you the end user if it is ok to change settings you
sweated over to tune to your needs and just go ahead changing them
back to the defaults. That's gross stupidly and classic Microsoft
arrogance.

Vista BY FAR is the most bloated, slowest, bug riddled, clumsy
unforgiving code to ever come out of Redmond. Of course the irony is
the army of clueless Steve Ballmer butt sniffing buffoon robots that
do little more than play with their PCs will likely never encounter
many of the subtle flaws deeply embedded within Vista that only power
users run into. You know what they say; ignorance is bliss. If
anything is true about the pro Microsoft moron squad that infests this
newsgroup is their total ignorance as to the many serious shortcoming
in Vista.

You know the real reason I spent time here? I get a kick out of
watching all the phonies that remain totally in the dark as to what a
bow wow Vista really is.

No, the real reason you spend time here is to put down everyone and bash
Vista every chance you get.

 

[Buddha]

This is my computer in my home for my business used by nobody but me. Just
who the devil am I supposed to obtain "Permission" from to perform an
action? Although I find Mac to be superior to Windows in several ways, one
of the reasons I've stuck with Windows for all these years is my ability to
get into the guts of the system and make it operate the way I want it to.
Vista seems to be designed with the idea that all users are idiots who need
to be protected from themselves, and I resent that. Before I turned off UAC
and spent a few hours "Taking Ownership" of all my folders, I couldn't even
delete a file half the time. That's another good one. If I don't "Own" the
files on my own PC in my own home, just who the hell does?

Since I bought this PC as a replacement for my old XP system, I'm stuck with
it now, and I appreciate the input I get from this group to make life with
Vista easier. If I had it to do over, I'd have stuck with XP. If Vista is
a better way to do things, I fail to see how.

Buddha

 

[solon fox]

There's a "few" annoyances? Damn, that's funny!

It shouldn't be looked on as how many crashes you have, rather how
much of your time you waste day after day fooling around with the
mindless crap Vista imposed and forces you to respond to. Vista
doesn't "crash" on me, however it is totally fu*ked-up. I've wasted
untold hours fiddling with settings only to have them undone without
asking by SP1 and also other updates. Microsoft is so damn lame they
don't even ask you the end user if it is ok to change settings you
sweated over to tune to your needs and just go ahead changing them
back to the defaults. That's gross stupidly and classic Microsoft
arrogance.

Vista BY FAR is the most bloated, slowest, bug riddled, clumsy
unforgiving code to ever come out of Redmond. Of course the irony is
the army of clueless Steve Ballmer butt sniffing buffoon robots that
do little more than play with their PCs will likely never encounter
many of the subtle flaws deeply embedded within Vista that only power
users run into. You know what they say; ignorance is bliss. If
anything is true about the pro Microsoft moron squad that infests this
newsgroup is their total ignorance as to the many serious shortcoming
in Vista.

You know the real reason I spent time here? I get a kick out of
watching all the phonies that remain totally in the dark as to what a
bow wow Vista really is.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

You must not be doing it right. I haven't wasted any time and haven't
had anything undone by any update yet.

-solon fox

 

[Adam Albright]

No, the real reason you spend time here is to put down everyone and bash
Vista every chance you get.

Pointing out errors and simply sloppy design decisions isn't bashing
Vista, it is DOCUMENTING what's wrong with it and there is PLENY wrong
with Vista as all truly experienced Windows users know all too well.

How is it my fault there are so many poorly informed no nothing
unabashed Microsoft supporters here? I mean, we all know Frank is a
world class idiot, but sadly there are dozens of almost as dumb
regular posters, maybe not as crude or rude as Frank, but clearly they
are nearly as dumb and ill informed about the realities of Vista and
constantly deny and blindly defend it. That's STUPID no matter how you
slice it.

You guys just make me laugh, you're so ignorant of the real world.

 

[Not Me]

This is my computer in my home for my business used by nobody but me.
Just who the devil am I supposed to obtain "Permission" from to perform an
action? Although I find Mac to be superior to Windows in several ways,
one of the reasons I've stuck with Windows for all these years is my
ability to get into the guts of the system and make it operate the way I
want it to. Vista seems to be designed with the idea that all users are
idiots who need to be protected from themselves, and I resent that.
Before I turned off UAC and spent a few hours "Taking Ownership" of all my
folders, I couldn't even delete a file half the time. That's another good
one. If I don't "Own" the files on my own PC in my own home, just who the
hell does?

Since I bought this PC as a replacement for my old XP system, I'm stuck
with it now, and I appreciate the input I get from this group to make life
with Vista easier. If I had it to do over, I'd have stuck with XP. If
Vista is a better way to do things, I fail to see how.

Buddha

You and millions of others.
When I first started using Vista, my reaction was WTH were they thinking!
It hasn't changed throughout Beta and with the RTM or SP1.
To me, it looks like it was written by the old AOL (protect me from myself)
programming crew.
I still use inappropriate language every time I have to use it.

