Windows 7 Guide

Have you ever thought that how much control should users have over their own desktops? This is a frequently asked question that data center administrators especially those in small to medium sized enterprises have been asking ever since Windows Vista started shipping.

The major issue: With User Account Control features, end users are stuck in an uncomfortable middle ground. They are not able to install programs they really need without administrative privileges, and yet having those administrative rights means they can install anything, including applications that leak private business data and other malware that slow productivity.


Windows 7 is the successor to Windows Vista, an OS release that promises to fix most of the major annoyances in Vista without adding any major new features.

New UAC slider controls are developed to alleviate the tedium of access control a feature that, in Vista, became a major letdown. One of the prime offenders is Apple iTunes, which prompts users umpteen times to approve the installation. In Windows 7, these prompts will be customizable: You will only get an alert when a software install affects the system Registry or when the application was downloaded from the Internet.


The UAC tool in Windows 7 are no cause for alarm, because there’s a way of dealing with the features in Vista and in Windows 7: Offload the security practices to another software agent to manage administrator accounts. This best of both worlds approach means the end user can install applications as needed, but is blocked from installing harmful software, and the end user does not have to manage his own security access at all.

One of the USP of Windows 7 is the more flexible and less irritating User Account Control. Microsoft has reduced the actions that prompt you making it less annoying for the users. The software giant has made several changes, but the biggest change is the User Account Control “slider” setting which results in less annoyance and more security.

There are now four customization settings for UAC:
1. Never notify (Less secure): The user is not notified when an application tries to install software or make changes to the PC. The user is not notified when they make changes to Windows settings or when programs try to do so.
2. Only notify me when programs try to make changes to my computer: The user is not notified when an application tries to install software or make changes to the computer. The user is not informed when they make changes to Windows settings. However, the user is notified when programs try to make changes to the computer, including Windows settings.
3. Always notify me: The user is always notified when an application tries to install software or make changes to the computer. Windows informs you when they make changes to Windows settings or when programs try to do so.
4. Always notify me and wait for my response (most secure): The user is notified when an application tries to install software or make changes to the computer. The user is also informed when they make changes to Windows settings or when programs try to do so.