2

Fixing someone's Vista computer.

Process:

  1. I click any program or process that opens a User Account Control prompt.
  2. Screen goes dim so you may hit Continue to perform a secure user action.
  3. I click Continue
  4. Screen goes black for 30 seconds to 1 minute while you wait for the screen to return.
  5. In another example I click Cancel and screen still then goes black for 30 seconds to a minute.
  6. In that timeframe a chime goes off while you wait. (No chime if it was being cancelled.)
  7. Then screen comes back to continue with whatever.

Something is occurring after the UAC prompt. Considering everything is practically a UAC acceptance this can get pretty annoying pretty quickly.

  1. Laptop has external monitor to regular external plug. Works fine.
  2. Laptop also has USB IOGEAR additional external video card. This is problematic but when unplugged same above behaviour occurs.

I've ruled out monitor interference since same blackout after the UAC prompt appears with external monitors plugged in or when rebooted with no external monitors.

Any suggestions on how to address this problem?

bwDraco
  • 46,683
sf2k
  • 173

3 Answers3

1

I presume the problem is related to how your graphics card or driver handles screen switches. From your description, it seems to be not handling it that well. By default, UAC on Vista will do a screen switch to the "secure desktop" when asking for consent. It is possible to switch OFF the secure desktop switch, while still having UAC enabled.

You want to change the PromptOnSecureDesktop setting to 0. The Local Policy Editor can change that, but that's only available on Vista Business or "better". However, the registry setting can be changed regardless of Vista flavour.

Use this registry script:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"PromptOnSecureDesktop"=dword:00000000

Save this to a file with a .REG extension, and double click it, which will cause the Registry Editor to apply the setting.

The effect should become immediately active, without having to reboot or log off.

William
  • 921
0

Why not disable the UAC on Vista and see if that works?

How to disable UAC : http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/disable-user-account-control-uac-the-easy-way-on-windows-vista/

Anurag
  • 849
  • 1
  • 6
  • 12
0

In closing, "Quiet Mode" from TweakUAC was the best solution providing a non intrusive UAC authentication for Vista if the registry tweaks for PromptOnSecureDesktop failed. If you're stuck with lesser Vista Home editions and such I'd recommend this approach as UAC is still active for you. In my case I upgraded machine to Windows 7 and I have no further issues.

sf2k
  • 173