 

[Adam Albright]

This is my computer in my home for my business used by nobody but me. Just
who the devil am I supposed to obtain "Permission" from to perform an
action? Although I find Mac to be superior to Windows in several ways, one
of the reasons I've stuck with Windows for all these years is my ability to
get into the guts of the system and make it operate the way I want it to.
Vista seems to be designed with the idea that all users are idiots who need
to be protected from themselves, and I resent that. Before I turned off UAC
and spent a few hours "Taking Ownership" of all my folders, I couldn't even
delete a file half the time. That's another good one. If I don't "Own" the
files on my own PC in my own home, just who the hell does?

I feel your pain. The issue is Microsoft doesn't care how you or any
"user" feels. In fact the clowns at Microsoft think they're doing you
a favor to let you use your machine thinking once you install Vista
your computer becomes Microsoft property. Since its inception
Microsoft considers all users of their software as stupid and attempt
to force silly and often unnecessary hand holding and phony security
measures on you that 99% of single users don't want, didn't ask for
and surely don't need.

Since I bought this PC as a replacement for my old XP system, I'm stuck with
it now, and I appreciate the input I get from this group to make life with
Vista easier. If I had it to do over, I'd have stuck with XP. If Vista is
a better way to do things, I fail to see how.

I'm in the same boat. The ONLY reason I installed Vista was my prior
motherboard died and since I was building a new system from scratch I
decided to get the latest version of Windows. I obviously regret that
decision. Vista has been nothing but trouble starting with the
half-ass packaging it comes it that's hard to open.

A good operating system simply works... in the background. You
shouldn't even know it's there UNLESS you ask it to do something.
Microsoft has always been in your face, endlessly nagging and bitching
about all kinds of things, some exceedingly stupid, like do you want
to remove infrequently used icons from the desktop to constantly
bellyaching if any of the Mickey Mouse "security" features are
activated or not.

 

[Adam Albright]

You must not be doing it right. I haven't wasted any time and haven't
had anything undone by any update yet.

-solon fox

There is only ONE WAY to install SP1. Download it from the Microsoft
or some other site and just follow on screen prompts. The process is
automated and requires no user intervention what so ever beyond that.
Same for Windows updates. They get installed BY WINDOWS itself. You as
the user simply select which updates if any to install. Beyond that
there is nothing to do so neither I or anyone else can't install SP1
or updates incorrectly.

Thanks for confirming you don't have a clue what you're talking about.

 

[Buddha]

And thank you for not bothering to read my post. At no time did I mention
SP1, and in fact I have no complaints about its installation. My post was
about the difficulties I've encountered performing basic file management
functions. Please take the time to read my post before you respond.

Buddha


My post referenced the need to obtain "Permission" to perform basic file
management functions

 

[Adam Albright]

And thank you for not bothering to read my post. At no time did I mention
SP1, and in fact I have no complaints about its installation. My post was
about the difficulties I've encountered performing basic file management
functions. Please take the time to read my post before you respond.

Buddha

I commented on both SP1 and updates in general. I guess it was YOU
that didn't read very carefully.

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Buddha

Trying to show you the benefits of maintaining a secure system would
probably be futile.

I'll just answer your point.

That's another good one. If I don't "Own" the files on my own PC in my own
home, just who the hell does?

The answer is the first malicious program that infects 'your' computer.

Have fun.

 

[Adam Albright]

Buddha

Trying to show you the benefits of maintaining a secure system would
probably be futile.

Windows NEVER was and NEVER can be a secure system due to Microsoft
writing it that way long, long ago and it has zero change of becoming
a secure system in it's present form. Period.

I thought MVPs knew at least that much. All hackers know, which why
they have such a easy time attacking Windows systems.

I'll just answer your point.


The answer is the first malicious program that infects 'your' computer.

Which doesn't explain why Windows until recently was written with
"everything turned on" meaning nearly all ports were open making it
EASY for malicious people to gain access without you even knowing.
Again until recently Microsoft ENCOURAGED applications be written to
run as administrator (including what Microsoft itself authored) again
making access to core components to those wishing to do harm EASY. So
lets put the blame where it belongs... right on Microsoft's lap.

Need further proof?

A quote from Bill Gates in 1994:

"I see little commercial potential for the Internet for at least ten
years". (Bill Gates)

In October of 1994 Marc Andreessen announces the Netscape Browser
catching Gates and Microsoft flat footed and with an OS that can be
easily exploited since it had next to no security measures BECAUSE it
never was designed for non intended to run on a network which the
Internet is.

You do know once you connect to the Internet your computer is just
another computer on the network and unless protected, easily subject
to attack. In fact Windows in XP use to broadcast lookie, lookie, here
I am, blabbing all kinds of crap to anyone randomly scanning IP
addresses.

So if you pick up a virus or some other malicious application while
you're connected to the Internet, thank Bill Gates. He made it
possible in the first place writing such a sloppy OS with no security
at all.

ROTFLMAO!

 

[Ian D]

And thank you for not bothering to read my post. At no time did I mention
SP1, and in fact I have no complaints about its installation. My post was
about the difficulties I've encountered performing basic file management
functions. Please take the time to read my post before you respond.

Buddha

If you have Vista Ultimate you can bypass some of these annoyances
by activating the Head Honch, El Supremo Administrator, just like the
one in XP Pro. UAC is still active, so there are none of the software
glitches that can happen with it turned off, but you are no longer
bothered by permission problems.