Platform: Windows 7 x64 Ultimate.
I've observed that applications that normally would require UAC elevation don't display it. The application then fails with an error because of insufficient privilege. For example, if I download an installer, and run it on another system, Windows shows the standard UAC prompt asking for permission to run it at elevated privilege. On my system, some setting has become screwed up, and the prompt is not shown. Moreover, it seems to "auto-deny" the request, and the application then fails with a permission error.
Now, if I elevate the application manually, by right-clicking, and selecting "Run as administrator..." it works fine. But on a properly configured system, I don't have to do that -- the application asks itself.
As a specific example, all Firefox updates now fail automatically, because the UAC prompt never appears, and it defaults to "auto-deny." If I download the Firefox installer and run it manually (with admin privileges) it works fine. Other installers are similar -- the problem is not Firefox-specific.
So: what setting could cause this behavior and how do I correct it? Some details:
- I have a standard Windows 7 "full user" account with admin privileges.
- UAC is set to the default option in Control Panel
- It used to work as expected, but some setting has become screwed up.
- I know that a format/reinstall would fix this but I don't want to do that right now.
- Doing things that require UAC elevation, like changing the UAC setting itself, work fine -- the problem largely affects applications designed to auto-elevate when they first run, like installers.
- I could just disable UAC but would rather not.
I've observed that applications that normally would require UAC elevation don't display it. The application then fails with an error because of insufficient privilege. For example, if I download an installer, and run it on another system, Windows shows the standard UAC prompt asking for permission to run it at elevated privilege. On my system, some setting has become screwed up, and the prompt is not shown. Moreover, it seems to "auto-deny" the request, and the application then fails with a permission error.
Now, if I elevate the application manually, by right-clicking, and selecting "Run as administrator..." it works fine. But on a properly configured system, I don't have to do that -- the application asks itself.
As a specific example, all Firefox updates now fail automatically, because the UAC prompt never appears, and it defaults to "auto-deny." If I download the Firefox installer and run it manually (with admin privileges) it works fine. Other installers are similar -- the problem is not Firefox-specific.
So: what setting could cause this behavior and how do I correct it? Some details:
- I have a standard Windows 7 "full user" account with admin privileges.
- UAC is set to the default option in Control Panel
- It used to work as expected, but some setting has become screwed up.
- I know that a format/reinstall would fix this but I don't want to do that right now.
- Doing things that require UAC elevation, like changing the UAC setting itself, work fine -- the problem largely affects applications designed to auto-elevate when they first run, like installers.
- I could just disable UAC but would rather not.