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How to turn off UAC (User Account Control)

Turning off UAC (User Account Control) is not particularly recommended given the security advantage it provides; and for most common computer usage the popup warnings are tolerable. However, in the early stages of using Windows Vista on a new or upgraded system - while setting up a network or installing and uninstalling a fair number of applications, you're likely to want to turn off UAC, at least once, and at least temporarily. Here's how to quickly turn off UAC:

1 in the Start Search type 'user'
2 in the results select 'User Accounts'
3 click on 'Turn User Account Control on or off'
4 click to 'Continue' when UAC asks for permission
5 remove the check mark from 'Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer'
6 click 'OK'
7 click to 'Restart Now' or 'Restart Later', a reboot is required to make the change


You can also access UAC through the Control Panel as follows:

1 click on the Windows Start Button
2 click on 'Control Panel'
3 in 'Control Panel Home' select 'User Accounts and Family Security"
4 click on 'User Accounts' and continue as in step 3 above


Lastly, and inkeeping with my feeling that UAC is best left turned on, see this tip to create desktop icons for fast access to the 'Security Center' and 'User Accounts' - these provide handy access and encourage a user to keep UAC as well as other security measures in place.

Good luck and good computing.