Hello zBernie,
Good to see you in Microsoft Community.
Firstly, could you let me know the specific system version? Please check it (you can display it by pressing the Win key + R key, and entering "winver", then press Enter), and only send the relevant information without PII in the next reply.
Did this happen in all applications or in specific applications (Windows built-in applications or third-party applications)?
You can change the Windows User Account Control (UAC). Win*+* Q to open the search box, type "UAC" and press Enter*, open the "User Account Control Settings" interface, and then suggest that you set it to "Notify me only when apps try to make changes to my computer(default)", this is the default option.*
Disclaimer*: Follow these steps to temporarily disable* User Account Control (UAC). However, keep in mind that if you do so, your device may be vulnerable to threats. So please turn on it immediately once the issue is fixed.
You can then switch to log in to your administrator account and make sure that it is working properly (confirm its administrator rights). Open the Control Panel path as shown in the figure below, and then check whether there is the word Administrator under your account name.
Meanwhile, you may Perform a clean boot, this is a mode of disabling third-party services or software, which could help rule out the interference of these elements.
Disclaimer*: A “clean boot” starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It helps to determine whether a background program is interfering with your game or program and to isolate the cause of a problem.*
These steps of "clean boot" might look complicated at first glance. However, to avoid any trouble for you, please follow them in order and step-by-step so that it will help you get you back on track.
If anything is unclear, please do not hesitate to let me know.
Best Regards,
Mosken_L - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist