[jr2]

So, installed GOG.com version + SCP goodies of FS2 to \games\freespace 2 on my new laptop that I got a while ago (I had just started playing FS2 on my old HP when it puked due to excessive heating - got that one in early 2009 before I knew HP was crap, and I'd liked their desktops, so... anyways, I have a Toshiba now.)

I've been launching FS Open from Explorer.

So I went to make a shortcut in the Start Menu under GOG.com\FreeSpace 2

Windows says "you can't make a shortcut there, make one on desktop instead?"

me: No.

I open Explorer in Administrative mode for source (C:\Games\FreeSpace 2) and target (C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\GOG.com\Freespace 2) and try again.

Windows: "you can't...do you wanna do it on the desktop? "

me: Ok, you wanna play that way... <clicks "Yes">

I open cmd in Administrative mode then:

Code: [Select]

cd \ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\GOG.com\Freespace 2
move "c:\users\jp\desktop\FSOpen Launcher.lnk" .
Windows cmd prompt: 1 file(s) moved.
Windows Explorer: Oh, hai, lookie at new shortcut in user-must-not-touch Start Menu!! Cool!

Me: I win.

[Klaustrophobia]

in short:

disable UAC.

[The E]

in short:

disable UAC.

Or, you know, learn to live with it. Because the alternative (going back to XP ) is too horrible to contemplate.

[jr2]

I do kind of hate UAC, but it is kind of useful to know if something important is changing, however, apparently MS thinks my start menu is top-secret, classified system internals or something.  Mind you, whenever I've seen someone hit with a virus, they don't get a barrage of prompts to allow them to deny access to the virus: it's either once (to install the software they thought they were getting) or it's bypassed completely.

The whole system is flawed.  I like Linux in that regard, or heck, even Mac OS.  You get prompted when something is actually about to transpire that might not be wanted, and that's it.

[Ghostavo]

They work exactly the same way.

I find it strange that people complain about one while saying wonders about the others.

[jr2]

The difference would be what MS considers important.  I'm pretty sure I can manage my own friggin' Start Menu, kthxbai, Bill Gates. 

[Ghostavo]

Then don't have your start menu executables want to start with bloody administrator level permissions.

P.S.
I seem to be able to create shortcuts into the start menu without UAC with explorer. I.E. your issue is not with UAC.

[Fury]

@topic

[jr2]

Then don't have your start menu executables want to start with bloody administrator level permissions.

P.S.
I seem to be able to create shortcuts into the start menu without UAC with explorer. I.E. your issue is not with UAC.

OK, find a folder with an exe in it that you want to have a shortcut to.  Open Explorer Window there. Find a Start Menu folder that you want it to be put in.  Open Explorer Window there.

Now, hold your right mouse button down on the exe, drag it to the Start Menu folder, and from the list, click "Create Shortcut".  Been doing that nifty little trick since Windows '95.  Except now it doesn't work.

Wait a minute.  OK, yeah, it's not UAC to blame here, but something within Windows is basically saying I'm not allowed to create shortcuts there.  The message I get is the same one I would get if I tried to make a shortcut to a .exe in, say, My Computer (Where the list of drives goes) or the Control Panel.  Problem is, it's just the generic location for the Start Menu.

Sorry, mis-labeled the topic.  It's not UAC.

EDIT: OK maybe I found it.  Just had a thought whilst re-reading this.

This is the Start Menu location:

C:\Users\JP\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

This is the Start Menu location that GOG used:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\GOG.com\Freespace 2

Apparently I'm not allowed to write to location #2 unless I'm using an elevated cmd prompt. 

a) Why are there two locations (must be to make things simple, right?)

b) Why am I not allowed to create shortcuts via my method described above in the ProgramData location??? Using an Elevated Windows Explorer window? (Yes I just verified that I can create shortcuts in the AppData location using my method and I don't need elevated anything.)

[Ghostavo]

Then don't have your start menu executables want to start with bloody administrator level permissions.

P.S.
I seem to be able to create shortcuts into the start menu without UAC with explorer. I.E. your issue is not with UAC.

OK, find a folder with an exe in it that you want to have a shortcut to.  Open Explorer Window there. Find a Start Menu folder that you want it to be put in.  Open Explorer Window there.

Now, hold your right mouse button down on the exe, drag it to the Start Menu folder, and from the list, click "Create Shortcut".  Been doing that nifty little trick since Windows '95.  Except now it doesn't work.

Wait a minute.  OK, yeah, it's not UAC to blame here, but something within Windows is basically saying I'm not allowed to create shortcuts there.  The message I get is the same one I would get if I tried to make a shortcut to a .exe in, say, My Computer (Where the list of drives goes) or the Control Panel.  Problem is, it's just the generic location for the Start Menu.

I am able to do exactly this, step by step, without UAC popping up and without the errors you describe.

EDIT: OK maybe I found it.  Just had a thought whilst re-reading this.

This is the Start Menu location:

C:\Users\JP\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

This is the Start Menu location that GOG used:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\GOG.com\Freespace 2

Apparently I'm not allowed to write to location #2 unless I'm using an elevated cmd prompt. 

a) Why are there two locations (must be to make things simple, right?)

b) Why am I not allowed to create shortcuts via my method described above in the ProgramData location??? Using an Elevated Windows Explorer window? (Yes I just verified that I can create shortcuts in the AppData location using my method and I don't need elevated anything.)

