Windows 7: Articles

Why the UAC?
Microsoft introduced the UAC in Windows Vista and continued with it, despite criticism by many users, in Windows 7. The UAC is designed to prevent unauthorized changes to your computer.

When the UAC activates, ensure you read the contents of each dialog box before accepting a change being made to your computer.

UAC Interventions

Attempting to change Clock and Regional Settings

Other UAC dialog boxes

You can’t be too careful about which programs you allow to run on your computer.

Modifying User Account’s Behaviour

Some users find the User Account Control’s intervention a real “pain in the neck”.

In Windows Vista it certainly was, dimming the screen every time you performed some modification to a Windows setting or installed a new program.

You had no control over the UAC unless you turned it off. Note: The UAC in both Vista and Windows 7 stills blank out your screen.

The User Account Control (UAC) is again a security feature in Windows 7 but there is a big difference. You can now modify its behavior.

There are four User Account Settings.

They are:

• Always notify me where . . .
• Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer
• Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer (do not dim my computer
• Never notify me when . . .

The illustration below shows you the different UAC settings in Windows 7.

Accessing the User Account Control
The quickest way access the User Account Control feature is to use the Search feature.

1. Click the Start button.
2. In the Search box, type UAC.
3. Press the Enter key.
4. At the top of the Search box you will see “Change User Account Control Settings”.

5. Press the Enter key.
6. Your screen dims out. In the middle of the Desktop screen, you’ll see the User Account Control dialog box asking you to choose.
7. Click the Yes button.

8. Next, the User Account Control Settings window opens, displaying its default setting, “Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer”.

9. If you are happy with this setting, click the Ok button. If NOT, move the slider up (to increase security) or down (to lower security).
10. Windows dims the screen and activates the UAC once more, asking you to confirm your choice. Click the Yes button.

From now on, you no longer need to worry about the UAC.

The advantage of the default setting is Windows 7 only intervenes when a program tries to make changes to your computer. It is a good compromise, whereas in Windows Vista every little change was subject to UAC interference. This was one of the reasons why users disliked Vista.

Changing the User Account Settings
If you are unhappy with the default settings, Setting 2, drag the Slider to a different setting and click the Ok button.

You will need to acknowledge the change by clicking the Yes button in the UAC dialog box.

Personally, I think it's a good idea to leave UAC on its default setting if possible.

Tip: Click here to run a free scan for Windows related errors