The Control Panel is part of the Microsoft Windows graphical user interface which allows users to view and

manipulate basic system settings and controls, such as adding hardware, adding and removing software, controlling user accounts, changing accessibility options, and so on. It is a separate program named "control.exe" that hosts so-called Control Panel Applets with the filename extension .cpl. Most Microsoft Control Panel Applets files are in C:\WINDOWS\system32. Additional applets can be provided by third party software. If not run by name, the Control Panel is usually accessed by going into "Start > Settings > Control Panel" on all Windows versions since Windows 95, or directly from the Windows XP-style Start Menu. In Windows XP, the Control Panel has two modes (views), Classic View and Category View, and normally it is possible to switch between these through an option that appears on the left side of the window (see screenshot). It is possible to force Control Panel to show only one of these views (and thus hide the option of switching between them) by creating a "ForceClassicControlPanel" DWORD value that is stored in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explo rer registry key. If "ForceClassicControlPanel" is set to 1 then the Classic View is disabled. If "ForceClassicControlPanel" is set to 0 then the Category View is disabled. Deleting the "ForceClassicControlPanel" value re-enables switching between views. This procedure may also apply to the same value stored within the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Exp lorer registry key.

Control Panel applets (Windows XP)

Accessibility Options
Allows users to configure the accessibility of their PC. It comprises of various settings primarily aimed at users with disabilities or hardware problems.

The behaviour of the keyboard can be modified. This is aimed at people who have difficulty pressing key-combinations, or pressing a key just once. Behaviour of sounds can be modified. High contrast mode can be activated. The keyboard cursor can be customized. The mouse pointer can be controlled using the keyboard.

Add Hardware
Launches a wizard which allows users to add new hardware devices to the system. This can be done by selecting from a list of devices or by specifying the location of the driver installation files.

Add or Remove Programs

Allows users to add or remove programs from their system. The Add/Remove Programs dialogue also displays how often the program is used and how much disk space it occupies.

Administrative Tools
Contains tools for system administration, including security, performance and service configuration. These are Links to various configurations of the Microsoft Management Console. \Date and Time Allows user to change the date and time stored in the machines BIOS, change the time zone and synchronize the date and time with an internet time server.

Display
Launches the Display Properties window which allows the user to alter the display settings of their computer such as desktop background (wallpaper), screensaver, display resolution etc.

Folder Options
This item allows for configuration of how folders and files are presented in Windows Explorer. It is also used to modify file type associations in Windows; meaning, which program opens what file types.

Fonts
Displays all fonts installed on the computer. Users can remove fonts, install new fonts or search for fonts using font characteristics.

Game Controllers
Allows the user to view and edit the game controllers connected to the PC.

] Internet Options

Allows the user to change internet security settings, internet privacy settings, HTML display options and various browser settings like homepage and plugins.

Keyboard
Lets the user change and test keyboard settings, including cursor blink rate and key repeat rate.

[ Mail
Mail allows for configuration of the mail client in Windows, usually Microsoft Outlook. Microsoft Outlook Express cannot be configured with this item; it is configured through its own interface.

Network Connections
Displays and allows the user to edit or create network connections such as Local Area Networks (LAN) and internet connections. It also offers troubleshooting functions in case the computer has to be reconnected to the network.

Phone and Modem Options

Manages telephone and modem connections.

Power Options
Includes options to manage energy consumption, to decide what to do when the computer's on/off button is pressed and whether or not to activate sleepmode.

Printers and Faxes

Displays all the printers and faxes installed on the computer, and allows them to be configured or removed, or new ones to be added.

[ Regional and Language Settings

Various regional settings can be altered, for instance:

The way numbers are displayed (e.g. decimal separator) The default currency sign Time and date notation Cultural location of the user's computer (The time zone is set in Date_and_Time) Input locales o Input language o Keyboard layout (mapping between key strokes and characters)

Whether files necessary for Asiatic language support must be installed Installed code pages

Scanners and Cameras

Displays all the scanners and cameras installed on the computer, and allows them to be configured or removed, or new ones to be added.

Security Center
The security center is only available in Windows XP Service Pack 2. It is a section that allows the user to view the status of various security features, including:

The Windows firewall Automatic updates Virus protection

It notifies the user when such features are enabled, disabled or otherwise compromised.

Sounds and Audio Devices

Has various audio-related functions, for instance:

Change sound card settings Change system sounds, or program-specific sounds that should be played when a certain event occurs. Change default devices for various purposes (playback, recording, etc.) Display the audio devices installed on the computer, and allows them to be configured. Change emeregency monitor open

Speech
Change settings for text to speech support.

System
View and change basic system settings. A user can for instance:

Display general information on the user's machine. Edit the computer name in a workgroup. Manage and configure hardware devices. Enable automatic updates.

Taskbar and Start Menu

Change the behaviour and appearance of the task bar.

User Accounts
User Accounts allows user to control the user accounts used in the system. If the user has the necessary privileges the user can give another user (administrator) privileges or revoke them, add, remove or configure user accounts, etc.

Other Microsoft Control Panel applets (Windows XP)

Automatic Updates
Allows users to enable and schedule the Microsoft automatic updates. Filename: wuaucpl.cpl

Bluetooth Devices
Enables users to configure a Bluetooth connection. Requirement: Windows XP Service Pack 2. Filename: bthprops.cpl

Colour
Enables users to manage Windows colour settings. Requirement: Installing the Microsoft Colour Control Panel Applet, available via the Microsoft web site. Filename: ColourMgmt.cpl

CSNW
The Client Service for NetWare applet is used to select a default tree and context in a Novell Directory Services (NDS) environment, or the NetWare server used most frequently in a non-NDS environment. Requirement: Installing the Client Service for NetWare.

Filename: nwc.cpl

Software Explorers
Part of Windows Defender, allows users to view detailed information about software that is currently running on the computer that can affect the users' privacy or the security of the computer.

Third party Control Panel applets

Java
Configuration utility for the Sun Java Run Time Environment. Filename: jpicpl32.cpl

QuickTime
Configuration utility for Apple QuickTime application. Filename: QuickTime.cpl

Switching the Control Panel view

You can view the Control Panel in Windows XP just as it appears in Windows 2000, Windows Me, and their predecessors. To see all Control Panel icons in Classic View In the upper left of the Control Panel window, click Switch to Classic View. To change back, click Switch to Category View. If you choose a view, and then close the Control Panel, next time you open Control Panel it maintains the last view that you selected. Tip You can quickly access all Control Panel items when you point to Control Panel on the Start Menu as shown in Figure 3 below. To access all Control Panel items from the Start Menu 1Click Start, click Control Panel, click Appearance and Themes, and then click Taskbar .and Start Menu 2Click the Start Menu tab, select Start menu, and then click Customize. . 3Click the Advanced tab.

. 4Under Start menu settings, select the Open submenus when I pause on them with my .mouse check box. 5In the Start menu items list, under Control Panel, select Display as a menu. Click OK. .