I’ve been trying to fix a client’s laptop for some time now and I’m reluctant to format. As much as I have managed to get the computer to boot and do most basic tasks, I cannot run administrative tasks.
When attempting a task that would normally bring up the UAC, I see the hour glass for a moment, before it returns to normal, but with no program or task being done. If I look in the task manager, there is the consent.exe process which suggests UAC is there somewhere, I just can’t see it to respond.
Coincidentally, or not, as much as it boots fine into normal windows, safe mode results in an automatic reboot, without error message.
I used the recovery console to try to disable UAC from the registry, however the key wasn’t there, and even after adding it, it makes no difference.
I can only assume this is a virus, but with Norton constantly hanging halfway through the scan, I can’t remove it. I can’t install any other anti virus because that would require a UAC response.
Has anyone got any other ideas as to how to disable UAC or find an alternative location for the registry key.
To summarise, I can’t run regedit from within windows, I can’t run msconfig or computer management.
System: Dell Studio 1535
Vista Home Premium 32bit, 3 GB Ram
Norton Internet Protection 2008.