Vista: Disable Secure Desktop When Prompting for Elevation
Contributed by shamanstears 
February 24, 2007 
Tagged: Microsoft Vista
If you have the User Account Control turned on, you have noticed that it causes a sudden change in the desktop display everytime it prompts for elevation. This can become annoying for some users. You can disable the secure desktop when prompting for elevation while keeping the UAC turned on. Follow these steps:
1. Press the WinKey+R to bring up the Run dialog box.
2. Input secpol.msc.
3. Click OK.
4. When the UAC prompt appears, select Continue.
5. The Local Security Policy window will appear.
6. In the left pane, expand Local Policies.
7. Select Security Options.
8. In the right pane, scroll down to the bottom.
9. Double-click User Account Control: Switch to the secure desktop when prompting for elevation.
10. Under the Local Security Setting, select the Disabled radio button.
11. Click OK.
12. Close the Local Security Policy window.