Control Panel Extensions

Control Panel Extensions

.cpl files - Control.exe - Remove icons - Current .cpl file list - Win 2000 registry entries

.cpl files

Windows Control Panel Extensions are .cpl files which can be double-clicked for execution and located in :

95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	:	%WinDir% \System
NT, 2K	:	%SystemRoot% \System32

Shortcuts for those .cpl files can be added on the desktop with Rundll32.exe Shell32,Control_RunDLL Main.cpl for example to open the mouse extension. For more information, see Rundll32.exe's parameter list.

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Control.exe

There is another command which you can use to open Control Panel, Control Panel icons, or an icon on a chosen tab : Control.exe. It is very easy to use :

Control.exe		Opens Control Panel
Control.exe Sysdm.cpl		Opens System icon
Control.exe Sysdm.cpl,,0		Opens System icon General tab (as above)
Control.exe Sysdm.cpl,,1		Opens System icon Device Manager tab
Control.exe Sysdm.cpl,,2		Opens System icon Hardware Profiles tab
Control.exe Sysdm.cpl,,3		Opens System icon Performance tab

Just specify the corresponding .cpl file as parameter and, if needed, the tab number (0 for the 1st tab, 1 for the 2nd tab, etc).

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Remove icons

To remove some icons from the Control Panel, you could rename or move the corresponding .cpl files, but that might prevent some applications from running correctly. The best way out is to edit the %WinDir% \Control.ini file. Create or complete its 1st section :
[don't load]
snd.cpl=no
joystick.cpl=no
as so on with all the files whose icons you want to remove from the Control Panel.

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Current .cpl file list

.cpl file	Control Panel icon	Windows version
Access.cpl	Accessibility	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
Appwiz.cpl	Add/Remove Programs	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
Console.cpl	Console		NT, 2K
Desk.cpl	Display	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
DevApps.cpl	PC Card (PCMCIA)		NT, 2K
FindFast.cpl	Office Fast Find	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
InetCpl.cpl	Internet Options	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
Intl.cpl	Country	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
Joy.cpl	Joystick	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
Main.cpl	Mouse, keyboard, printers and fonts	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
MmSys.cpl	Multimedia and sounds	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
Modem.cpl	Modem	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
NCpa.cpl (NT) NetCpl.cpl (95/98)	Network	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
OdbcCp32.cpl	ODBC data source	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
Password.cpl	Password	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME
Ports.cpl	Ports		NT, 2K
PowerCfg.cpl	Power Management	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME
PrefsCpl.cpl	Real Player G2	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
Ras.cpl	Remote Access	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
SrvMgr.cpl	Server		NT, 2K
SysDm.cpl	System	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
Telephon.cpl	Telephony	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
Themes.cpl	Desktop themes	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
TimeDate.cpl	Date/Time	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
TweakUI.cpl	TweakUI	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K
Ups.cpl	Spare power supply	95, 95+IE4.x, 98, ME	NT, 2K

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Windows 2000 registry entries

Key : HKCU \Software \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \Policies \Explorer
Entry : NoControlPanel
System : 2K
Type : REG_DWORD
Possibles values : 0 or 1
Default value : 0

1 : Disables Windows 2000's Control Panel.

Key : HKCU \Software \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \Policies \Explorer
Entry : DisallowCpl
System : 2K
Type : REG_DWORD
Possible values : 0 or 1
Default value : 0

1 : Removes items and folders in Windows 2000's Control Panel. To hide an item, add its file or folder name, Desk.cpl for example to hide Display in the key HKCU \Software \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \Policies \Explorer \DisallowCpl.

Key : HKCU \Software \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \Policies \Explorer
Entry : RestrictCpl
System : 2K
Type : REG_DWORD
Possible values : 0 or 1
Default value : 0

1 : Removes all items in Windows 2000's Control Panel, except those indicated in the key HKCU \Software \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \Policies \Explorer \RestrictCpl.