User Account Control
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Q: What is User Account Control?

A: User Account Control (UAC) is a feature in Windows that can help prevent unauthorized changes to your computer. When UAC is on and you are using an administrator account, Windows will ask you for permission when you try to do something that requires administrative rights (such as installing software or changing settings that affect other users).

If you are a typical computer user, you will log in to your computer with a standard user account most of the time. You can surf the Internet, send e-mail, and use a word processor, all without an administrator account. When you want to perform an administrative task, such as installing a new program or changing a setting that will affect other users, you don't have to switch to an administrator account. Windows prompts you for permission or an administrator password before performing the task.

UAC also can help protect home computers from malicious software (malware), such as viruses, worms, Spyware, or other potentially unwanted software. Often malware is hidden in programs that look fun or are enticing in some other way. To help protect your computer, you can create standard accounts for all the users who share the computer. When someone who has a standard account tries to install software, Windows prompts for an administrator account's password so that software cannot be installed without your knowledge and permission.

Q: Why does User Account Control run by default?

A: The impact of malicious software can be reduced by notifying users when they are about to perform an action that could impact system settings, such as installing an application.

Because UAC requires that an administrator must approve application installations, unauthorized applications cannot be installed automatically. Additionally, standard users are prevented from making system-wide changes to operating system settings.

Q: What is Gateway/eMachines policy on using UAC?

A: It is Gateway/eMachines policy to leave the UAC enabled with default settings.

Q: Can UAC be disabled?

A: Yes

Note: If you disable User Account Control (UAC) you will also lose Internet Explorer Protected Mode and the ability to apply and use Parental Controls.

Use the following steps to disable User Account Control.

  1. From the Windows Vista default Start menu, in the Start Search box type msconfig and then press ENTER.

  2. In the User Account Control dialog box, click Continue.

  3. In the System Configuration window, click the Tools tab.

  4. Select Disable UAC and then click Launch.

  5. In the command prompt window, type exit and then press ENTER.

  6. In the System Configuration window, click OK.

  7. Restart the computer.

Disable Admin Approval Mode

Use the following steps to disable Admin Approval Mode.

Note: To perform this procedure, you must be logged into a client computer as a local administrator.

To disable Admin Approval Mode

  1. From the Windows Vista default Start menu, All Programs, Accessories, Run, type secpol.msc in the Run dialog box, and then click OK.

  2. If UAC is currently active, a User Account Control dialog box appears. If so, verify that the details presented match the request you initiated, and then click Continue.

  3. From the Local Security Settings console tree, click Local Policies, and then click Security Options.

  4. Scroll down and double-click User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode.

  5. In the User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode Properties dialog box, click Disabled, and then click OK.

  6. Close the Local Security Settings window.

Disable User Account Control from prompting for credentials to install applications

Use the following procedure to disable UAC from prompting for credentials to install applications.

Note: To perform this procedure, you must be logged into a client computer as a local administrator.

To disable UAC from prompting for credentials to install applications

  1. From the Windows Vista default Start menu, All Programs, Accessories, Run, type secpol.msc in the Run dialog box, and then click OK.

  2. From the Local Security Settings console tree, click Local Policies, and then click Security Options.

  3. Scroll down and double-click User Account Control: Detect application installations and prompt for elevation.

  4. From the User Account Control: Detect application installations and prompt for elevation Properties dialog box, click Disabled, and then click OK.

  5. Close the Local Security Settings window.

Change the elevation prompt behavior

Use the following procedure to change the elevation prompt behavior for UAC.

Note: To perform this procedure, you must be logged into a client computer as a local administrator.

To change the elevation prompt behavior

  1. From the Windows Vista default Start menu, click Accessories, click Run, type secpol.msc in the Run dialog box, and then click OK.

  2. From the Local Security Settings console tree, click Local Policies, and then Security Options.

  3. 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.

  4. From the drop-down menu, select one of the following settings:

    • No prompt
    • Prompt for credentials (this setting requires user name and password input before an application or task will run as elevated, and is the default for standard users)
    • Prompt for consent (this is the default setting for administrators only)

  5. Click OK.

  6. Close the Local Security Settings window.

Note: Information provided in this document is from Microsoft.