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I like the concepts of UAC and the "Secure Desktop" in Windows 7, but I don't like the dimming of the Secure Desktop to prompt for Admin credentials (or OK button to get clicked).

However, dimming goes so far that my monitor regularly goes into PowerSaver mode, which is annoying (as it takes another 10 seconds for it to wake up), and might harm the monitor: two weeks after switching from XP to Windows 7, my 30" monitor stayed black and it had to get replaced.

The web is full of tips how to turn off dimming, but that will always also turn off the "Secure Desktop".

Is there a way to present the Secure Desktop without dimming? Or with a different visual effect to show that it is the Secure Desktop?

EDIT: To clarify, I'm not looking for a way to disable dimming by disabling Secure Desktop (as is done by lowering the UAC level). I want to keep both UAC and Secure Desktop.

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this will help : howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/… – adi Feb 26 at 15:46
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3 Answers

up vote 9 down vote

On Windows 7 search for "Change user account control settings" in the start menu and then move the slider to the position shown in the image. This will keep UAC enabled but won't dim the desktop.

alt text

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I completely skipped over your answer because I looked at the slider, but not the text next to it. Then I read the screen and was like really??!? -1 to Microsoft for bad layout, but +1 to you for finding it! – Theo Nov 17 '10 at 14:42
wow, all the times I've just diabled UAC without realising that was there. +1 for you. – tombull89 Nov 17 '10 at 17:44
Do you know how to change this in Vista? It seems to only have full on and full off for UAC. – Dennis Williamson Nov 17 '10 at 18:15
hi, sorry, this is not the right answer. Lowering UAC level to "not dim" mode will keep UAC, but will deactivate "Secure Desktop". The Secure Desktop prevents malware to spoof clicks, and to capture passwords. – Florian Nov 18 '10 at 0:43
@Dennis I don't think there is a way of doing this in Vista – starofale Nov 18 '10 at 15:07
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up vote 1 down vote

I think the reason the desktop is dimmed is to highlight the UAC box. While disabling UAC would work it's not the answer to your question. Have you looked into seeing if there is a regisrty key which defines the colour and density of the dim?

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I've searched the web extensively and haven't found a way to keep UAC and "Secure Desktop" (SD) but not dim. Maybe you just cannot get SD without dimming? – Florian Nov 18 '10 at 0:45
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up vote -1 down vote

Try this registry script:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"PromptOnSecureDesktop"=dword:00000000
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