Delete icon from Control Panel

[Trevor L.]

BlankI have two icons in the Control Panel labelled "Network Connections"

One has the tooltip: Connects to other computers, networks and the Internet
and the right-click options
Explore
Open
Open at MS-DOS prompt
------------------------------------
Create Shortcut

The other has the tooltip: Configures network connections
and the right-click options
Open
------------------------------------
Create Shortcut

Both go to the same place on left-click ("Network Connections") but the second one opens a new Explorer window

How do I delete one?
(Probably the second would be the better one to delete.)

 

[Larry Gardner]

BlankYou need to check this registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ControlPanel\NameSpace

I determine what names are there.

I have two icons in the Control Panel labelled "Network Connections"

One has the tooltip: Connects to other computers, networks and the Internet
and the right-click options
Explore
Open
Open at MS-DOS prompt
------------------------------------
Create Shortcut

The other has the tooltip: Configures network connections
and the right-click options
Open
------------------------------------
Create Shortcut

Both go to the same place on left-click ("Network Connections") but the second one opens a new Explorer window

How do I delete one?
(Probably the second would be the better one to delete.)

 

[Trevor L.]

You need to check this registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ControlPanel\NameSpace

I determine what names are there.


I have two icons in the Control Panel labelled "Network Connections"

One has the tooltip: Connects to other computers, networks and the
Internet
and the right-click options
Explore
Open
Open at MS-DOS prompt
------------------------------------
Create Shortcut

The other has the tooltip: Configures network connections
and the right-click options
Open
------------------------------------
Create Shortcut

Both go to the same place on left-click ("Network Connections") but
the second one opens a new Explorer window

How do I delete one?
(Probably the second would be the better one to delete.)

There are 9 keys with name such as
{785784CF-5C16-44D8-AB94-ABF876FB1D2E }

They are
Taskbar and Start Menu
Portable Media Devices
Folder Options
Network Connections
Microsoft Malware Protection Software explorers
Fonts
Administrative Tools
Scheduled Tasks
Scanners and Cameras

Then follows
Accessibility_Options
Add-Remove Programs
Date-Time
Dialing_Options
Internet_Options
Printers

 

[Larry Gardner]

BlankGood. those are the standards.

Now check this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\Cpls
Mine has these:

"Internet Connection Firewall"="Firewall.cpl"
"NetSetupWizard"="NetSetup.cpl"
"Speech"="C:\\Program Files\\Common Files\\Microsoft Shared\\Speech\\sapi.cpl"
"ColorManagement"="C:\\Program Files\\Pro Imaging Powertoys\\Microsoft Color Control Panel Applet for Windows XP\\ColorMgmt.cpl"
"Windows Media Connect"="C:\\Program Files\\Windows Media Connect 2\\wmccpl.dll"
"Desktop Search"="C:\\Program Files\\Windows Desktop Search\\ControlPanel.cpl"
"QuickTime"="C:\\Program Files\\QuickTime\\QTSystem\\QuickTime.cpl"
"X-Setup Pro"="E:\\Program Files\\X-Setup Pro\\bin\\xqdcXSPApplet.cpl"

You may not have some, but see if you have anything additional close to Network.....

You need to check this registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ControlPanel\NameSpace

I determine what names are there.


I have two icons in the Control Panel labelled "Network Connections"

One has the tooltip: Connects to other computers, networks and the
Internet
and the right-click options
Explore
Open
Open at MS-DOS prompt
------------------------------------
Create Shortcut

The other has the tooltip: Configures network connections
and the right-click options
Open
------------------------------------
Create Shortcut

Both go to the same place on left-click ("Network Connections") but
the second one opens a new Explorer window

How do I delete one?
(Probably the second would be the better one to delete.)

