UAC Process Analyzer is a free portable software for Windows that can be used to analyze any running process of the Windows operating system. The program scans the system for running processes automatically to display them all in a selection menu at the top. You can use the menu to select a process that you want to analyze, or hit the refresh button to run the process identification scan again.

Once you have selected a process you need to click on the Analyze button to populate the information in the lower half of the screen.

The program displays the process’ name and file path next to security details. Listed there are the process’ Integrity level, UAC Virtualization, Trusted Directory and whether it is signed with a digital signature.

A link to open the publisher certificate is displayed if the process is signed with a digital signature. The information presented by the program are mostly useful for system administrators and not the average user.

UAC Virtualization for example is an advanced concept which basically redirects write attempts to protected storage to the user’s own directory. It is more complicated than that, and if you really want to know more about it you could read the introductory post over at Technet.

Interested users can download the latest version of UAC Process Analyzer from the official website. The program is compatible with both 32-bit and 64-bit editions of all versions of Windows since and including Windows Vista. (thanks Venkat)

This is especially helpful if new applications have been installed on the system, but more of a nuisance if the program has to be used on a regular basis and is developed by a trusted developer.

uac prompt

There are quite a few ways to limit the UAC prompts further in Windows. One of the easiest ways for instance is to change a program’s properties to always run with administrative privileges.

Another option, less commonly known, is to use the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit to whitelist applications so that they do not display an UAC prompt when they are run.

Windows users need to download the software program from the Microsoft website and install it afterwards.

It comes with both a 32-bit and 64-bit Compatibility Administrator. 32-bit programs need to be added to the 32-bit Compatibility Administrator while 64-bit apps in the 64-bit Compatibility Administrator.

application compatibility listing

Start with a right-click on the New Database(1), then Create New and Application Fix. This opens a new window where a program name, developer name and executable can be selected.

user account control

The next page lists the compatibility modes. Locate and select RunAsInvoker from the list and click the Test Run button afterwards to see how the program starts with that new compatibility mode. If it starts without UAC prompt click next, if an error message is displayed it won’t work at all. Most programs will however work without problems here.

run as invoker

Click Next two times after a successful test to add the application to the list. It should be displayed with its name underneath the database entry. Repeat the above steps for other applications that require an UAC prompt.

Save the database of programs by clicking on File > Save As in the menu, e.g. uac-whitelist.

uac whitelist

The Compatibility Administrator saves the database as an sdb file on the local computer system. The database needs to be installed once. This needs to be done from an elevated command prompt. Click the Windows start button, then All Programs > Accessories. Right-click the Command Prompt entry and select to Run as Administrator from the context menu.

Now issue the command

sdbinst pathToUAC-Whitelist.sdb

e.g.

sdbinst c:\users\martin\downloads\uac-whitelist.sdb

It is then possible to test the new setting immediately to see if the changes have been successful. Most programs should start now without UAC prompt while some might refuse to start. It is possible to revert the changes by deleting the non-working applications from the database and running the sdbinst command afterwards again.

Have a different way of automating UAC prompts in Windows? Let us know in the comments.

Most advanced users might not need the extra eye-opener when a program tries to change data on the computer system, especially not during software installations that have been initiated by the user.

Windows 7, and Windows Vista as well, provide an option to disable that UAC dims the desktop during prompts. This will still display a notification in the form of a normal window so that it is possible to interact with other elements on the desktop.

To change that setting type in UAC into the start menu run box. This will open the User Account Control Settings. All that needs to be done is to move the slider down one step from the default position .

This new setting is helpful for users who regularly install new software or make other changes to the operating system that display an UAC prompt.

Everyone that has worked in Windows Vista regularly has surely come in contact with the User Account Control, the pestering service that brings up a window asking for your confirmation if an application needs elevated rights. The idea of the UAC is in fact sound but Microsoft apparently did not think of that required elevated rights to run. It was not all Microsoft’s fault though, many elevated prompts were caused by applications that would not need an UAC prompt if the software developer put a little more thought into the process.

A positive side effect is the increase in engineering quality since the release of Windows Vista. Software developers are actually putting more effort into coding applications that do not need elevated rights. Can’t be done for all but many function just fine without.

Back to Norton’s UAC. It basically replaces the original Windows Vista UAC giving the user more options in hand when an UAC prompt appears.

The software adds a Do not ask me again checkbox to the UAC prompt which can whitelist an application so that the user won’t be asked again if the application needs elevated privileges.

One side effect is that the tool is sending meta data to Norton whenever the application is being used. Metadata including the file name and the hash. Norton apparently uses that data to build a whitelist on their own that could be shipped with Norton UAC.

The advantage of this solution is that you can disable the User Account Control for selected applications. This is for instance useful if you use an application day in day out getting that irritating UAC popup whenever you start it. The following process has to be done only once but it takes some time, here are the steps:

1)Download and install the Application Compatibility Toolkit

2) In the Start menu, locate the new folder. Find the shortcut icon for Compatibility Administrator. Right click it and clik Run as administrator.

3) In the left hand pane, right-click on the database under Custom Databases and select Create New, and select Application Fix.

4) Enter the name and other details of the application you want to alter behavior on and then browse to it to select it. Click Next.

5) Click Next until you are in the Compatibility Fixes screen.

6) On the Compatibility Fixes screen, find the item RunAsInvoker, and check it.

7) Click Next and then Finish.

8) Select File and Save As. Save the file as a filename.SDB type file in a directory you will easily find it.

9) Copy the .sdb file to the Vista computer you want to alter the elevation prompt behavior on.

10) Click Start>All Programs>Accessories. Right click Command Prompt and click Run as administrator.

11) Run the command below:

sdbinst \.sdb

For example, if you saved the .SDB file as abc.sdb in the c:\Windows folder, the command should be like this:

sdbinst c:\windows\abc.sdb

It should prompt: Installation of complete.

Most Windows Vista users get really annoyed after a short while because those UAC popups open many times during a normal session. The only way so far to get rid of UAC was to disable it completely. While this got rid of the UAC popups it did also turn the security feature of completely. Not a big problem for users who know what they can and what they can’t do with their system but surely a problem for inexperienced users.

Tweak UAC is a small software that offers a third possibility. With it you can enable the Quiet Mode for UAC which leaves UAC on for all users but suppresses the UAC popups that pop up rather frequently.

This means that the benefits of UAC such as running programs like Internet Explorer in protected mode will still be available while the annoying UAC popups are removed.

Tweak UAC does not need to be installed on your PC. Just run it and select ‘Leave UAC operating in the Quiet Mode’ when the option appears.

Read More:

Tweak UAC Homepage
via ThinkTechno