The second location is "admin territory" hence, you shouldn't be able to alter anything there without sufficient permissions. In essence, you are trying to alter a different user's (the admin) folder.

P.S.
Try copying or moving a shortcut instead of creating one.

[Titan]

in short:

disable UAC.

Or, you know, learn to live with it. Because the alternative (going back to XP ) is too horrible to contemplate.

Hey, hey! I still use XP! 

[jr2]

Moving the shortcut - I get "You'll need to provide administrator permission to move to this folder"

Why it didn't just say that when I tried to create the shortcut, I have no clue.

[Spoon]

in short:

disable UAC.

Or, you know, learn to live with it. Because the alternative (going back to XP ) is too horrible to contemplate.

I don't follow how going back to XP is the alternative here?
As far as I can see, disabling UAC is a way better alternative to 'learning to live with it'. I personally don't like it when my OS tells me what I can or cannot do with my pc.

[asyikarea51]

Why is XP horrible? (legit question. Is it because of admin permissions? Wireless? etc?)

I'm feeling the effects of not being able to play the newer games or do stuff that requires features in Vista and 7, but it hasn't hit me too hard... yet. GFX drivers OTOH were a nightmare, had to make do with a fix I don't quite like, but it got the job done for me so far. I do however use something that probably does nag as much as UAC, but not with the folders.

I have 7 on standby along with a partition for it to go on; just never got around to it since it's not the absolute 1st partition of the absolute 1st HDD and then it'll probably overwrite the boot loader and/or start some other nonsense I don't want to waste time fixing, and I don't want to try. Should add that I like what 7 did with the task bar though, wish I could have that in my current OS.

[The E]

I don't follow how going back to XP is the alternative here?
As far as I can see, disabling UAC is a way better alternative to 'learning to live with it'. I personally don't like it when my OS tells me what I can or cannot do with my pc.

By switching off UAC, you are effectively back in XP's "All the admin all the time" mode, which in the wrong hands can only lead to disaster.

Why is XP horrible? (legit question. Is it because of admin permissions? Wireless? etc?)

Apart from the deteriorating hardware support, fundamentally broken security model, ugly-as-**** default UI and unusable search function? Nothing, really.

[asyikarea51]

Is the unusable search function that Desktop Search thing?

I have no idea when THAT was added. One install has it, pissing me off. The other install that uses the older method of searching, oh joy search works! UI doesn't matter to me so much, but my reasons have likely been made obsolete with better GFX drivers and more efficient code or something at this point, don't know. I'm not really updated on things like this.

There is a spare XP64 I could use if I really wanted to but then I'd get bombarded with driver nightmares or incompatible whatsit or some crap.

[jr2]

7 will overwrite your boot sector, but it will back up the old one, and allow you to boot your older version of Windows.  Only problem is if you are booting Linux, too.  However, to fix that, after you install 7, get EasyBCD Free (look for the link for free personal edition under the paid company version -- ok, just checked, now it's to the left.  Click "Register", then just click "Download" without putting your info in).  This will allow you to put your boot sector back in order, add / remove boot menu options, etc. (Basically give you control of your boot sector and easy editing and adding and removing boot menu options).

You can uninstall Desktop Search I'm pretty sure.  If it's not in Add/Remove programs, check "show updates" option, then look again.  EDIT: FYI, it's also known as KB940157

[MP-Ryan]

I'm with Ghostavo on this - jr2, you are doing something wrong, as I have UAC on and have never had any trouble adding shortcuts to the Start Menu via simple drag-and-drop.

Now, that said, I also can't fathom why you're bothering since I haven't actually opened the Start Menu on either of my Win7 PCs in over a month - jump lists are just that awesome.

And UAC should never be switched off in Windows 7.  Ever.  Anything you need to do you can still do with a prompt.  UAC's Vista implementation was flawed, yes, but it's been immensely streamlined in 7 and is an important security feature (I don't care how careful you are in your browsing, in the days when malware can be transmitted through Flash and Java, there are infection methods beyond your control).

[Nuke]

unusable search function

if you organize your files your way, instead of the system's way, then you dont need no ****ing search function

i have mine set up so good i can usually just type in the path for its folder at the top of the explorer window. old dos habit, but still effective.

really the only feature i really miss from xp is the classic start menu. sure most applications installers made a mess of it, but if you were proactive in organizing it you could launch anything in 2 clicks instead of some things in one click and everything else in 4. i also miss being able to shut down my computer with 3 or 4 keystrokes.

[Spoon]

I don't follow how going back to XP is the alternative here?
As far as I can see, disabling UAC is a way better alternative to 'learning to live with it'. I personally don't like it when my OS tells me what I can or cannot do with my pc.

By switching off UAC, you are effectively back in XP's "All the admin all the time" mode, which in the wrong hands can only lead to disaster.

Not completely true. Disabling UAC still doesn't grant you super admin power to your own OS like you had by default in XP, you'll have to seperately activate that.