Stopping Windows 7 security notifications for programs I know to be safe
I am running Windows 7 on VMWARE Fusion 3.0. I have installed Crimson Editor, a text editor I have used for years on Windows, and now every single time I open any file using the program I get a notification requiring confirmation of my permission. I have tried reducing the security level to the second lowest and the problem persists. Only by turning the security all the way off am I able to open and edit text files without being questioned, and this understandably undesirable (both have no active security and answering repetitive questions) I am also asked to give my permission every time I try to open Visual Studio (a MS product!!??!!) from the shortcut on my desktop, even with the security completely off. I do have my Windows desktop shared with my Mac desktop via Fusion. Please can someone explain to me how to give PERMANENT permission to Windows 7 to open and use programs. I have learnt that I can right-click and select "Run as Administrator" to override the shortcut security notice, but I can't believe this is the only way, and that option isn't available for simply opening files. I have tried changing the Crimson Editor .exe security properties (I have admin privileges) but nothing I try seems to help. Thank you
November 9th, 2009 8:15pm

Hello Stubaan, If I understand your requirement well, Id like to disable the UAC promotion pop up while opening an application. The UAC is the built-in security feature since Windows Vista OS released. Only applications trusted by the user may receive administrative privileges, and malware should be kept from compromising the operating system. In other words, a user account may have administrator privileges assigned to it, but applications that the user runs do not inherit those privileges unless they are approved beforehand or the user explicitly authorizes it. To meet your requirement, we have the following three methods. Method 1: Disable or Turn Off UAC (User Account Control) in Control Panel 1. To user Control Panel to disable UAC in Windows 7, login the system with the administrative account, go to Start Menu -> Control Panel -> User Accounts 2. Click on Change User Account Control settings link. 3. Slide the slider bar to the lowest value (towards Never Notify me when) For more information about those four values, please refer to the following webpage User Account Control (UAC) settings in Windows 7 4. Click OK to make the change effective. 5. Restart the computer to turn off User Access Control. Method 2: Right-click the software and point to Run as Administrator Method 3: Enable and login the system with default local Administrator For more information about this subject, please refer to the following webpage. User Account Control Step-by-Step Guide Hope the above steps helpful! Andy
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November 10th, 2009 5:41am

Thanks Andy I ended up using "To change the elevation prompt behavior for administrators" in the User Account Control Step-by-Step Guide to resolve the Crimson Editor permissions, but I now see that this effectively turned my UAC off. Prior to adjusting this behaviour I raised the UAC setting to the second-lowest. After changing the elevation prompt setting I now see the UAC has been automatically set to the lowest level, so effectively off. I have also read that it is not recommended to use the default local Administrator account (Method 3) - why? Because this degree of control is effectively the same thing as turning off the UAC for a user? What I'm reading in all this is that there is essentially no way of avoiding permission prompts for software I know to be safe without actually running Windows 7 with dangerously low security settings. I understand the reasoning behind some of these new protocols better for having trawled a bunch of forums, but this still seems counter-intuitive to me because people are not going to tolerate what they perceive to be pointless and irritating messages... They're just going to turn UAC off and risk (and probably suffer) the consequences. As I am about to do. Surely this does more harm than good in the end? Or is there some solution within all this that I am simply missing?
November 10th, 2009 10:27am

Thanks Andy I ended up using "To change the elevation prompt behavior for administrators " in the User Account Control Step-by-Step Guide to resolve the Crimson Editor permissions, but I now see that this effectively turned my UAC off. Prior to adjusting this behaviour I raised the UAC setting to the second-lowest. After changing the elevation prompt setting I now see the UAC has been automatically set to the lowest level, so effectively off. I have also read that it is not recommended to use the default local Administrator account (Method 3) - why? Because this degree of control is effectively the same thing as turning off the UAC for a user? What I'm reading in all this is that there is essentially no way of avoiding permission prompts for software I know to be safe without actually running Windows 7 with dangerously low security settings. I understand the reasoning behind some of these new protocols better for having trawled a bunch of forums, but this still seems counter-intuitive to me because people are not going to tolerate what they perceive to be pointless and irritating messages... They're just going to turn UAC off and risk (and probably suffer) the consequences. As I am about to do. Surely this does more harm than good in the end? Or is there some solution within all this that I am simply missing? I agree. Why can I not selectively permit an app that I trust while maintaining UAC?
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November 26th, 2010 7:49pm

I get the following "Windows Security Warning" message for a program that I know is safe. I have moved the UAC slider to the lowest position. Can someone provide the step-by-step actions that I need to take to allow this program to run? ------- Popup Message Text ------------------------------------------------- Windows found that this file is potentially harmful. To help protect your computer, Windows has blocked access to this file. Name: aimPRO Registry Settings.exe
December 26th, 2010 11:11am

Please Microsoft, do something about this... Because it makes me feel like EITHER an over protected child OR a gung-ho maverick (I'd prefer to just feel like an adult that is capable of knowing when something really doesn't need worrying about) Newbie
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June 18th, 2011 3:31pm

If the file is downloaded from the Internet, you may have to unblock it. (Right click the downloaded file/Properties/Unblock) If the program is not designed for Windows 7, the developer or you may have to create a manifest and apply it. Best greetings from Germany Olaf
June 18th, 2011 6:57pm

I totally agree here - WHY would Microsoft do that to people?? Also, if my account is administrator, why does it automatically run as a standard user most of the time until such time as admin settings are needed (that's what it says happens in the Step-by-Step guide), but then - as is the case here - I'm NOT really an administrator if I can't change something as silly as this, now am I? I have always been a very dedicated PC user, but this issue alone is ENOUGH to make me consider switching to a Mac. And from what I've tried, it seems incredibly difficult to contact them about the issue, because apparently my product id gets me charges just to get support - What's your PROBLEM, Microsoft???? If anyone EVER finds another solution to this problem, PLEASE post it here for me and all the other frustrated people, thanks. Same if you can figure out how to contact Microsoft without getting charged (why shouldn't there by a no-charge period like a warranty on the computer - I only bought my computer LAST WEEK!)
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June 22nd, 2011 12:30am

I was having this same issue with Crimson Editor. I found this article which provided a fix that worked without having to disable UAC security: http://the.techy.dstro.com/node/16
April 20th, 2012 11:27am

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