Enabling GodMode In Windows 7

[Brett_Tabke]

From CNET : [izurl.com]

To enter "GodMode," one need only create a new folder and then rename the folder to exactly the following:

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

Once that is done, the folder's icon will change to resemble a control panel and will contain dozens of control options. I'm not sure it's my idea of playing God, but it is a handy way to get to all kinds of controls.

I just did this and it was pretty awesome. It is like a super control panel with everything listed all nice and clean. I have had a hard time remembering where various controls are located in win7/vista. This is like the entire system config in one easy spot. It is so usefull, you will quickly feel lost on installations that don't have it. I think this feature is worth the price of upgrading alone.

Screen shot
[twitpic.com...]

[bill]

I'm on a 64-bit Vista workstation now, otherwise I'd try this out. The article indicates that this will crash 64-bit Vista, so I can wait to try this out. Is it really useful?

[marcel]

Is it really useful?

In a way, yes, you can access most settings from a single window now, but I couldn't find anything new.

I was hoping the new control panel would be a Windows 7 version of TweakUI, but unfortunately it's not.

[henry0]

Can't say it better than Brett did!

[swa66]

Easter Eggs were outlawed at Microsoft and had a standing order for immediate dismissal of anybody who created them back in the days of Bill Gates still running the show.

Wonder if they'll call it a "feature" or if heads will roll over it.

[johnnie]

Works like a miracle!

[httpwebwitch]

It's fine if software makers sneak in entertaining hidden features - if they're placed deliberately and tastefully. It's fun.

But I'd be enraged if this undocumented feature was snuck in by a programmer - it adds to software bloat, and Microsoft's QA team may not have known about it, thus nobody tested it, consequently it's a potential interface for security vulnerabilities.

I agree with Gates. If some dude in a cubicle added this to my software I'd send them packing without a second glance.

[Ocean10000]

Its an old feature dating back to windows 95. I used the special folder options often when playing with alternate windows shells like litestep for xp back in the early 2000.

[support.microsoft.com...]

Its just a new class ID. The folder could be named anything before the period.

[Special Folders]
You can put the contents of Control Panel or other special folders on
your Start menu (or in any folder). Create a folder by clicking New on
the File menu, and then clicking Folder. Then, paste in the
appropriate name as shown below:

For Use This Name
----------------------------------------------
Control Panel Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
Dial Up Network Dial Up Net.{992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48}
Printers Printers.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}

[Brett_Tabke]

@Ocean10000, thanks for that awesome link - I learned 2 new commands I did not know about. That is a great article.

[koan]

It is excellent. I have had a hard time remembering where various controls are located in win7/vista.

I don't have Windows 7 but if it's so great, I have a hard time understanding why the control panel wasn't designed like this in the first place instead.

[SEOMike]

Works great on 7 64-bit! Thanks for the tip Brett!

[J_RaD]

I don't have Windows 7 but if it's so great, I have a hard time understanding why the control panel wasn't designed like this in the first place instead.

a control panel with 500 options would do nothing but confuse the adv user.

[bwnbwn]

It really is nice thanks for the post Brett. I just had our IT guy do it and he found a control option he said he has been searching for for a week off and on in a couple seconds.

You better bet I will be adding it to my new machine when I gets home tonight and install the xp mode to get a program I must have working.

Actually for the average user this is great as it gives them the ability to see what they can do with the new OS.

[grelmar]

Actually for the average user this is great as it gives them the ability to see what they can do with the new OS.

It's my experience that letting the "average user" know what can be done with an OS is generally a bad idea.

[bwnbwn]

Na grelmar how else can one learn.

You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. ~Michael Jordan

I posted in another area an issue I had with a program I had to use
[webmasterworld.com...]
After looking at what was in the folder I got home did me one of them GodMode things....:)

In the GM folder I found there is an application you can open programs that worked in other window OS's, and then save the setting to your system. I assume this is what Gomvents suggested in the other post. Worked like a charm I now have everything working.

As stated in the other post I had to just walk away. I called support for assistance. Support suggested I just install XP and wipe out 7 sooooo... Moday I posted the above problem got some great answers that had me looking and after Brett's post it all came together.

Just another example of a great place for information...

I maybe a little slower right but that will change as I learn the new OS.

[arizonadude]

Wow!

I already really liked Windows 7 but that tip is pretty darn cool!

It workd great!

[Ocean10000]

List of other Custom Folders used to show Control Panel options in Vista and Windows 7.

Canonical Names of Control Panel Items [msdn.microsoft.com]

[Matthew1980]

Word of warning, by my own trial and error, once you create and rename the folder, and 'GodMode' is born, DONT MOVE it to the quick launch bar, as it stops explorer working, and you can only restart it by deleting the godmode folder from the quicklaunch folder (once you find it!)

Just thought I would let you all know, though I agree it is a very useful tool.

MRb

[JS_Harris]

Hidden controls, how trivial.

When you find one you know there are probably a hundred more.

[edacsac]

It's my experience that letting the "average user" know what can be done with an OS is generally a bad idea.

My experience is not the same. The days are over for only a select group of geeks to be masters of the OS landscape. More and more average users are just as competent as those that like to call themselves IT professionals (myself included).

[J_RaD]

^ that would because you only see 10% of the picture. (just like those people you talk about) they get kinda good with something and all of the sudden they are "computer pros"

I will also admit alot of idiots call themselves IT pros that shouldn't even be working near a server of any sort outside their own home.

there is a very long line to draw between "power user" and "IT PRO"