The Joys of Windows Vista
May 8th, 2008Microsoft has come up with a novel solution to the issue of security in Windows Vista. The basic principle is don’t let the user do anything. You see, if users are prevented from any productivity whatsoever, they can’t screw things up right?
Take for instance User Account Control. This is a new “feature” (note the scarequotes), which asks the user for permission every time they try to do something:
 Vista also disables screenshots when this dialog appears, so I had to get this photo with my digital camera. |
It works like this: When you double click on Firefox, you get this pop-up stating that it appears Firefox is trying to run. Do you wish to allow it? You click OK. You try to share a folder, and you get this pop-up stating that it appears something is trying to share a folder. Do you wish to allow it? You click OK. You double click an MP3 and get a warning that Windows Media Player is trying to run. You click OK.
Turning off this “feature” walks you through the depraved sadism that must exist in the minds of Microsoft Developers. I could really feel their contempt for me as a user when I first went to the Windows Security Center and found User Account Control listed there, set to “ON,” with no way to modify it.
There was, however, an unhelpful link below this meaningless status indicator reading, “How does User Account Control help protect my computer?”
How indeed. The help topic unhelpfully explained that User Account Control protects my computer by making me click “OK” every time I want to do something.
Truly fascinating, but as Benjamin Franklin wisely cautioned, “Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” So despite the immense security clicking all these “OK” buttons was affording me, I decided I would trade security for freedom and efficiency by turning them off.
The help topic on this “feature” had nothing to say about how to do that.
So, of course, I consulted that great oracle of how to’s for usurping Microsoft’s bureaucracy, Google, and found this article, which directed me to “User Accounts and Family Safety.” Where I was able to disable the feature, after, of course, being informed that something was trying to disable User Account Control and clicking OK.
Now every time I start Windows Vista, I get a helpful alert message warning me that User Account Control is turned off.
Windows Vista is extremely pretty though.
Not to beat a dead horse, but I have no idea what would possess anyone to pay for a machine with Vista loaded on it, or to voluntarily buy Vista. Wipe that shit and install 2K or XP. You don’t need it.
Either way, this particular problem sounds like it’s most likely a simple registry fix.
I prefer the Win2K look — my XP is set to classic look. Blue is NOT a neutral color. Grey IS.
Pssst!
Mac OS X.
-BMF
If it can’t run the 4NT command shell, I ain’t using it. Not gonna rewrite 1357 scripts :)
Actually, you’re right about the sadism. It appears Microsoft designed UAC to INTENTIONALLY annoy users:
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9590_22-6237191.html?tag=nl.e550
Charlie Brown: AAAAAAUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
That makes perfects sense in a totally sick way.
Clint,
I had an immediate need for a laptop and systems with XP were much more expensive (appreciating the irony of having to pay MORE for supposedly obsolete software). Karma bit me in the ass though, as the laptop promptly went dead.
RE:cost of expense
I’ll say one thing — “Freedom isn’t free”. :)
The real problem with Vista, as everyone knows, is the horrible horrible things they have done to minesweeper.
I agree with BMF…OS X all the way.
Something you should have mentioned was that a good chunk of users will start to automatically click ok without really reading anything. Micro$oft also assumes the user is knowledgeable with computers. There’s a sizable portion who don’t know shit. I’ve seen people struggle with firewalls because they couldn’t determine whether an action they did or didn’t do correlated with the pop up asking for authorization. I’m sure UAC is no different.