windows user account control

[wendyl]

I am using Windows Vista and have just installed Tax 2007 to complete SA tax returns. When trying to use the programme first time I kept getting runtime error messages. Using the helpline I remedied this by switching off windows user account control. Windows did not like this!
The adviser I spoke said it shouldn't have any adverse effect on any other programmes but I would like assurance that this is the case please

wendyl Fri 02/11/07 18:58

[rojash]

It won't have any adverse effects on other programs. In Windows Vista, even if you are logged in as an Administrator, normal programs are run with limited permissions. If they need to d things which are considered the prerogative of administrators, they need to request a temporary "upping" of the rights. XP programs can't do this, so will be constantly clashing with UAC. Also, under the Vista guidelines, programs should not write to the "Program Files" folder or the Windows folder, but many XP and older programs do this (maybe because they store their data in a subdirectory of the program folder, or because they save ini files in the program or Windows folder.

By turning off UAC all you have done is remove a level of additional (and questionable) security. It will not affect any other programs (except maybe make them easier to run!).

[wendyl]

thanks rojash - just what I wanted to hear

[wendyl]

rojash can you offer a bit more help and tell me how I can stop the security message popping up each time I switch on the PC warning me its switched off
many thanks

[ACtheTROLL]

Not so

uac is there for a reason ... it's the first line of defence and IS needed ... the helpdesk have in effect done the vista equivalent of telling you to take down your malware protection.

second ... now vista is better understood ... more and more quality software "expects" to see uac ... the installer is configured to "deal" with UAC and won't install correctly unless it can interact with uac.

a possible way round your problem is to right click the shortcut - select
properties | advanced .... and tick the "run as administrator" option .... and all should be well.

the other option .... and the one that should be done .... is for the tax 2007 prog to be made vista compatible!

[wendyl]

Thanks ACtheTROLL I have done that. I would be grateful if you could explain how this works. is it just with tax programme. so I can then switch UAC on again and I switch it off just with that.
As far as your comment re the programme company, I heartily agree and will take this up again with them as they gave no hint of this before I purchased. meantime I can now hopefully complete the tax return right away. I have used this programme satisfactorily for several years and am reasonably familiar with it and prefer it to the IR's own. this being the case I am reluctant to pursue another which might delay things further. In any case they admitted that I still can't use 'help' within it. I have been using Vista Ultimate since changing my PC several months ago with no major problems

[ACtheTROLL]

TAX or UAC .... shudder!

The method should work for (almost) everything - switch it back on and see.

I use some pretty intrusive software ....
In the beginning ... I had lots of problems .... these days I so rarely see UAC that the trick is to remember how to deal with it when it does kick in

UAC - or the concept has been around for years ... unix has used it almost from the beginning

basically it stops any activity that in XP would require administrator rights (even though your ID is an admin - by default THE administrator account is there .... but disabled)

the idea is that if a beastie tries to install it's self secretly ... or delete or reconfigure your system - vista blows the whistle. stops the system ..... which can be a bit of a heart stopper! hass the **** thing crashed?
... and then lets you make the final decision
(try copying or deleting a file to your programmes folder)
even a command prompt is reluctant to let you into the interesting bits.

most of the time it's a niggle but if you are affecting lots of files UAC will ask for each one.
So - a safe backdoor is hidden there (still under your control).
for a "one off" right click a shortcut and select "run as administrator" - and you won't be bothered by UAC (just this once)

For regularly used proggys - right click the shortcut and modify it's properties and it will always run in administrator mode.

the niggle here is that it only works with the shortcut ... you can't modify the .exe

Lots of tekkies disabled uac ...
Personally (only because of my job) i left it on - so had no choice but to go deeper.

[wendyl]

Thank you very much for you detailed explanation ACtheTROLL I think I've got the gist
My son has just had an op and so his recuperation whilst he is off work will be taken up by said tax return!! I think I will postpone any further action until after the weekend - hopefully more smoothly with your help

[ACtheTROLL]

That's right .... tie him down while he can't run......
;-)

[rojash]

Yes, I should have made it clear that I wasn't advocating turning off UAC, merely endorsing the Help Desk's assertion that it wouldn't have an adverse effect on other programs. As to whether or not t has a negative effect on your computer's security, that point is highly debatable, but I agree with ACtheTroll, that it is a better option to set the program to run as administrator. I imagine that the Help Desk don't suggest this because it will only work if you are either already logged in as an admin, or that you are in a position to do so (i.e. you know the user name and password for an admin account).