OK, here we go.

Windows Smart Screen: What good is it? All it does is try to prevent me from installing programs that I want to install since I went out of my way to download and install them.

Disable apps to improve performance: When I click on task manager how do I know which apps I need and which I don't when it lists things like Persistence Module and igfx tray module?

This explains Smart Screen. When I get that message, I just click on More Info and then click on Install Anyway. You can disable it at any time. In the Start screen, just start typing smart screen. Make sure you have selected Settings on the right (Apps, Settings and Files are the options) and then click on Change Smart Screen Settings

Windows 8 Smart Screen Filter

I'm not sure what those things you list from the Task Bar either, but I wouldn't mess with anything are that is part of the system. Mostly you would disable any apps or programs that you don't want running in the background. You can always Google the ones you're not sure about.

Thanks Draclvr, I just disabled Smart Screen as it is a pain in the ...... and I don't see any benefit.

I think I'll just leave Task Manager alone as I don't really understand what is needed and not needed. I opened it up and closed it without doing anything and the windows message stopped.

I have no more important messages except now if I go to important issues it tells me to turn on Smart Screen and I just laugh at it and say thanks but no thanks.

I turned Smart Screen on my computer off too. For the three people I helped set up their new Windows 8 computers, I am leaving it on though!

This reminds me of a couple of snooty antivirus programs I used to use. Emphasis on used to.

Also, I have found out that there seems to be no way to automatically run programs as administrator so I have to manually right click on the icon and select the "run as administrator" option. I've found that there are some programs/games that for some reason won't act properly unless you run them as administrator and since I don't know why or which ones I've gotten into the habit of running them all that way.

Makes no sense to me that I don't have the option to run everything as administrator since I am the only user on my computer.

As a side note Windows essentials 2012 is available as an addition to windows 8 and it includes some goodies like Movie Maker, Photo Gallery and a stand alone windows live mail. I feel more comfortable with the Mail program as I really didn't like the Windows 8 mail program. Movie Maker and Photo Gallery are improved as well.

Just thought I'd share.

See if this helps
http://www.lifeonplanetgroove.com/windows-8-uac-visual-studio-and-always-run-as-administrator/

The instructions use devenv.exe as an example, but you'd use whatever your program is instead.

Thank you Jenny that is helpful. However, that is only for one program at a time. I really would like Microsoft to come up with an option to run all programs as administrator for people who don't share their computers. Maybe if enough people complain (as I did) to Microsoft they will come out with an update.

I have Win 7, but maybe from what you're saying, this is the same for Win 8. My user account is an Administrator acct. It's the only acct on the computer (except Public, Default, and I suppose Guest).

So why do I still get messages like "you need administrative rights to make these changes"? (for example if I want to rename a shortcut) I just click to go ahead with the process without needing a password or anything. What's the point with this extra step? And running programs as Administrator ... if my acct is the Administrator type, why do I need to go through that extra step there too? I don't get it.

This is the kind of obnoxiousness you get when you try to install a game with Windows 8
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9653/rnx.png

You get that ribbon across your whole screen announcing that Windows is "protecting" your PC.
If you click the "More info" you get something like this:
http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/8313/57fn.png

I don't remember seeing anything in Vista or Windows 7 that was this blatantly obnoxious.

This is in addition to the UAC prompt, which comes later if you choose to "Run Anyway."

The obnoxious fat ribbon is called the "Smartscreen" filter and it's a new feature of Windows 8.
Formerly it was only a part of Internet Explorer.

If you want to get rid of it, the How-To Geek has a webpage showing how.
http://www.howtogeek.com/75356/how-to-turn-off-or-disable-the-smartscreen-filter-in-windows-8/

Good grief! I'd call that overkill for sure.

Now that's interesting. I realize you're running Windows 8 and I'm using Win 7, but after reading this, I noticed the game icons on my desktop. All four of the games I have installed from GOG have the little Admin shield on them. I did not tell the computer I wanted to run those games as administrator, which means that GOG must have.

Matter of fact, looking around, I see that Revo Uninstaller and Defraggler also have the Admin shield on them which I didn't put there.

As I said, interesting.

Gil.