POLL: Do you have Vista UAC enabled or disabled?

[ScuderiaConchiglia]

OK then one more point for you folks who are turning UAC on or off and then back off or on... or whatever.

While UAC is on, one of the things it does is to "virtualize" the Program files directory. Any application that tries to write to it, (like to save a game or store some settings) will get "magically" redirected to a special directory for the current user. (This way different folks using the same machine can have separate program settings or saved games.) But when you turn off UAC, these same programs will have access to the real program files directory and may not be able to find your settings or saved games. Likewise if you have it off and turn it back on, your programs may not be able to find things. The information is not lost, just inaccessible to the program. You can always navigate to the folders and move things around your self, but it can be confusing to suddenly have your favorite game tell you there are no saved games!!! With UAC on you will find a "ProgramData" folder with a similar structure to your "Program Files" directory. The data will be stored in that folder structure when UAC is active.

Remember be DAMN CAREFUL WITH THIS "TWEAK". Choose wisely the apps that you grant access. Make sure they present no vector to possible intrusion on your system. For instance you would NEVER want to grant access using the Compatibility Toolkit to ANY app that accesses the Internet. It is tooooooooooooooooo dangerous. I have ONLY used it for a couple of utilities that I use a lot and know that they do not retrieve anything from the Internet.

BE SAFE!!!!


UAC also virtualizes portions of the registry, but I have NOT delved into that realm. So I have no advice there, just be aware that the registry may look different to your app with UAC off than it did with UAC on (and vice versa).

Gary

[Fade To Black]

UAC is totally useless to me, so I like it disabled.
However, in Server 08 it doesn't ask you if you are sure if you want to click, then ask again. Instead of that I never had any prompts, not even when I wanted to disable it. I guess they trust an administrator.
UAC should be on only for normal users and people shouldn't run an administrator account every time they download executables from the Internet.

[roytse]

Originally Posted by ScuderiaConchiglia

OK then one more point for you folks who are turning UAC on or off and then back off or on... or whatever.

While UAC is on, one of the things it does is to "virtualize" the Program files directory. Any application that tries to write to it, (like to save a game or store some settings) will get "magically" redirected to a special directory for the current user. (This way different folks using the same machine can have separate program settings or saved games.) But when you turn off UAC, these same programs will have access to the real program files directory and may not be able to find your settings or saved games. Likewise if you have it off and turn it back on, your programs may not be able to find things. The information is not lost, just inaccessible to the program. You can always navigate to the folders and move things around your self, but it can be confusing to suddenly have your favorite game tell you there are no saved games!!! With UAC on you will find a "ProgramData" folder with a similar structure to your "Program Files" directory. The data will be stored in that folder structure when UAC is active.

Remember be DAMN CAREFUL WITH THIS "TWEAK". Choose wisely the apps that you grant access. Make sure they present no vector to possible intrusion on your system. For instance you would NEVER want to grant access using the Compatibility Toolkit to ANY app that accesses the Internet. It is tooooooooooooooooo dangerous. I have ONLY used it for a couple of utilities that I use a lot and know that they do not retrieve anything from the Internet.

BE SAFE!!!!


UAC also virtualizes portions of the registry, but I have NOT delved into that realm. So I have no advice there, just be aware that the registry may look different to your app with UAC off than it did with UAC on (and vice versa).

Gary

ha, didn't know that before, i should think again.

[fildaben]

i completely agree with swarmer and ScuderiaConchiglia on the usage for UAC.

i am a sysadmin and even on my own vista machine i am only a user, there is never a reason for me to even log on as admin. i believe ms made a good attempt to atleast make users aware of their actions.

i also believe that if ms had implemented this in their earlier os versions, that this argument would be a moot point. that said, if ms tweaks uac and continues to use this in their future oses, then this will be a moot point.

[swarmer]

Originally Posted by Fade To Black

UAC is totally useless to me, so I like it disabled.
However, in Server 08 it doesn't ask you if you are sure if you want to click, then ask again. Instead of that I never had any prompts, not even when I wanted to disable it. I guess they trust an administrator.
UAC should be on only for normal users and people shouldn't run an administrator account every time they download executables from the Internet.

In Vista Biz/Ult you can set admin accounts to escalate without prompting, and leave the prompts only for standard accounts (in the Sys & Maint > Admin Tools > Local Security Policy control panel). In the home editions I think you might need to edit the registry or run some 3rd party tweaking app (which edits the registry) to do the tweak.

[Fade To Black]

Probably, never tried as for me it serves no purpose, but it annoys tons of people.

[coolguy]

UAC should learn things as it allows/denies programs. This will be less annoying to people.

[sandesign]

Completely agree with swarmer and ScuderiaConchiglia.

I have UAC on and It appears only when I run Spybot Search and destroy and CCleaner. All I have to do is clic Continue and run the program normally. I like to control what programs I am running, and block the bad ones. If you have it OFF, you're in great danger. Every day new virus and spyware are created, so the antivirus and antispyware software will be always outdated, no matter if they are updated daily. UAC stops EVERYTHING, software, virus and files that try to install in system folders.

[Fade To Black]

I don't even have an antivirus, why would I need UAC? To do what? Annoy me?

[Calvin]

Originally Posted by Fade To Black

I don't even have an antivirus, why would I need UAC? To do what? Annoy me?

Now that may be taking it too far, but i agree that UAC is annoying.