Problems with 'Standard User' account

trentlad · 9 Jul 2010 at 15:47

So I took the advice after reading on OcUK that using an 'Administrator' user account can be a security risk compared to using a 'Standard' user account.

I created an admin account in W7 and logged into for five minutes so it should be active (i think). Then I switched my current account from administrator to standard user.

I've now got a few issues with applications that require an administrator to run them. They just will not run even if I select the 'Run as administrator' option.

I'm expecting an administrator password dialogue but instead I get three message boxes:
1.) app has stopped working
2.) access denied
3.) you do not have admin rights - please login as administrator and start the app

Any suggestions how I can run these apps?

trentlad · 9 Jul 2010 at 17:13

I use ATI Tray Tools on startup, that's the main source of my issues.

trentlad · 9 Jul 2010 at 17:42

trentlad said:
I created an admin account in W7 and logged into for five minutes so it should be active (i think). Then I switched my current account from administrator to standard user.

I only had one user account and its privileges were set to 'Administrator'.

So to turn my account to a 'Standard' user, I took the precaution of first creating a new user account with 'Administrator' privileges and then changed my current user account to 'Standard'.

trentlad · 9 Jul 2010 at 18:00

I know on XP if I wish to run an app as admin; I simply right click, choose that, input the admin username + password. Job done!

Now I have disabled UAC in W7. Could that affect this?

trentlad · 9 Jul 2010 at 21:52

Well turning on UAC didn't make the slightest difference.

Going back to administrator!

trentlad · 9 Jul 2010 at 22:34

No I think you're right.

I've switched off all options provided in System and Security > Action Center > Security, since I don't trust it and I use 3rd party security instead. That goes for firewall, updates, virus protection, spyware, UAC and NAP.

Looking through those options there aren't any obvious items to switch back on, and I know those aren't ALL the security options.

I may be able to access Local Security Policy and alter it in there... or just switch back to administrator and be done with it!