Windows Vista's User Account Control security "feature"  is bound to drive any power user insane within an hour of downloading, installing and configuring your favorite programs. If you hate Vista for asking you every single time you try to do something if you're sure you want to, then disable User Account Control. The How-To Geek's got the details:

Open up Control Panel, and type in user account into the search box. You'll see the link for "Turn User Account Control (UAC) on or off". Click it. Uncheck the box, and reboot your computer. You should be done with obnoxious prompts!

Now, Microsoft highly recommends that you do not do this. To make their point, after you ignore them and do it anyway, a scary little red X shield icon plants itself in your taskbar, visually screaming at you about the security risk. After the jump, find out how to rid yourself of that sucker.

In Control Panel, go to the Security Center. On the left hand side, click the "Change the way Security Center alerts me" and choose "Don't notify me and don't display the icon (not recommended)" as shown.