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Survey Results

Do you run under an administrator account on your main work machine?   [Edit]

Survey period: 2 Mar 2009 to 9 Mar 2009

We all know it's safest if you don't. But they say that about a lot of things. (Suggested by 3dit)

OptionVotes% 
I run with administrator access1,38582.83
I used to run as administrator, but no more301.79
I run certain programs as administrator, but my login isn't an administrator account1036.16
I run as administrator only when required by the OS (eg installs)1317.83
I never have administrator access on my machine231.38



 
RantI run as admin only when needed on my dev machine, always on test machine Pin
Jakob Bohm10-Mar-09 1:51
Jakob Bohm10-Mar-09 1:51 
(Because the entire test machine is a throw-away config anyway).

On my dev machine (XP) I have two accounts: My non-admin domain account is the primary login with only user privs (and yes, compilers and debuggers work nicely thank you), while the computers built-in administrator account (renamed of cause) is used to do administrative tasks (such as
installing/running/debugging privileged code). I also used to have a domain admin account with a different name ("never read your e-mails as root" as they said over in the UNIX camp).

Most admin tasks work nicely from a command prompt started with RunAs (or an elevated command prompt on Vista), there are just a small number of exceptions where I need to log off/on, mostly Microsoft stuff such as Windows Update(!) and the complex keyboard drivers for Asia and Unicode Thumbs Down | :thumbsdown: .

Tips to make things work:
Wink | ;) In "Folder options, advanced" enable "open each folder/window in a separate process", this allows explorer windows to run as different users.
Wink | ;) Create a batch file to open that admin command prompt in the morning, so you only have to type in the password, something like:
@runas /user:%COMPUTERNAME%\%ADMINNAME% /profile %COMSPEC% /C (runas /netonly /user:%USERDOMAIN%\%USERNAME% %COMSPEC% & TITLE Don't close this window & PAUSE)

Wink | ;) Some development environments default to using the Program Files directory of the compiler to store new projects, just override it and point to somewhere else.
Wink | ;) Many programs need to be run "first time" as admin, so your personalized defaults can become system wide settings.
Wink | ;) DISABLE the "helpful" folder/file redirection feature on Vista and terminal servers, the existence of multiple virtual copies of system-wide config files and data creates confusion and maximizes the chance that the "helped" programs will fail.
Wink | ;) Use the per-user HKEY_CLASSES feature of Windows 2000+ to register freshly compiled COM components without going admin. Optionally change registry permissions on global keys specific to your own code and components, but be careful not to impose this on your end users.

This message is hasty and is not to be taken as serious, professional or legally binding.
I work with low level C/C++ in user and kernel mode, but also dabble in other areas.

GeneralCouldn't do my job otherwise Pin
Foghorn226-Mar-09 10:36
Foghorn226-Mar-09 10:36 
GeneralDeveloper schizophrenia... Pin
Palavos4-Mar-09 21:42
Palavos4-Mar-09 21:42 
Generalproject Pin
gadzluvall4-Mar-09 5:05
gadzluvall4-Mar-09 5:05 
GeneralRe: project PinPopular
0x3c04-Mar-09 20:47
0x3c04-Mar-09 20:47 
GeneralRe: project Pin
Vasudevan Deepak Kumar6-Mar-09 22:23
Vasudevan Deepak Kumar6-Mar-09 22:23 
AnswerAmbiguous question Pin
dj_jeff3-Mar-09 5:18
dj_jeff3-Mar-09 5:18 
GeneralRe: Ambiguous question Pin
Vikram A Punathambekar3-Mar-09 6:28
Vikram A Punathambekar3-Mar-09 6:28 
GeneralRe: Ambiguous question Pin
FocusedWolf6-Mar-09 1:29
FocusedWolf6-Mar-09 1:29 
GeneralVista with no UAC Pin
Luis Alonso Ramos3-Mar-09 4:20
Luis Alonso Ramos3-Mar-09 4:20 
GeneralBut I frequently test with a regular user on another PC Pin
Rosenne2-Mar-09 22:30
Rosenne2-Mar-09 22:30 
GeneralRe: But I frequently test with a regular user on another PC Pin
BloodBaz5-Mar-09 0:59
BloodBaz5-Mar-09 0:59 
GeneralMake a distinction between domain admin and local admin Pin
Krissh2-Mar-09 20:22
Krissh2-Mar-09 20:22 
GeneralYes Pin
Member 41348902-Mar-09 11:36
Member 41348902-Mar-09 11:36 
GeneralRe: Yes Pin
CPallini3-Mar-09 9:50
mveCPallini3-Mar-09 9:50 
GeneralRe: Yes Pin
John M. Drescher5-Mar-09 7:46
John M. Drescher5-Mar-09 7:46 
GeneralRe: Yes Pin
roger.orr5-Mar-09 11:55
roger.orr5-Mar-09 11:55 
GeneralRe: Yes Pin
Pharago8-Mar-09 17:31
Pharago8-Mar-09 17:31 
GeneralUntil they come with developer rights... Pin
Yusuf2-Mar-09 8:05
Yusuf2-Mar-09 8:05 
GeneralRe: Until they come with developer rights... Pin
yassir hannoun2-Mar-09 12:35
yassir hannoun2-Mar-09 12:35 
JokeRe: Until they come with developer rights... Pin
Viral Upadhyay2-Mar-09 18:13
Viral Upadhyay2-Mar-09 18:13 
GeneralXP is a pain / Vista's smooth Pin
Mark J. Miller2-Mar-09 4:55
Mark J. Miller2-Mar-09 4:55 
GeneralRe: XP is a pain / Vista's smooth Pin
Indivara2-Mar-09 14:30
professionalIndivara2-Mar-09 14:30 
GeneralUmmm... yes? Pin
PIEBALDconsult2-Mar-09 4:52
mvePIEBALDconsult2-Mar-09 4:52 
GeneralRe: Ummm... yes? Pin
Ravi Bhavnani2-Mar-09 7:02
professionalRavi Bhavnani2-Mar-09 7:02 

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