hmm. if you have an administrator account, then anything you install should be able to set itself to startup as administrator.

As for the programs that require elevation, some were just poorly programmed and modify files in places they shouldn't be stored.

sounds like you have your UAC cranked way up? they added new settings levels for UAC, try the one that only prompts when something wants to change your computer.

thought 7 was supposed to fix all this.. bah

Glad I never had this problem with XP.

Even setting it to quiet mode via TweakUAC doesn't stop some of the annoying things. Found out the hard way that if you manually modify some files within the Program Files, UAC will silently make a backup and use that. Only way to disable it was to turn UAC off completely.

Useless AnnoyingCrap.   

I wish it were that easy. Actually Tweak7 has the ability to set UAC to a non prompt elevation mode but thats not the issue. With UAC on, Windows 7 just ignores loading the programs altogether...no prompts at all. Well, thats not entirely true, the EVGA tuner prompts me for permission but it fails to load even after that.

What baffels me is that you would think that Steam would be one of the first that would be Win 7 freindly. It's not as if they don't have a update budget.

Yet another area that Impulse outshines Steam...it loads at start up with out a problem.

Thanks but I've been through the security policy UAC setting and just don't see a catagory that covers the problem.

I do appreciate the feedback but so far it looks like I'll be leaving it off for now.

Cars....you just got a subscription on Technet, right? Maybe there's something on there about it in their Forums?

Worth a try?

That is a really odd problem.  One of those 'shouldn't happen whether you're using UAC or not' things.

*ponders*

Thanks to all.

Gary's suggestion of setting up an elevated  privilege  startup may be the solution if I want to spend more time trying to get it work. For now, I'll just leave it off.

Doc, thanks.. the Microsoft forums was the first place I looked. This is such a great community I decided I would have better results here.

I didn't bother posting the question on the MS forums because I would have gotten 10 replys on why  Win 7 's UAC is superior to Vista's, 10 counter replys to why Vista's sucks, 10 more on the pros and the 10 on the cons, 10 more discussing the creation of UAC, 10 on how it should be outlawed and Microsoft sued over putting it in, and at least 1 troll saying that if I was running Mac OS 10, I wouldn't have this problem. Out of all of the replys, maybe 1 would have a suggestion of a cure or work around.

I think Wizard had it right to begin with...

More like if you use it and do it right you are ok. Doing things wrong and it will go wrong... till all drivers are signed properly things will go wrong for win7. Just as vista started out with just so much signed drivers. You will have to live with how you want to use uac. But my best suggestion is to use it - if a program does not run right ... reinstall it while logged into admin. There are some tweaks; but each to his own. Things are different for each machine and for each way you setup that machine.

UAC is needed; but how to completely use it is up to the user. So most do as you are " turn it off " . Thus making things work or so it seems they do. Really I think it delays the problems till a later time. So I really have no idea where to go on or off you have a os which reguires things you can't give it.

I just love the new os and the old. Never does everything but what it wants too. Fun with computing!

I would say no.  In your case, something is obviously interfering with normal system operation...Steam loads up on startup fine on this box.

I know the only thing I've had that actually broke parts of Vista was MSIs mobo software updater...freaky thing.

uac is a wasted feature. you didnt need it in windows xp or win 2000. it is microsofts lame attempt to be more like a mac os and hold your hand. turn it off entirely and be happy with your computer, otherwise win 7 is a remarkable os overall.

I'll leave UAC on myself.  I've heard plenty of people say the same thing about antivirus apps, but I'd rather be protected than end up with some foo halfway across the world knowing all my banking info.