Keep UAC active, with no annoying popups

When UAC is enabled, software which is run "As Administrator" requires, by default, that a pop-up prompt be responded to, and the Administrator password required (or, if no password has been defined, just a click in the box).

Important thing: when you run Vista in normal user mode, shutting down UAC implies that applications which need administrator credentials are denied to run without an UAC warning, therefor you need to choose run as administrator and supply the credentials. If you run Vista in Normal User mode I would not recommend to use this setting for the simple fact that if an applications needs administrator credentials it will fail to start. Important thing: when you run Vista in normal user mode, shutting down UAC implies that applications which need administrator credentials are denied to run without an UAC warning, therefor you need to choose run as administrator and supply the credentials. If you run Vista in Normal User mode I would not recommend to use this setting for the simple fact that if an applications needs administrator credentials it will probably fail to start without you knowing it.

It is possible to get rid of this annoying User Account Control pop-up, as follows:

Start/Run and type secpol.msc

In the Security Policy editor select Security Settings/Local Policies/Security Options

Now scroll down to the two following Security Options

1) User Account Control: behaviour of the elevation prompt for admins
2) User Account Control: behaviour of the elevation prompt for standard users

For each of the above, select the desired option.
Selecting "Elevate without prompt" will get rid of the annoying pop-up boxes, and will also help software load faster.

Reboot Vista to make the policy work :)