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My last computer ran XP; administrators had unrestricted access (no UAC) and my normal day-to-day account was a standard user. I simply did a 'run as' then entered the admin credentials when I needed to do something such as install software. It made sense to have the day-to-day account be a limited one (like with Linux).
I've recently purchased a new Windows 8 computer. With User Account Control, when I am logged in as an administrator, UAC will pop up an allow/deny prompt if an application tries to make changes to the computer.
If I instead make my day-to-day account a standard account, when I do something that requires admin privileges, it will prompt me as well (but for a password and username). As both user accounts will prompt me anyway, is there any point to making my day to day account a standard one? What is the 'best' practice and do you all personally follow it?
1Starting with Windows Vista certain actions like removing a file from a protected folder requires a UAC prompt. As you found this happens with an administrator or a user account. Unless you have your own reasons for running a restricted account the UAC will protect your computer from yourself provided you always read the prompt. – Ramhound – 2013-03-14T11:20:03.387