If you are interested in trying one more thing please try this and post your results, power off your pc, unplug your network connections so that the computer will have no internet connection at all....

Since you did not specify any programs it makes me think that this is probably happening to all of the programs in your program folder. I think it sounds like either your windows needs to be...

Yes there is a difference and its a pretty big difference. If a program is installed outside of the program folders then it will bypass your UAC Settings. Not sure if most will agree with me on this...