One "feature" that Microsoft added to Windows Vista is the ability to stop programs (aimed at spyware and viruses) from starting to begin with. They implemented this in the form of the User Account Control (UAC). UAC asks you whether you want a program to continue or cancel once you have clicked on it. Again, the purpose is to warn you when an unknown or unwanted program asks to start, but the message comes up repeatedly for any almost any non-Microsoft program. It wouldn't be a big deal if the engineers would have built-in a check box that says "remember my decision", but it doesn't, so you have to answer the question every time you open a program.

Remember that this is a 'security' feature, so if you follow these instructions to stop the nag screen, you will be decreasing some of the built-in security that comes with Vista. Personally, I don't see a problem with it as long as you keep anti-virus and anti-spyware software updated and running on your system. Also, if you use Firefox as your main browser, potential problems form this kind of activity is drastically reduced. If you still want to disable the Microsoft nag screens (UAC), read on for the steps.

1. Click Start
2. Click Control Panel
3. Double-click User Accounts (or type user account in the search box)
4. Click the option that says "Turn User Account Control on or off"
5. On the next screen, uncheck the box that says "Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer
6. Click OK
7. Click Restart Now

After your computer restarts, the Windows Security shield will be red (by your system clock) and tell you that you are at risk because UAC is disabled. To disable this message, follow these steps

1. Double-click the red Windows Security shield by your clock (OR, Click Start --> Control Panel and double-click Security Center)
2. Click the "Change the way Security Center alerts me" option
3. Click the "Don't notify me and don't display the icon" option

You will no longer see the UAC message or any Windows Security messages, so the onus is totally on you now to keep your security up to snuff.

• ‹ previous [2]
• 739 of 1411
• next › [3]