Computer and Software Support


How to access Control Panel Programs via Command Prompt

 

There is times that you are unable to access a program in Control Panel via the start menu list. Some viruses remove the link to the control panel so you are unable to click Start and then click Control Panel.

This article is from Microsoft. I pasted it here to avoid broken links.

Article ID : 192806
Last Review : May 7, 2007
Revision : 2.5
This article was previously published under Q192806

SUMMARY

This article describes how to run Control Panel programs in Windows by typing a command at a command prompt or in the Open box. This article also provides the commands to open each program that is in Control Panel.

MORE INFORMATION

To run a Control Panel tool in Windows, type the appropriate command in the Open box or at a command prompt.

NOTE: If you want to run a command from a command prompt, you must do so from the Windows folder. Also, note that your computer may not have all of the tools listed in this article, as your Windows installation may not include all of these components.

Commands that open Control Panel programs

Control Panel Program

  

Command to Type
Accessibility Options - control access.cpl
Add New Hardware - control sysdm.cpl add new hardware
Add/Remove Programs - control appwiz.cpl
Date/Time Properties - control timedate.cpl
Display Properties - control desk.cpl
FindFast - control findfast.cpl
Fonts Folder - control fonts
Internet Properties - control inetcpl.cpl
Joystick Properties - control joy.cpl
Keyboard Properties - control main.cpl keyboard
Microsoft Exchange (or Windows messaging) - control micfg32.cpl
Microsoft Mail Post Office - control wgpocpl.cpl
Modem Properties - control modem.cpl
Mouse properties -  control main.cpl
Multimedia Properties - control mmsys.cpl
Network Properties (win98, winme - control netcpl.cpl
Network Properties (Win2K, WinXP) - control Ncpa.cpl
Password Properties - control password.cpl
PC Card - control main.cpl pc card (PCMCIA)
Power Management (Win95) - Control main.cpl power
Power Management (Win98) - control powercfg.cpl
Printers Folder - control printers
Regional Settings - Control intl.cpl
Scanners and Cameras - control sticpl.cpl
Sound Properties - control mmsys.cpl sounds
System Properties - control sysdm.cpl
NOTE: The Scanners and Cameras applet (sticpl.cpl) cannot be run in Windows Millennium. It has been replaced by the Scanners and Cameras Folder, which is similar in function to folders like Printers and Dial-up Networking.

Windows substitutes the name of the tool you want to run for %1%. For example:
"rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL appwiz.cpl".
To run the Users tool in Control Panel, type control Ncpa.cpl users, and then press ENTER.

To run the Users tool for Windows 95/98/Me, type "control inetcpl.cpl users" (without the quotation marks) and then press ENTER.

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Run Control Panel program from the run command

Windows XP and older

  1. Access Run or Search window
  2. Run window appears
   
  1. Type a command from the list above
  2. Click OK
   

 

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Run Control Panel from a DOS prompt

Windows XP and older

  1. Access Run or Search window
  2. Type CMD
   
  1. Click OK
   
  1. Type a command from the list above
  2. Press Enter
   

 

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