There are 9 keys with name such as
{785784CF-5C16-44D8-AB94-ABF876FB1D2E }

They are
Taskbar and Start Menu
Portable Media Devices
Folder Options
Network Connections
Microsoft Malware Protection Software explorers
Fonts
Administrative Tools
Scheduled Tasks
Scanners and Cameras

Then follows
Accessibility_Options
Add-Remove Programs
Date-Time
Dialing_Options
Internet_Options
Printers

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

BlankHow to remove invalid icons from Control Panel?
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/cpicon.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I have two icons in the Control Panel labelled "Network Connections"

One has the tooltip: Connects to other computers, networks and the Internet
and the right-click options
Explore
Open
Open at MS-DOS prompt
------------------------------------
Create Shortcut

The other has the tooltip: Configures network connections
and the right-click options
Open
------------------------------------
Create Shortcut

Both go to the same place on left-click ("Network Connections") but the
second one opens a new Explorer window

How do I delete one?
(Probably the second would be the better one to delete.)

 

[Trevor L.]

BlankHow to remove invalid icons from Control Panel?
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/cpicon.htm

Well, I deleted ncpa.cpl but I was prompted to insert the Windows XP CD .

When I did, the icon was restored.

So what do I do

Should I delete the other one, using the Shell Object Editor ?

If I do and I need to restore it, can I?

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Should I delete the other one, using the Shell Object Editor ?

Yes. Shell Object Editor allows you to hide/unhide/delete an item.

Nope. The changes are not reversible. However, you can create a System
Restore point first, or take a complete registry backup using ERUNT.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

BlankHow to remove invalid icons from Control Panel?
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/cpicon.htm

Well, I deleted ncpa.cpl but I was prompted to insert the Windows XP CD .

When I did, the icon was restored.

So what do I do

Should I delete the other one, using the Shell Object Editor ?

If I do and I need to restore it, can I?

 

[Larry Gardner]

Go into TweakUI and use control Panel, and hide what you want.

Yes. Shell Object Editor allows you to hide/unhide/delete an item.

Nope. The changes are not reversible. However, you can create a System
Restore point first, or take a complete registry backup using ERUNT.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

BlankHow to remove invalid icons from Control Panel?
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/cpicon.htm

Well, I deleted ncpa.cpl but I was prompted to insert the Windows XP CD .

When I did, the icon was restored.

So what do I do

Should I delete the other one, using the Shell Object Editor ?

If I do and I need to restore it, can I?

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

TweakUI lists only the CPL files. It's not necessary that all the Control
Panel icons are .CPL files.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Go into TweakUI and use control Panel, and hide what you want.

Yes. Shell Object Editor allows you to hide/unhide/delete an item.

Nope. The changes are not reversible. However, you can create a System
Restore point first, or take a complete registry backup using ERUNT.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

BlankHow to remove invalid icons from Control Panel?
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/cpicon.htm

Well, I deleted ncpa.cpl but I was prompted to insert the Windows XP CD .

When I did, the icon was restored.

So what do I do

Should I delete the other one, using the Shell Object Editor ?

If I do and I need to restore it, can I?

 

[Larry Gardner]

In this case ncpa.cpl is a .cpl. He should use TweakUI.

TweakUI lists only the CPL files. It's not necessary that all the Control
Panel icons are .CPL files.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Go into TweakUI and use control Panel, and hide what you want.

Should I delete the other one, using the Shell Object Editor ?

Yes. Shell Object Editor allows you to hide/unhide/delete an item.

If I do and I need to restore it, can I?

Nope. The changes are not reversible. However, you can create a System
Restore point first, or take a complete registry backup using ERUNT.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

BlankHow to remove invalid icons from Control Panel?
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/cpicon.htm

Well, I deleted ncpa.cpl but I was prompted to insert the Windows XP CD .

When I did, the icon was restored.

So what do I do

Should I delete the other one, using the Shell Object Editor ?

If I do and I need to restore it, can I?

