Don't like the Secure Desktop in Windows Vista? Here's How to Turn it Off

One of the things beta testers have complained about most in Vista is the intrusiveness of some of the new security features. For example, if you try to install a program or perform other tasks that require elevated privileges, your screen goes dark and the rest of the desktop locks until you complete the dialog box asking you to enter admin credentials or, if you're logged on as an administrator, asking if you want to continue. This is called the secure desktop, but if you don't like it, you can get rid of it without getting rid of those dialog boxes themselves. In the Administrative Tools menu, select Local Security Policy (you'll get the security prompt). In the left pane of the console, expand Local Policies and click Security Options. Scroll down in the right pane to the item labeled "User Account Control: Switch to the secure desktop when prompting for elevation" and double click. This policy is enabled by default; click Disable to turn the behavior off. I can't take credit for this artical it came from a newsletter I received from WXP News. If you liked this tip you to can get more like it by subscribing to the WXP News letter over at wxpnews.com. You don't have to subscribe to the news letter if you don't want to, just bookmark the site. Every new news letter is the front page and the past ones are in the archive.

Try Windows Vista RC 1 for FREE!

That's right get Microsoft's latest OS for FREE! Oh yeah there is a catch! To get it for free you need a computer that is capable of running it and a high speed internet connection or a dedicated phone line for you dialup users. Not all computer that are out now are capable of running Vista RC 1. "RC 1" or "Release Candidate 1" means this is NOT the final release and may be buggy! Before you download all 3 plus gigs of Vista be sure to complete the following check list. Find out if your computer at least meets the minimum requirements. Run Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor RC. Start the download and go watch a movie it's going to be a while before you can install this download! Or while this is downloading use this time to backup all that "info" on your hard drive. Because when you install Windows Vista it will all be erased! Your are forced to do a clean install not a upgrade install. So your hard drive is wiped clean. Gather all the drivers for everything you have attached to your computer. i.e. printer, modem, scanner, sound card, video card, anything attached to a pci or agp or pci-express slot inside your computer. After you have downloaded either the 32-bit or 64-bit version and completed backing up your hard drive. Install Windows Vista RC 1. It takes about an hour or less depending on your computer hardware. When the installation is complete and you are up and running check the "Device Manager" for problematic hardware. Look for "!" next to any installed hardware and solve the problem. You most likely can solve the problem by re-installing the driver for that item. Enjoy your new free OS. Now try to break it, if you can! If any of this sounds like something you can do, give it a try. Running a program that is not a final release is not for everyone. But Vista is like walking into your house and while you were out someone painted, put in new carpet and upgrade your TV to HDTV. Everything you are use to doing in XP can be done with Vista. Most programs you currently use will install easily in Vista others you will have to use the "Program Compatibility" in Vista to get it to run. More information about Vista and it's many variations can be found at microsoft.com/windowsvista If you do install it let me know how what you think of Vista.