Since I started using Vista, I have been annoyed by the pop-ups for running programs as administrator. I have also been annoyed by having to close a program to reopen it “as administrator” so i can install updates! So here are the solutions I found to fix this.

1. Set a program to always run as Administrator: (you will still get an “Allow?” pop-up)

• Right-click the program icon and click Properties.
• On the Property sheet, click the Compatibility tab.
• Under Privilege Level, select the Run this program as an administrator check box, and then click OK.

2. Turn off the administrator rights pop-ups:

• Disable UAC admin approval mode:

• Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click Run, type secpol.msc in the Open text box, and then click OK.
• If UAC is currently active, a User Account Control dialog box will appear. If so, verify that the details presented match the request you initiated, and click Continue.
• From the Local Security Settings console tree, click Local Policies, and then click Security Options.
• Scroll down and double-click User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode.
• From the User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode Properties dialog box, click Disabled, and then click OK.
• Close the Local Security Settings window.
• Disabling the elevation prompt (when elevating to administrator):

• Click Start, click Accessories, click Run, type secpol.msc in the Open text box, and then click OK.
• From the Local Security Settings console tree, click Local Policies, and then Security Options.
• Scroll down to and double-click User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators or User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for standard users.
• From the drop-down menu, select the following settings: No prompt
• Click OK.
• Close the Local Security Settings window.

Enjoy your prompt and pop-up free Vista environment.

For more information check out these links:

• Microsoft Vista UAC info
• Tim Sneath: Windows Vista Secrets