UAC - what's it mean?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sherry
  • Start date Start date
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Sherry

I am a new Vista user, experienced XP user.
Vista keeps popping up dialogs about some programming wanting to run.
I realize it's for security purposes, but it is annoying. Is there a way to
turn it
off and let me take my chances?
Running some programs (i.e. Eclipse), fails with a vague error message. I
discovered
I can right click and select Run as Administrator and it works.
As far as I know, I am an administrator. What is that about. How do I make
myself
a 'real' administrator?
Thanks.
 
From TechNet
http://technet2.microsoft.com/Windo...8514-4c9e-ac08-4c21f5c6c2d91033.mspx?mfr=true

Easy to understand layman terms compliments of JB's Windows Vista Support
http://www.jimmah.com/vista/Security/

:I am a new Vista user, experienced XP user.
: Vista keeps popping up dialogs about some programming wanting to run.
: I realize it's for security purposes, but it is annoying. Is there a way to
: turn it
: off and let me take my chances?
: Running some programs (i.e. Eclipse), fails with a vague error message. I
: discovered
: I can right click and select Run as Administrator and it works.
: As far as I know, I am an administrator. What is that about. How do I make
: myself
: a 'real' administrator?
: Thanks.
:
 
Sherry said:
I am a new Vista user, experienced XP user.
Vista keeps popping up dialogs about some programming wanting to run.
I realize it's for security purposes, but it is annoying. Is there a way
to turn it
off and let me take my chances?
Running some programs (i.e. Eclipse), fails with a vague error message. I
discovered
I can right click and select Run as Administrator and it works.
As far as I know, I am an administrator. What is that about. How do I
make myself
a 'real' administrator?
Thanks.
Click to expand...



It means User Access Control.

The UAC is a security feature that's been the common default on other
operating systems (Linux, Unix, etc) for years, where even users with Root
privileges operate as normal users and must verify the need for elevated
privileges when needed. However, if you don't like UAC -- and I'll concede
that it's certainly annoying during the set up and "burn-in" period of using
a new computer -- just turn it off:

Start > Control Panel > Security Center > Other Security Settings.

If you have applications that will work only when run with
administrative privileges, you really should consider replacing them with
properly designed equivalent applications (preferably from a competitor)
that don't require you to compromise security to use them. Of course, I do
realize that this isn't always possible or practical.


--
Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
Bruce Chambers said:
It means User Access Control.

The UAC is a security feature that's been the common default on other
operating systems (Linux, Unix, etc) for years, where even users with Root
privileges operate as normal users and must verify the need for elevated
Click to expand...

Actually, your statment is not entirely true. This is not the common default
on Linux/Unix. On Linux/Unix systems, you are a common user and you
do NOT belong to the Administrators group. Thus, if you need root access
to perform a task that requires root/admin priveldges, you must enter a
password
to do so. Either the root password, or if you are configured with SU2
privledges,
you simply enter your password.

This is not so on Vista. On Vista, it just whines at you that you are trying
to do a task that requires and bit more smarts, then lets you do so without
entering a higher level password. There is a big difference.

TDM
 
TDM said:
Actually, your statment is not entirely true. This is not the common
default
on Linux/Unix. On Linux/Unix systems, you are a common user and you
do NOT belong to the Administrators group. Thus, if you need root access
to perform a task that requires root/admin priveldges, you must enter a
password
to do so. Either the root password, or if you are configured with SU2
privledges,
you simply enter your password.
Click to expand...



Noted. I should have specified that it was the default on those Linux
distros that I'd tried. I forgot that they're all different.


--
Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
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