Windows 7 - more UAC pop-ups in release than beta or is it just me?

[Barno]

I'm trying to figure out why the last beta RTM version of Windows 7 I was running had no UAC issues with the apps Rivatuner and Sopcast nor any of my games but in the release version I'm now running these apps and a couple of games cause a UAC pop-up.

Anyone have any idea why this is different to the beta release? I can hardly recall any UAC pop ups with it.

I'd really like to hear from anyone who has used Rivatuner, Sopcast or played the game Heroes of Newerth in Windows 7 since its release and whether you get a UAC pop-up or not.

I asked a similar question before but it was more to do with UAC itself than the different versions of windows 7. Also I don't want this thread to turn into the pros and cons of UAC as this has been discussed in depth.

 

[Dolph]

I think they turned the security level up slightly as default, following criticism that the default settings allowed certain privilege escalation exploits to work unnecessarily.

Not found a source that confirms this though (the change, not the Criticism)

 

[sWiZzLe]

If you type uac into the Start search thing then open Change User Account Control Settings you can easily change the amount of popups you get!

 

[Broken Hope]

I think they turned the security level up slightly as default, following criticism that the default settings allowed certain privilege escalation exploits to work unnecessarily.

Not found a source that confirms this though (the change, not the Criticism)

The default was the same as the RC, where changes to windows settings were allowed without prompting, those were what caused the auto elevate exploits. Running UAC at always notify, which is the same as Vista means this exploits aren't possible.

 

[Fire Wizard]

Barno, in your Windows 7 UAC thread and in post #7, you said that you had disabled User Account Control which would be the reason why you weren't shown any UAC elevation dialogues. However, now that you have changed to the final release of Windows 7, you have left UAC enabled which would account for the elevation dialogues you are seeing when running third-party applications that require administrator rights.

I think they turned the security level up slightly as default, following criticism that the default settings allowed certain privilege escalation exploits to work unnecessarily.

I believe the default User Account Control setting has always remained the same throughout the beta, release candidate and now the final release of Windows 7. The only changes that Microsoft have made with regards to UAC is that the UAC control panel will run in a high integrity process which will require elevation and changing the UAC settings will also require elevation.

If you type uac into the Start search thing then open Change User Account Control Settings you can easily change the amount of popups you get!

Unless you completely disable User Account Control, none of the UAC settings will prevent the user from seeing an elevation dialogue for third-party applications that request administrator privileges.

The default UAC setting is: Default - Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer

• Don't notify me when I make changes to Windows settings

This means Windows executables, with the exception of a few, will not require user interaction and will be auto-elevated. Though, any third-party applications that request administrator rights, the user will still be shown a UAC elevation dialogue.

The setting below the above is: Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer (do not dim my desktop)

• Don't notify me when I make changes to Windows settings

This is exactly the same as the above setting apart from when the user would is shown a UAC elevation dialogue, it won't be on the Secure Desktop which means the elevation dialogue could be tampered with.

 

[dr4g0nf1y]

I've lowered the bar right down to the bottom myself and everytime I want to run an exe I still get the pop ups

 

[Fire Wizard]

I've lowered the bar right down to the bottom myself and everytime I want to run an exe I still get the pop ups

Have you disabled User Account Control or have you simply lowered the UAC setting too:

Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer (do not dim my desktop)

• Don't notify me when I make changes to Windows settings

Unless you have disabled UAC, regardless of which UAC setting you have chosen, you will still see an elevation dialogue when installing software, running any third-party application that request administrator rights along with a few, specific Windows tasks.

 

[zom247]

Must admit that I seem to be getting more pop ups than before I went retail. I get one every time I load up from Malwarebytes and I also get a couple from Firefox now and again. Bit annoying but not too much hassle.