Non-Admin account for TF 2?

Anybody know of a way to play TF 2 without using an admin account on the gaming rig? Maybe a workaround?

I read a post that said it's intended to detect cheating. I don't want to cheat, nor defeat cheat detection. It is just unacceptable to be required to give a game admin rights, especially when I'm online. Microsoft's standing recommendation for years: Daily-use should be done under Least-priviledge User Accounts (LUA).

By the way, I hope someone from your organization is reading this, Valve, because I haven't bought TF2, and I won't buy it, nor any other game, as long as you maintain this foolish, idiotic requirement!

Valve, because I haven't bought TF2, and I won't buy it, nor any other game, as long as you maintain this foolish, idiotic requirement!

 

xelex0

You don't see what the big deal is? How can you not, when I already quoted Microsoft, itself, as saying that the Admin account should not be used on a daily basis, especially when you're connected to vulnerable networks, such as the Internet.

How can you not know this (unless you're a very casual Windows user)?

If you're logged in as Admin, then any malware, spyware, bot, virus, or executable you're running under your account, if it can use an exploit, has carte blanche on your system!!!!!!!!!!! You don't see the problem with this?!? If you don't, then it's no wonder viruses are so prevalent!!!

roulettethedog, no, I am not doing this at work, school, or other. This is my home gaming rig. THAT is why it is so important!!!! You should never put your home rig, especially one you have spent much time tuning, securing, etc., in a vulnerable position. Admin rights are A VERY BIG DEAL.

Also, NO, games DO NOT require the admin account to access _drivers_! My god, don't you people set up different accounts on your computers? Don't you even know how computers work? Don't any of you work for a living that involves a Windows machine? You don't log in as Admin at work, do you (and surf the net)?!?

As I said in my OP, I read something about Steam using the admin account so that it can check to see if any cheats have been installed--I'm almost positive this was a thread here on Gamespot, but I can't google it now, so I'm not sure.

Anyway, nevereathim, what do you mean by "turn off UAC"? Maybe that's the real, substantive, answer I'm looking for.

Thanks everyone.

what do you mean by "turn off UAC"? Maybe that's the real, substantive, answer I'm looking forxelex0

And you won't get any malware if you have proper protection and you are smart. Personally, I haven't even gotten alerts in few years. This post somehow makes me feel, that you are a kid whose father won't let him access an admin account. Herrasmies

No, I am not a kid. I'm a systems engineer who takes security very seriously. Just because one has the proper software (firewalls, spyware detectors, antivirus, etc.) and is smart, that will not prevent a program with root access doing anything it wants. In fact, being smart is exactly what's at issue here. Smart admins heed the advise of the OS manufacturer, Microsoft, itself, and use their brains, and don't hook up their machines to the net and then install everything under the admin account.

- So what if you don't take precautions and "haven't even gotten alerts in a few years." Lack of trouble by happenstance doesn't justify not implementing security. Is it YOU who is the kid?!?

- The_PC_Gamer, and others, keep talking about games accessing drivers. WELL OF COURSE THEY DO! Everything accesses drivers! That's how computer hardware works. Who in the h*ll wouldn't know that? Do you think the admin account is the only account that accesses drivers? Are you retarded?!? Do ANY of you use a computer in a corporate environment at work or (gulp!) actually set up multiple accounts at home? Do you actually think -anybody- suspects that when you use those accounts your computer is -not- accessing drivers, and the hardware works by magic? My god. NO, the accounts that people use DO NOT HAVE TO BE ADMIN ACCOUNTS --IF-- they want to play games.

- Most games access drivers WITHOUT RUNNING UNDER AN ADMIN ACCOUNT!!!!!!!!! TOCA Race Driver 3 doesn't require it. I don't remember any of the Splinter Cell franchise requiring it. IL-2 doesn't require it. I don't remember Far Cry requiring it. As far as I know the X series of games doesn't either (X?, X2, X3). Battlefield Vietnam didn't.

(By the way, I see that UAC is User Account Control under Vista--which doesn't apply to me--I don't run Vista.)

- Why should Valve listen to me, BigD? Because if they -want- me to own the game, or any of their games in the future, they'll need to listen OR I WON"T BUY THEM. What are you, 12 yo? Jeesh.

I don't know what's worse, the fact that you all seem completely ignorant about the Least-Priviledge User Account (LUA) concept, or the fact that you all seem absolutely convinced that it warrants no attention and are instead more interested in doing everything you can to dismiss the idea. What, do you all work for Valve, or something?

The most important thing is that these companies's [sic] ideas of running under an admin account is audacious and outrageous! Why should I give Valve Software complete free reign over my system just to run a game, all while connected to teh Internet, when it's unnecessary? Aren't ANY of you sysadmins? You must all be brainless mall rats.