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

That's not correct. "Network Connections" folder is a shell folder, NOT
powered by ncpa.cpl. To test, delete ncpa.cpl, from DLLCache and system32
folder (in a test system). The "network connections" icon remains.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


In this case ncpa.cpl is a .cpl. He should use TweakUI.

TweakUI lists only the CPL files. It's not necessary that all the Control
Panel icons are .CPL files.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Go into TweakUI and use control Panel, and hide what you want.

Should I delete the other one, using the Shell Object Editor ?

Yes. Shell Object Editor allows you to hide/unhide/delete an item.

If I do and I need to restore it, can I?

Nope. The changes are not reversible. However, you can create a System
Restore point first, or take a complete registry backup using ERUNT.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

BlankHow to remove invalid icons from Control Panel?
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/cpicon.htm

Well, I deleted ncpa.cpl but I was prompted to insert the Windows XP CD .

When I did, the icon was restored.

So what do I do

Should I delete the other one, using the Shell Object Editor ?

If I do and I need to restore it, can I?

 

[Trevor L.]

In this case ncpa.cpl is a .cpl. He should use TweakUI.

Thanks, Ramesh and Larry,

I used TweakUI to hide ncpa.cpl and this turned out to be correct.

The remaining icon opens what seems to be a subfolder: "Network Connections"
in the same window, which is what I want. The other icon opened it in a new
window. Of course, it is possible these are all virtual folders/subfolders
but that doesn't matter to me, only the result.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Interesting! TweakUI in my system does not list ncpa.cpl (where as the file
is present). And deleting/renaming ncpa.cpl does not affect the visibility
of the Control Panel N.C icon (just because it's a shell folder
{7007acc7-3202-11d1-aad2-00805fc1270e} Network Connections
C:\WINDOWS\system32\netshell.dll). BTW, did the Shell Object Editor list
both the entries?

Anyway, glad you got this problem fixed, Trevor.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

In this case ncpa.cpl is a .cpl. He should use TweakUI.

Thanks, Ramesh and Larry,

I used TweakUI to hide ncpa.cpl and this turned out to be correct.

The remaining icon opens what seems to be a subfolder: "Network Connections"
in the same window, which is what I want. The other icon opened it in a new
window. Of course, it is possible these are all virtual folders/subfolders
but that doesn't matter to me, only the result.

 

[Larry Gardner]

To turn off that

System wide:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\NonEnum,
OR
Per-user wide:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\NonEnum

to remove the folder without deleting. Just add:

{7007acc7-3202-11d1-aad2-00805fc1270e} DWORD 1 (to hide folder)
{7007acc7-3202-11d1-aad2-00805fc1270e} DWORD 0 (to show folder)

Interesting! TweakUI in my system does not list ncpa.cpl (where as the
file
is present). And deleting/renaming ncpa.cpl does not affect the visibility
of the Control Panel N.C icon (just because it's a shell folder
{7007acc7-3202-11d1-aad2-00805fc1270e} Network Connections
C:\WINDOWS\system32\netshell.dll). BTW, did the Shell Object Editor list
both the entries?

Anyway, glad you got this problem fixed, Trevor.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

In this case ncpa.cpl is a .cpl. He should use TweakUI.

Thanks, Ramesh and Larry,

I used TweakUI to hide ncpa.cpl and this turned out to be correct.

The remaining icon opens what seems to be a subfolder: "Network
Connections"
in the same window, which is what I want. The other icon opened it in a
new
window. Of course, it is possible these are all virtual folders/subfolders
but that doesn't matter to me, only the result.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

I knew that tip. Anyway thanks for the info.
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin/msg/3fe7be8d8854f904

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


To turn off that

System wide:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\NonEnum,
OR
Per-user wide:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\NonEnum

to remove the folder without deleting. Just add:

{7007acc7-3202-11d1-aad2-00805fc1270e} DWORD 1 (to hide folder)
{7007acc7-3202-11d1-aad2-00805fc1270e} DWORD 0 (to show folder)