Lost access to my control panel

[Guest]

I have an interesting problem. Somehow I have lost the control panel, how
can I regain gain access? I am running Windows XP Professional and a few
days ago, the control panel was on my “Start†button.

 

[Guest]

I don't know how to make it appear again, but you can type in control.exe
from the command line.

http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/control.htm

this has some more info about it.

Eric

 

[Guest]

Eric,

Thanks for your reply and suggestion, I did what you suggested I received
the following pop up message, …â€This operation has been cancelled due to
restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system
administrator.†I am my own administrator and I have tried accessing the
control panel via “Safe Mode†but I could not do that either.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Guest]

Lowell, try checking your "Taskbar and Start Menu" properties. Right Click on
the taskbar, and then click properties. Then click the "Start Menu" tab, then
click the "customize" button. And then click on the "Advanced" tab, and make
sure the radio button under Control Panel is set to "Display as link" or
"Display as menu"

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

The "NoControlPanel" Policy if set, prevents Control.exe, the Control Panel executable file, from starting. As a result, users cannot start Control Panel or run any Control Panel programs.

A value of 1 also removes Control Panel from the Start menu, and it removes the Control Panel folder from Windows Explorer. If a user tries to start a Control Panel program by another method, a message appears explaining that a policy prevents the action.


If yours is a standalone system (not a part of a corporate network), then try this:


Click Start, Run and type "regedit.exe" Press {ENTER}


Navigate to the following branch:


HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explor­­er


Backup the key by exporting it (from the File menu, choose Export) as a REG file.


In the right pane of the above key, delete the value named "NoControlPanel" (if found)


Repeat the same in this branch:


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explo­­rer


Exit the Registry Editor.



--
Regards,

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


I have an interesting problem. Somehow I have lost the control panel, how
can I regain gain access? I am running Windows XP Professional and a few
days ago, the control panel was on my “Start†button.

 

[Guest]

You can also try this before editing the Registry as said by "Ramesh":

1. Click Start - Run - type GPEDIT.MSC
2. Expand to:
User Configuration
Administrative Templates
Control Panel
3. In the right side pane, double-click the entry "Prohibit access to the
Control Panel".
4. If the State is "Enabled" or "Not Configured" then set it to "Disable".

Hope this help, let us know!

 

[Guest]

Ramesh,

Thanks you for your help. I followed your instructions and I still have not
been able to recover my control panel. The only way that I could get the
regedit.exe to work was in "Safe Mode". Do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks,

 

[Guest]

Thanks you for your help. I followed your instructions and I still have not
been able to recover my control panel. The only way that I could get the
regedit.exe to work was in "Safe Mode". Do you have any other suggestions?

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Lowell,

That's a common symptom of Malware infestation. I'd suggest you follow the malware removal advice given here.


The Parasite Fight - Quick Fix Protocol:
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.php

--
Regards,

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


Ramesh,

Thanks you for your help. I followed your instructions and I still have not
been able to recover my control panel. The only way that I could get the
regedit.exe to work was in "Safe Mode". Do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks,
--
Lowell Shoaf
Realtor
RE/MAX Gulfstream Realty
Sarasota, Florida

The "NoControlPanel" Policy if set, prevents Control.exe, the Control Panel executable file, from starting. As a result, users cannot start Control Panel or run any Control Panel programs.

A value of 1 also removes Control Panel from the Start menu, and it removes the Control Panel folder from Windows Explorer. If a user tries to start a Control Panel program by another method, a message appears explaining that a policy prevents the action.


If yours is a standalone system (not a part of a corporate network), then try this:


Click Start, Run and type "regedit.exe" Press {ENTER}


Navigate to the following branch:


HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explor­­er


Backup the key by exporting it (from the File menu, choose Export) as a REG file.


In the right pane of the above key, delete the value named "NoControlPanel" (if found)


Repeat the same in this branch:


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explo­­rer


Exit the Registry Editor.



--
Regards,

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


I have an interesting problem. Somehow I have lost the control panel, how
can I regain gain access? I am running Windows XP Professional and a few
days ago, the control panel was on my “Start†button.
--
Lowell Shoaf
Realtor
RE/MAX Gulfstream Realty
Sarasota, Florida

 

[Guest]

Maybe you computer is infected with some Malware of Spywares. Try the
following link.

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=1035289

Hope this help, let us know!

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the advice. I run Lavasoft Ad-Ware 2007 daily and I just ran it
again on the event that I have a problem and I am not aware of any
infections. I am not sure this is correct. Also for my anti virus I use
NOD32 and it works great, any other suggestions?--
Lowell Shoaf
Realtor
RE/MAX Gulfstream Realty
Sarasota, Florida

 

[Guest]

You didn't specify much information.

What about GPEDIT.MSC. Had you tried it? What about REGEDIT in Safe Mode?
Didn't it work? And last the link, I had given to you. What about that?

Let us know!

 

[Guest]

Thanks again. I ran "Spy Ware Doctor" and I did remove a few items. But that
has not allowed me to fix the Control Panel, I did the REGEDIT and REGDIT
when you and Ramesh suggested it.

Thanks

 

[Guest]

You're ALL-WAYS Welcome.

Thanks again. I ran "Spy Ware Doctor" and I did remove a few items. But that
has not allowed me to fix the Control Panel, I did the REGEDIT and REGDIT
when you and Ramesh suggested it.

Thanks
--
Lowell Shoaf
Realtor
RE/MAX Gulfstream Realty
Sarasota, Florida